Page 258 of As The Shifter World Turns

“What were you wanting to eat?” I asked Toby as I started the car. “Want to grab something along the way?” It was silly how much I loved driving through some place for him. Nothing about the food was healthy or nutritious, but it was “our” time.

“Can we drive through the smoothy place?” he asked. “I need to eat more greens.”

There was nothing inside me that questioned Neil’s food offerings for Toby. This was one hundred percent the guys he’d been playing basketball with in the morning and himwanting to fit in.

“You thinking the Queen of Smoothies then? I think they do the whole super greens thing.” The smoothies looked like swamp water, but if he wanted it, I was going to make sure he had it.

“Let’s not get too over the top, Dad,” he teased. “I need it green enough to have it look like I’m serious about getting ready for next season, not so green it tastes like eating grass.”

“Fair enough.” I turned down the road. “So you’re thinking a pistachio milkshake in a smoothie cup? I clarified.

“Exactly.”

We drove to the one place in town where I knew you could get a fancy bubble tea, a wheatgrass concoction that had your stomach churning from the scent, and all the milkshakes you could ever want. The person working the counter thought it was odd of us wanting a milkshake at this time of day, but she made it and even added some extra green food coloring per Toby’s request. I grabbed a couple of bubble teas to bring home and we were off.

This time he didn’t ask to be dropped off early so he could run to his friends. He stayed in the car until the official drop off spot, telling me all about the substitute teacher they had the day before. It felt so good. Like things were back to normal.

If only they were.

I walked back into the building beside Sunshine Manor like I had the world at my feet, ready to spend the morning with my mate, with my true love.

Balancing both teas in one hand, I knocked on Neil’s door. He didn’t come. I knocked again. Nothing. Third knock had my phone buzzing.

I set the tea down and pulled out my phone half expecting it to be Neil saying he was on the toilet or something. I was right it was Neil, but that was as far as my accuracy went.

HOW DARE YOU!All caps. He was pissed. But for what? He was so happy when we left for school drop offs.

How dare I what?

You know what you did! Everyone knows.Everyone knows?

I hit call and was relieved when he picked up. “Tell me what I did. I have no idea.”

“Yes… yes you do. I should’ve seen it coming. What a fool I’ve been.” He was sobbing, his words more difficult to understand with each one.

“I don’t know what I’ve done. Please tell me so I can fix it.”

“You know. Everyone knows.” He hung up and my phone instantly buzzed.

It was a link.

I clicked it and it took me to Page 9, the local gossip rag.

“Elvis is back to regain his throne.” I read the headline out loud. That couldn’t be it. I had nothing to do with the Elvis festival. At least not that I knew of.

I kept reading down the page. Some starlet had been dumped, a famous boy band had two of their members getting married—to each other, and theycancelled a movie mid-production after the main actor was caught with his dick inside a congressman’s wife. It was all the same shit, different day.

I hit Neil on my phone again and thankfully he picked up. “Please let me in. I brought bubble tea. Peach kind. Your favorite.”

He sniffled. “You aren’t denying it. I knew it was true. My gut told me.”

“I knew what was? Maybe you can show me what I’m looking at when I come in.” He hung up again, but only thirty seconds later, when I was about to give up, the chain on the door jangled and the door cracked open.

“Don’t lie to me. Promise,” he said, the door open only an inch.

“I promise. Show me what I’m supposed to be seeing.” The door slowly opened and I walked inside, setting the teas on the counter.

“Charlie’s napping. So keep it down.” He held out his hand, his eyes glued to my phone and I gave it to him.

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