Page 138 of As The Shifter World Turns

Ryder

If anyone asked me two weeks ago what I was going to be doing for my birthday, a very real possibility was that I’d have told them I would be sitting on my couch eating a bag of pretzels dipped in chocolate peanut butter ice cream and having a huge ass pity party because my heart was broken, my friends all thought the worst of me, and the year ahead showed no promise.

Having a day with my friends at Daire’s parents’ property with food and fun seemed beyond improbable. Spending the day with the man I loved by my side? I couldn’t even imagine it.

And yet here I was doing exactly that. Ivor and I weren’t in a relationship, not even close. But moving in together had already done a lot for us. He took the bedroom, just like I offered and I took the couch. And in that way we were only roommates, but in others, we acted like more. I made him breakfast and more than once he made me lunch. We watched television together and spent more than a few nights trying to defeat each other in old school pac man on my retro gaming system.

We even called each other when we were late. And maybe none of those were romantic or what have you, but they felt deeper than strangers passing in the night and I was holding onto them.

I was in atake what you can getframe of mind.

“Thank you for making all the sandwiches,” I said to Micah and Archer who were snuggling their Elune.

“It was easier than being the cake person,” Archer explained, giving Daire some serious side eye.

“Hey, I bought them,” Daire said about his over the top fancy cupcakes with enough frosting and filling to make your teeth cry knowing a cavity was inevitable. “I never said anything had to be homemade.”

“It was implied,” Micah backed his mate.

“I brought the chips knowing there would be no way anyone expected me to make anything.” I wished Ivor hadn’t felt the need to bring anything, but at the same time my stag was puffed up and proud because the omega who was carrying my baby remembered our favorite chip, onion circles, something none of our friends enjoyed. Ivor did that just for me.

“And I was the smartest of all,” Martin pipped in. “Paper products for the win.”

The only person not there from Sunshine Manor and Sunshine Manor Junior as I now referred to Micah and Archer’s place, was Seb. He was invited, but I understood why he declined. Who wanted to spend the day swimming at the lake and eating junk food with people you really didn’t know, and one of whom you gave a black eye.

Still, I wish he didn’t feel so isolated. Sure he had shit taste in friends. But I fell for Kellan too, so I had little room to talk.

“And who brought the drinks?” I pointed to myself. “That’s right. This guy and that’s why you have soda representing every color of the rainbow.”

I did too. Green, yellow, red, orange, blue… maybe not the entire rainbow, but I got a bunch of it. I also grabbed cola and of course ginger ale for Ivor’s belly. So far it hadn’t been awful, but just in case. I needed to make sure he was as comfortable as could be. I owed him that.

“I didn’t even know blue soda existed,” Toby told me, wearing a blue mustache. “It’s my new favorite.”

“Yeah, thanks, Ryder,” his father teased. “I’m so glad we discovered it.” His monotone reply had everyone laughing, even Toby.

“Can I go swim now?” Toby looked up at his dad.

We’d barely finished eating and I could already hear the answer in my head. I’d heard it plenty enough times growing up and Martin didn’t fail me.

“Sorry son, you need to wait until a half hour after you eat.”

I had doubts that was a real thing, but it had been so ingrained in everyone’s subconscious it was there to stay.

“Can I play with Patch? I brought my ball.” He held up “his” ball which had a dog paw on the side. He bought it for Patch which was so adorable. How his father hadn’t caved and gotten them a puppy yet amazed me.

“Yes, but play over there. I don’t want the ball going in the water.” Toby agreed and called Patch who followed him eagerly.

“Tell me, Ryder. Where did you find such odd soda colors?” Ivor asked and not gonna lie, if he had asked me what kind of wart cream was best, I’d have been over the moon excited he was asking me when there were so many people here he could be talking to. Things were still awkward between us and little questions like this meant a lot to me.

“I was in the new corner store by work and their ‘thing’ is all the sodas. They looked fun, but the red one is a never again I think. I still don’t know what that is supposed to taste like.”

“I bet Toby knows.” Ivor leaned around me and called out. “Toby what sort of soda is the red kind supposed to be.” It was called Red which gave zero hints.

No one answered.

“Toby answer—” Martin stopped mid yell and jumped to his feet. “Toby! Toby!”

Toby was nowhere to be seen.

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