Page 306 of As The Shifter World Turns

Apparently Archer had purchased “the most stolen car” in the nation and not because it was the best car ever. Nope. It was because they made exactly six different keys for it and what did the teen have in his possession? The same key as Archer’s car. Archer wasn’t chosen to be a victim, he just happened to have the right car.

And the week Mike hadn’t returned? That was the week his grandfather fell and had to be hospitalized, the week he stayed in the hospital to make sure his grandfather was treated well because he said that hadn’t always been the case. The kid did wrong, but in so many ways he was a victim too.

He hadn’t meant to hit the car when he swerved out of the way of a dog, and he swore he didn’t know that he had hurt anyone. By the time the police came to get him, he was sobbing, not for himself, but for his grandfather. He didn’t want him to lose his apartment. And what did Archer do? Archer promised to make sure he didn’t.

Why? Because that was the kind of person Archer was.

And Micah arranged for the lawyer they’d used to represent Mike. He had to pay a fine and got one year of jail time, but he’d be out earlier with good behavior.

141

A BIG REVEAL

Daire

“Well?” Nate was hovering behind me.

“I can’t look.” How many times had we done this? I’d pee on the stick and we’d be disappointed. My grizzly was hiding and wouldn’t speak to me. Was that because he knew it was bad news or he didn’t want to hear if it was?

“I’ll do it.”

Which was worse, me looking at the stick or me studying Nate’s face after he peered at it? There was no answer to that question. “No, I’ll do it.” Best to get it over with. I was prepared for the worst, or thought I was. But each negative result was a kick in the gut.

Picking up the stick, I sighed. Nope, always with the one line, never two.Don’t we deserve two pink lines?I silently asked the universe. It didn’t respond so I buried my face in Nate’s shirt and sobbed.

“I’m sorry, babe.”

He rubbed my back as one would a baby and all I could think of was that I wanted a baby to comfort.

Once my crying jag was over, I said, “Let’s get out of here.” We’d been escaping to my parents’ lake house more frequently since we’d been trying to get pregnant. I sent a message to the manor group list. We had two. One with Anthony and one without. I felt kinda bad that he wasn’t invited to so many of our gatherings, but he was in a relationship and was at their place a lot, so I hoped he didn’t notice when we all disappeared.

Who’s up for a weekend at the lake?

Me!

Me too.

Us as well.

After all the shenanigans with Archer’s arrest and us not being pregnant, everyone needed a change of scenery. An hour later, we had food in the car, drinks and takeout, and we headed for the lake. Our manor family had sort of taken over the house. There was hardly a time during the week or at the weekend when at least one of us wasn’t there. My parents used to love the place but these days preferred the beach house.

Our usual routine was to eat and then shift. Neil and one other person would look after the kids. I was so envious of my human friend and his cute little pregnant belly.

“When we shift today, can we go right around the lake, Dad?” Toby asked.

“I don’t see why not.” Martin turned to Neil. “You okay with that?”

My friend nodded. “I’ll be here with my feet up. Daire will be doing any running around.”

It was my turn to stay behind and help Neil because it wasn’t fair that he was always the one babysitting.

“Are we expecting any one else?” Toby asked as he jerked his head toward the road and a car that had just turned into the long driveway.

Ryder, whose health had improved, had already shifted and Archer and Ivor were naked, ready to take their fur.

“No.” I peered at the cloud of dust. “Does that look like Anthony’s car?”

“Mmmm. It does,” Archer agreed.

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