Page 288 of As The Shifter World Turns

I met Ryder’s gaze in the rear view mirror. I recalled but wondered if he did. “Yeah. it was the day we discovered the cancer treatment wasn’t working.” The silence in the van threatened to take over the “It’s the weekend” atmosphere of a few minutes before. “But that’s in the past. I’m getting better and cancer isn’t allowed to intrude on this weekend.

Dyani squealed and pointed to a rabbit on the side of the road. Ivor and Archer were probably thinking the same thing or their beasts were when they saw rabbits. Dinner.

Fish!

Yeah, I know you prefer them. My beast would have ample opportunity to hunt over the next two days.

Everyone piled out when we reached the house as Micah and Martin drove up. “It’d be nice to live here full time,” Neil mused. “It’s close enough to town.”

I gazed at the huge house and the lake beyond. Nate and I had talked about it and we’d considered living at the beach estate. But we liked being surrounded by our found family. And while we no longer lived in the manor itself, we were on one side, Archer and Micah on the other. It was a Sunshine Manor sandwich.

“Only one problem,” I told Neil.

He sighed. “Yeah, I don’t have enough money to buy it. Not even one corner of the estate.”

“Nope. It’s too far to have Thai food delivered.” My human friend had to eat pad Thai, green chicken curry, or spicy beef salad at least twice a week.

“True,” he nodded.

“Just as well I brought dinner with us.” I brought out two big coolers with tonight’s food and Nate got everyone organized to carry bags and boxes of fruit and vegetables into the house. The fridge and pantry were stocked with drinks and dry goods and there was meat and fish in the freezer, though we could catch our own fish in the lake.

Me.

Yes. My beast was hankering for a meal of fish.

It was a beautiful night and we sat outside sipping beers and gulping water as the food I’d ordered was extra spicy.

“One of my first memories of you, Neil, is sharing Thai food.”

“Always.” My human friend wasn’t bothered by the chili-laden food and was tucking in.

“I recall that shirt you wore, Micah. Archer’s first night on the roof,” Ivor said as he sipped on a beer.

“Oh right. I’d forgotten about that. Archer’s scent was driving me crazy and I wasn’t sure whether to hug him or get as far away as possible.” The unicorn shifter squeezed his mate’s hand as Elune begged him to play hide and seek.

“Wouldn’t it be nice if when we all reached retirement age, we lived here,” Archer suggested. “It’d be our own small senior center.”

“Retirement,” I repeated.

“Senior center,” Martin said.

“Nothing wrong with getting older,” Archer noted as he took another helping of the curry.

“It’s not a bad idea, babe.” Nate tucked his arm in mine. “Assuming your parents would allow it. They don’t like this place much.”

It was true they preferred the beach which was odd for a couple of bear shifters.

“Maybe early retirement,” my mate suggested.

“And perhaps you could bring a few of your friends along.” Archer grinned. “Hint. Hint.”

Now the wolf shifter had planted the idea in my head, I could think of little else. “But of course I’d want all of you here too.” Everyone clapped.

After we’d finished eating and the younger kids were asleep, Ryder went to bed, and Neil settled on the sofa with a book. Ivor and Archer checked he had their baby monitor apps downloaded.

I got a little teary eyed, wishing Nate and I were parents and had an app just like theirs. My mate stood behind and whispered in my ear. “I can guess what you’re thinking, babe. Maybe after the weekend we could discuss the subject of babies again.”

But as shifters had excellent hearing everyone stared at us. “What did I miss?” Neil asked. “I hate that you all can share things and I miss out.”

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