Page 142 of As The Shifter World Turns

“Whatever.” Ivor’s voice slammed into me as I reached my office door. “Say what you want?—”

“Ivor?” I wanted to ask him why he was being rude, but the look on Trey's face shoutedSave me.“Want to come and eat outside?”

“What? You don’t want Mr. Hottie to see me?”

Great. My shit with Kellan permanently broke him.

“Now.” I was firmer this time.

He made a face and came out into the hallway. I needed to more than apologize to Trey. Next Saturday was going to be a paid day and I might give him the sandwich.

After a snide glance at Trey, he followed me out and I walked straight to the stairwell.

“What was that bullshit?” I didn’t hide my anger. “He just got started and he’s doing a great job and what? You decide to be mean to him because you can?”

“Why did you hire an underwear model to domyjob,” he asked, not meeting my eyes.

“What are you talking about? You quit and I needed an employee.” I tried to remember he was pregnant and moody and not to make things worse.

“So, he is a model. I knew it.” And that was when it hit me. He was jealous.

“I have no idea. It’s not my business. Why are you here?”

“I had to get some shit I left here but then you had him to?—”

“Stop with the jealousy. We aren’t together—your choice. You get no say.” And I wished he did. But also if he was going to be like this, he wasn’t ready. He still had Kellan sitting between us and I had no idea how to make it better… if I even could.

“Fine. Date him. See if I care.” He stomped off as I tried to figure out if I should run after him or if that would only make it worse. I decided on the latter and went back to the office to try and convince Trey not to quit.

Daire

“Please.” I was not even feeling bad about begging.

I’d have asked Archer and Micah, but there was no way they’d leave Elune with a sitter with all the stuff they had going on with the university. I knew this was kind of a big deal asking a huge favor of Neil and Martin, but I needed back up.

“It will be fun.” I hoped. It was my first date withNate and while I wanted to be comfortable with him and not project the wholethe previous asshole I dated stole my moneything onto him, it was hard and frankly, I was scared.

“It won’t be fun. First dates are always awkward and weird and a double date on a first date?” Neil just rolled his eyes.

I gave him my best puppy dog eyes.

“Fine. I’ll ask Martin, but he has Toby and it’s not easy to drop everything and just go on a date soyoudon’t have to be alone with the new guy.” I actually appreciated his bluntness and I knew this was hard for him. He wasn’t a fan of going out. “And I pick the place.”

“Absolutely.”

He took out his phone and called Martin and then told me he’d be right back mid-conversation. I tried to hold onto the fact that it wasn’t a no.

I was supposed to meet Nate in an hour. He seemed like a nice guy. But then again so did Mr. Steal Your Monies. And really would going out with him and others make him less inclined to do so? Absolutely not. But maybe my friends would see something I didn’t and if they did… this time I was going to freaking listen to them.

Fifteen minutes later Neil came back with Martin. “You have to bring dinner for Archer and Micah to pay for the baby sitting. They told us they wouldn’t take any money for it. They can’t not accept food,” Neil said firmly letting me know it was not negotiable. Not that I would complain if he asked me to donate a kidney in exchange. I was that desperate to not go alone.

Nate was understanding when I asked him to meet at the diner instead of the restaurant we had planned. It was an odd choice for a first date, but it was some place Neil felt comfortable and no part of me was surprised he picked it.

Nate was already there when we arrived and looked exactly like his picture down to his stunning green eyes. We’d been messaging one another a lot but this was the first time meeting in person. Not catfishing was a good sign that he wasn’t another Wesley.

“This is Neil and Martin cause I didn’t want to be alone with… they’re my friends.” Because apparently I was going for aruin a date in ten secondsvibe.

“You think I’m a serial killer?” He raised an eyebrow.

---