Page 162 of As The Shifter World Turns

Ryder

The knocking at the door startled me. I was working from home mostly because I was in a grumpy mood. I didn’t even know why. I just was.

And there was no reason to be. Things were looking great in my life. Ivor and I were mated and were having a healthy baby girl. Work was profitable, and I finally felt like I could breathe again.

And yet today I was a grumpalumpagus.

“Coming.” I shut my laptop and padded off to the door, surprised to find that it was Daire. “Hey, what brings you here?”

“A bunch of things. Wanna grab a bite at the pizza place?” he asked, his hands in his pockets.

“Yeah, sure. Let me grab my keys.” Ivor was at work all day, but I’d text him to see if he wanted me to order him food when we got to the pizza place. Maybe that was why I was grumpy. It was a work in the office day for my mate and I missed him. Missing him while I was at work was different than missing him while I was home.

“It’s a nice day out,” I said after we walked in silence all the way to the corner.

“It is.”

“Okay, fess up, what’s wrong.” This wasn’t just him wanting pizza.

“Kind of a lot of things. The deal fell through.” That explained why he was home. “And it’s having me see things a bit differently.”

“Oh man, I’m sorry. I’m a good listener. Just talk my ears off.” We turned in the direction of the pizza place and by the time we arrived he’d told me abouthow the deal had been his way to show his parents that he had made it—been successful without them.

They might be nice and let us use their properties when we shifted and all that, but at their core they were pretty much assholes.

“It just means that a sale fell through, not that you aren’t successful. The fact that they wanted to buy it was huge,” I said, grabbing the door handle. “This shows that they were not financially strong enough because your company is so freaking fantastic it's worth more than they could pay.” That earned me a small smile and I opened the door.

We ordered at the counter and found a table in the back. I had a feeling he still had more to say. It’s a lot to unpack when you have your self-worth defined by what shitty people who are supposed to lift you up, but rarely do, think.

“Thanks.” Daire sat, setting his soda down a bit too hard, and it splashed on the table.

“No problem. I was kinda grumpy and as you know, melted cheese cures everything.” Or at least that was my theory. Cheese made everything better.

“What were you grumpy about?” He tore the paper from his straw and plopped it inside his cup—another splash. Oh Daire, he was still upset about his parents and what they might think.

“Not sure. Mostly because Ivor wasn’t home.” I forced a chuckle, but it wasn’t funny. Or maybe it was.

“I was thinking about that, actually.” He took a long sip of his soda and I still hadn’t put the straw in mine.

“About Ivor not being home?”

“No. About your home with Ivor. What if you moved into 1A? It will be easy as he gets bigger ‘cause no stairs, it has room for the baby and a home office. And really, you need the space far more than I do.”

Three bedrooms would be nice, but also, it was Daire’s apartment in his building. It didn’t feel quite right.

“We’re fine in 2A.” He raised an eyebrow at my words and gave me a full onoh really, you think I believe thatface. “I mean it would be nice, but it’s your place. You need it too.”

They called our number and he bounced up to get the pizza. I took out my phone and sent Ivor a quick message to see if he wanted anything.

Yes. Garlic knots, sausage and mushroom pizza and if they have any of those chocolate-filled dough thingies they sometimes have.

My mate was hungry. Good. It was so much better than when he had been puking. Some days had been for puking and others not. Now all the days were non-pukey.

Oh, and I love you, mate.That one had me smiling.

As I love you, omega mine. Daire offered us 1A, should we take it?It wasn’t the best way to discuss life decisions, but at least I would know if it was a hard pass.

Maybe. See about the rent and such.I would, but even if it was a good chunk more than mine, I could afford it easily.

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