Page 57 of As The Shifter World Turns

I never should’ve mentioned a date. It was stupid. He worked for me and even if he didn’t, nothing about my situation shouted that he’d be anything more than a rebound.

I mean he wouldn’t be, but from the outside, how could it look like anything but?

“Yeah okay. Think we can go to Daire’s family’s place?” I hadn’t meant we should go together, but now that he said he’d join me, the day got exponentially better.

“We should ask him on the way out.” His parents had been shittastic since—well always, but especially more so recently. It was like they wanted him to be independent, but also hated him being independent. They were basically just sucky people.

“Sounds good.” We headed down to find Daire, only to meet him on the stairs.

“I was just seeing if anyone was on the roof,” Daire said.

“We were, but we were thinking a run sounded good. Could we go to your family’s land?” I asked.

“Yeah. I’ll even drive.” So much for some alone time with Ivor that wasn’t work related, but what could I do? Tell him to get his cock-blocking ass out of the way so I could run and afterwards get rejected again? Maybe it was best that he was coming with us.

“Sounds great.” I forced myself to sound excited and it came out flat. Thankfully Daire didn’t seem to notice.

Daire stopped in the clearing where he usually parked. I closed my eyes while Ivor got undressed. Had I seen him naked before? Absolutely. Pretty much every time we shifted, but somehow, with these feelings growing, it felt like I shouldn’t anymore. Like I needed to be given permission to see him naked or something.

It was official. I was overthinking all things.

Clothes off, I took my stag form, my limbs loving the stretch of being free. As I opened my eyes, they met Ivor’s who was staring at me with an odd look on his face. I couldn’t ask him what it was about as I’d shifted, instead baring my neck the way wolves seemed to need and taking off into the field.

The wolf and bear would have more fun without me, anyway. They liked to hunt and I looked for grasses to chew on—hardly compatible—the same way I was beginning to think Ivor and I were.

Neil

My phone alerted me that my package had arrived. The neighborhood was safe enough, but a box on a porch had a way of attracting sticky fingers and I didn’t want to chance it being scooped up. It was my new mouse and for all I knew the box announced that it was from the computer store.

I stretched as I got out of my seat. I’d been working on editing content and felt more like an old man than my age. I needed to think about getting a new chair next or possibly one of those fancy cushions.

It was my day to stay in. It used to be that almost all days were, but now that I started coaching, there were far fewer of them. It was probably good for me. No. Not probably. It was good for me. But also—I wasn’t at the point where I enjoyed it… especially not after that man recognized me.

I mean I had to know it would happen, right? I had increasingly more hits on my platform. Odds were one of my clients was bound to see me out in the community. But it felt… I don’t know… just off.

Maybe because it brought all the insecurities I had about jerking off for others and getting paid to the forefront.

I inhaled, counted to five, then exhaled. It was only the front porch. No big deal but I hadn’t planned on going anywhere today. I could do this.

Two more breaths and I was out the door and headed to get my package. I was focused only on that. I ignored everything around me, which was exactly how I crashed into someone.

“Sorry.” I looked up expecting to see Daire or Ivor and instead found myself face to face with… no… it was soccer man.

“No. That was my fault.” He reached out and I did what any sensible person would do.

I freaked out, turned on my heel and ran back to my apartment.

Screw the mouse. I could order another one. I had more important things to worry about.

Who was that guy and why was he following me? It couldn’t be a coincidence that he recognized me and here he was. That just didn’t happen.

No, he was up to something and every horror movie with a stalker in it ran through my head.

“Fuck.” I locked and bolted the door before trying to figure out a place to hide.

22

TWO KNOTS DON’T MAKE A RIGHT

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