Page 10 of As The Shifter World Turns

“I left work early today. I’ll see if he can work for me tomorrow.” He did from time to time, and he always worked hard.

“Yeah, I noticed you were home early. Something happen?” We reached my door. “At work, I mean.”

“Let me tell you a little story about a runaway dildo.” I had him in stitches as I wrote the check.

“I appreciate this. Technically, it’s due tomorrow, but you’ve met them.” I had. I was not impressed. One thing it did help me with, though, understanding why Daire did some of the things he did, and it kept me from getting too annoyed with him.

“I’ll see you later.” He gave a half of a wave and before I knew it, I was making a stupid excuse to go back downstairs.

And as I reached the back doorway, I wished I hadn’t.

“Sure. Dinner tomorrow sounds great,” Archer said to Neil.

So much for making my naughty thoughts a reality, but really, that was a shit idea. You don’t fuck where you live or where you work. It never ends well.

“I hate to do this, being the new guy, but can one of you give me a lift to work? My stupid bike has a bad tire and the next day delivery hasn’t happened yet.”

“I was just heading to the store.” I didn’t even give anyone a chance to offer, nearly cutting off his last word. And worse, I lied like a damn rug all because I was jealous of Neil and didn’t want him to swoop in and save the day.

I might be the oldest one in this place, but I was sure not acting like it.

“Thanks. I’ll make it up to you.”

We walked to my car, and I asked him where he worked, his phone buzzing again.

“It’s on Lyons Ave,” he said and climbed into the car.

I took my seat and buckled up, his phone buzzing again. “You can answer that.” Like I needed to give him permission. “I didn’t mean it like that.”

“I get it. You hate these things. Neil explained it.”

I turned on the car, hating the jealousy brewing in my belly. There was no reason for it. None. Just because I liked his scent didn’t mean I had first dibs, or any dibs for that matter. Archer was his own person, and I was too freaking old for him anyway.

Being attracted to someone wasn’t enough, and I needed to stop this or I was going to drive myself over the edge.

I pulled out of the driveway and onto the street. A couple of blocks in, the car filled with silence, I saw Ivor—walking. Walking six miles to class.

“I hope you have some time.” I pulled over and rolled down the window, “Get in, Ivor. I was just headed your way.”

His face lit up and he jumped in. “Thanks man. I couldn’t find my bus pass.” Which translated to: he used the last on his transport card. “I wasn’t looking forward to the walk. Hey, Archer. Hope I’m not keeping you from your date.”

Hold open pride and pour in the salt.

“I have work,” Archer added quickly, basically shouting this wasn’t a date. Like that would be a bad thing? Gah. I needed to rein this in. I opened my window despite the AC, needing to breathe in something that wasn’t Archer’s scent. “I’m over on Lyons. You?”

“Jackson and Maple.”

“Whoa.” Archer turned around in his seat, and I somehow managed not to snap at him and tell him to face forward. I was in a mood. “That’s far. You were going to walk?”

“I mean, you gotta do what you gotta do.”

I pulled over at the street number Archer had given me. “Here you go. Let me give you my number in case you need a ride home.”

He handed me his phone and I dialed my own. “There you are. Don’t hesitate to call.”

“I—I appreciate this.” He climbed out, leaving the door open for Ivor to move up front. “See ya.”

Ivor came around front. “Sorry man.”

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