Page 33 of As The Shifter World Turns

Archer

I’d counted the number of spots on the ceiling. Flipped through TV channels and given up. Read half a chapter of a book and got bored. Being cooped up in my apartment was ridiculous. And it wasn’t as though I was hiding from Micah. I wasn’t.

We’d nodded politely at one another when we crossed paths, literally, coming in the front gate. He must have arrived in a rideshare as I couldn’t see his car out front and he was dressed for work and carrying a huge ass bag of something. He appeared to be wearing make up so probably had been doing his regular TV segments where he told viewers how to spruce up their homes before putting them on the market. But I wasn’t looking at his face. Nope. Not me.

We’d done that stupid routine where we both tried to go through the gate at the same time and then Micah said, “After you,” and I protested and replied, “No, you first.” Daire, who'd been on the front porch sanding off flaking paint, rolled his eyes at us.

The narrow staircase wasn’t wide enough for both of us to go up side by side. Whoever went last got to stare at the other’s ass. I didn’t want to be the one looking or the one whose butt was on display so I’d fibbed and said, “Gotta see Ivor,” hoping my fellow wolf shifter was home. He wasn’t, but by the time I discovered that, Micah had stomped up the stairs and slammed his door.

And now I was itching to forget about Micah, just for the evening. I thought about asking Neil and Ivor if they wanted to go out, but wasn’t sure ifIvor could afford it. But as the room got dark and I couldn’t reach the lamp, and I lay there wondering what to eat for dinner, the phone beeped.

Wanna go out for a beer?From Ivor.

Pizza and beer. And we ask Neil too.If Neil was given a warning that we were going out, he’d probably be okay, especially as he was with us. Him venturing outside by himself was a different ball game.

Okay, Neil responded when I asked.

I’d never been so excited to leave the house. All for pizza and a beer we could have had at home on the roof. But that was one of Micah’s favorite places. He loved being close to the moon.

I tore down the stairs, not caring if Micah heard me. If things had been different, I would have been in his bed. But that wasn’t happening.

“Ready?” Ivor asked as I reached the front door.

“Should I get Neil?” I asked.

“Nope. I’m here.”

The rideshare arrived and we headed to a bar near Ivor’s college campus that was popular with students. And cheap. It was crowded, which wasn’t surprising, with college kids spilling out onto the sidewalk. We sat at the bar for a while, until Ivor nabbed us a booth.

“You’re good,” I told him as I threw myself onto the seat, like a baseball player skidding into home base, and was given side eye by the couple who’d wanted the booth.

Once our beers arrived and we’d ordered a small vegetarian pizza for me and meat something something for the carnivores, my two companions shared a glance. “So,” Neil began. “Spill, Archer.”

Fuck I wasn’t expecting the inquisition. I pretended to not know what they were talking about. “My beer? The night is young. Wait until I’ve had a few more.”

Ivor made a face. “You. Micah. Details.”

“Up until the day we put off the potential Sunshine Manor buyers, you two couldn’t keep your hands and eyes off one another. Then you spent a night or two at Daire and Ivor’s.” Neil paused for breath.

Ivor took over the story. “One minute Daire tells me you’re leaving and he’s looking for a new tenant. And next he says you’re not going anywhere.” He was waving a slice of pizza in the air as he spoke.

Neil twisted his napkin. “I thought we were your friends. But you didn’t share any of this with us other thanYes,No,Maybe,answers to our texts. And…” he nibbled his bottom lip. “I’m a little hurt.”

“Me too,” Ivor spoke with food in his mouth.

“Sorry, guys. I made some bad decisions—one in particular—and I needed to figure out what I was doing. And I kinda fucked that up too thinking I was leaving Sunshine Manor and then changing my mind.”

“Or did someone change your mind?” Ivor asked.

“No. That was all me.”

“Okay. But why did you want to go? We bounced all the wanna be owners of Sunshine Manor. There’s no need to move.” Neil was peeling the pepperoni off his pizza and putting it to one side.

“If you don’t want that, I’ll eat it,” Ivor said.

Neil slapped his hand. “Don’t you dare. I’m going to have it last.”

I giggled at the pair squabbling. I’d missed this. Being around friends.

---