Page 295 of As The Shifter World Turns

“Need? No. But you might want one. We’re going to Webber’s.” Webber’s being a well loved local steak house, one with a few tiny dining rooms so you never felt crowded.

“Yeah, I’ll need one.” He went to the closet and grabbed his tie, putting it on and after a couple of tries, getting it straight. “Ready?”

“Let’s go.” I held my arm out for him like in the old movies and he took it.

We passed Nate and Daire on our way to the car and they gave us a small wave, a sadness settling over them.

“They aren’t sure they can have a baby.” Neil said when we were both in the car and our friends were already inside. “That’s why they looked like that.”

“I heard.” With Toby’s father we hadn’t been sure if we could get pregnant for a while and it was not fun. We found out we were expecting before it came to fertility treatments, but that time period had been rough on both of us.

“I think, if we decide… you know if we go back to the maybe starting a family stage… perhaps we don’t talk about it in front of them.” Neil was such a good friend to Daire.

“That’s kind.” More than kind. Neil was always looking out for others. It was one of the things I loved about him. I started the ignition. “And for the record, I would be honored if you wanted to one day have our baby.”

It was too early to decide anything now, but knowing it was a possibility and that the door wasn’t closed had me on cloud nine.

“I think,” he squeezed my knee, “No, I know that I do. Maybe not tonight, but in a few weeks… let’s talk about it a bit more seriously?”

“I’d like that, mate. I’d like that a lot.”

135

UNEXPECTED

Daire

“Surprise!” I held up the bag when Neil opened the door. But I was the one surprised because usually my friend would have fallen on it and been digging in before we got out the bowls and plates. Instead of delighted, he looked green.

“Great.” He managed a half-smile but kept the bag at arm’s length as I followed him into the kitchen. Martin was working late and Nate was out of town for two nights on assignment so Neil and I were eating dinner together. We'd done this many times over the years, including when we both lived in the manor and since we moved into this house.

We gave one another advice, told home truths, drank beer or wine—or beer and wine as neither of us had to drive anywhere—ate good food and enjoyed one another’s company.

“Toby’s reading to Charlie if you want to pop in and say goodnight,” Neil told me. When I peeked into the room, the little boy’s eyes were drooping as I kissed his forehead. Toby flicked on a night light and we tiptoed out.

“That was sweet of you reading a bedtime story to your little bro.” I gave Neil’s older son a hug. He joined Neil and I for dinner and we chatted about school, and homework. Toby was LARPing again next weekend and he showed me his costume.

My human friend pretended to be eating but he was pushing the food around on his plate and when Toby was done, Neil offered him some of his own meal.

Once we were done, Toby cleared the table and filled the dishwasher while Neil made tea.

“I’ve got to finish my homework.” Toby grabbed an apple from the fruit bowl and headed to his room.

“You must be happy.”

Neil spun around, color having blanched from his cheeks. “How did you know? Did Martin say something?”

His odd reaction startled me and for a moment I was lost for words. Me, Daire, the guy who always had something to say. It might not make sense and I might make a fool of myself, but words came easily. Not necessarily the right words, though.

“Ummm yeah. He's been broadcasting it everywhere.” I was surprised he hadn’t gone onto the roof and shouted to the neighbors. “He’s so happy and he’s making sure everyone knows it.”

“And what about you?” Neil asked. “You’re not upset?”

More weirdness. “Look I agree that Martin was an ass in those months where he was modeling, earning the big bucks and mixing with a different crowd. But he’s turned his life around.”

“Oh, you’re referring to us being back together.”

What else would I be talking about? I nodded. He didn’t seem pleased and I was determined to find out why. If Martin was being an asshat, I’d kick him out myself. “If this isn’t what you want, you can tell him.”

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