Page 199 of As The Shifter World Turns

Martin’s voice had me check the time. I’d been in 2A since before dawn arranging and rearranging all of the filming equipment plus getting the lighting in the right place. Most of my clothes and makeup had been put away and I was happy with the progress I’d made.

Now that I was no longer doing naked stuff, I could make more use of the living room and unlike in my apartment, I didn’t have to set things up and put them away. Everything had a place now and the organization was giving me the warm fuzzies. Daire had been very kind about the rent. It was hardly enough to pay the utilities but I wasn’t complaining. His accountant might but mine would be pleased.

“Toby and I thought you might like to join us for breakfast. We’re cooking pancakes.”

“Both of you?” I didn’t look up as I arranged flowers in a vase, again courtesy of Daire.

“Yeah. My son loves to cook. A few more years and I won’t have to venture into the kitchen at all.”

I stood back and adjusted a red rose. “Great but you could have phoned or messaged me. No need to walk over.”

He picked up my phone from the table. Glancing at it, I noted two missed calls and five messages. Oops! “Sorry I had it on mute because I needed to get the room ready so Nate can take promotional photos for the website this afternoon.” Poor Martin. I’d been so preoccupied the past few days, we’d hardlyseen one another. I put my arms around him. “But pancakes are one of my favorite foods and I’d love to sample Chef Toby’s version.”

While our relationship had been wobbly during the period before and during Martin and Toby’s move, we’d gotten past that, though I was no closer to wanting to move in with him and his son. Perhaps I was being selfish expecting Martin to wait forever while I sorted myself out. But both people had to want to live in the same place and mate more than anything, and I had a new project to get off the ground.

Watching Toby flip pancakes and chatting to him and his dad had me thinking this would be my life if we moved in together. And for the first time, I wasn’t uncomfortable at the newness of it all. There’d been so many changes over the past year or so, perhaps I was almost ready for this. I gave Martin a big sloppy kiss before I left and he, Toby and I had a group hug. They were my family, just not officially.

“Hi, Neil.”

“Nate.” When your photographer lived one floor up, it was almost a given he’d be on time.

He glanced around at what I’d done to the place. “Looks good.”

Not that it was anything to do with me, and it was right that Martin and Toby got the basement apartment at Archer’s place, but Nate was chafing at how tiny 3B was. 3A was no longer empty, and even if my friend Anthony hadn’t moved in, the tenants needed access to the roof, so Daire and Nate couldn't have created one large apartment on the third floor.

I hoped they wouldn’t leave the manor. The place wouldn’t be the same without my grizzly buddy.

“How soon do you want these photos?” Nate asked.

“Yesterday?” I made it into a question, not knowing how busy he was. He was an in demand photographer and videographer and was often out of town working. “The website’s already up and running and I used images I created.”

Turning the laptop around, I showed Nate my site.

“Are you sure you need me, Neil? These are great. You’re a good photographer.”

Not being confident in my ability to take pics was why I’d hired Nate. “That’s sweet but I really need a professional.”

“Are people responding to the site?”

“I’m not sure of that yet. A lot of my friends from the old company have moved over and brought their clients with them.”

“Your former boss must be wishing you’d stayed.”

While Nate had me stand, sit, lean and smile in various places around the apartment, my mind went to Xavier who owned the company I used to work for. I’d heard rumors he wasn’t pleased I’d ‘stolen’ some of his best people. And while many of my friends were now working under my company’s umbrella, I hadn't convinced anyone to come. I’d mentioned it to Anthony and he’d sent out a blast on social media.

“Maybe.” My answer was non committal because even though I’d done nothing wrong, Xavier being unhappy with me had me on edge.

“And we’re done,” Nate announced.

“Already?”

“Neil, I’ve been here over an hour.” As he was leaving, Nate said he’d send proofs later today.

I pottered around the place adjusting books and lamps and fiddling with the flowers until I was satisfied. Martin, Toby and I were seeing a movie this afternoon and going for lunch beforehand. Toby had chosen the restaurant which was why we ended up at a burger place a little later.

As I was dipping a fry in ketchup, my phone pinged. “I forgot to tell you and Dad the rules for today,” Toby told us. He loved his rules and making us follow them. “No phones allowed.”

My device was already in my hand, and when I read the preview, it fell from my hand as I stopped chewing the french fry.

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