Page 23 of As The Shifter World Turns

“Is it frosting or something else?” Ivor said knowingly.

If we were going to be living together, which was looking less likely based on the apartments we’d seen, I had to be honest with the pair. “If I tell you something, do you promise to keep it a secret?” After they agreed, I continued, “I really like Micah.”

“That’s it?” Neil replied as Ivor rolled his eyes.

“Huh? Isn’t it enough?” My huge announcement had fallen flat.

“It’s been obvious since the first night on the roof. You kept stealing glances at him,” Ivor informed me.

“Was I that obvious?”

They looked at one another and back at me. “Yes.”

“Fine.” It was a relief not to keep it bottled up.

“He likes you too,” Neil told me before sipping his coffee.

“We kissed. Twice.” No, ewww. Failed kiss should be banished from my memory.

“What?” Neil yelled, earning him a glare from the couple at the next table.

“Not really twice.” I spilled about the almost kiss after the dinner with Neil, my face burning as I recalled how much I’d had to drink. “But there was a sort of peck before I jumped out of his car a couple of weeks ago.”

Ivor closed one eye. “An almost kiss and a peck. It’s almost a relationship.”

Neil put a hand on my fellow wolf shifter’s shoulder. “Don’t tease him, Ivor.”

“Yeah, don’t tease me, Ivor,” I repeated, and the three of us giggled.

“I don’t mean to be that guy, but you understand Micah will never settle.” Ivor lowered his voice, his eyes flicking to the next table, because it was obvious they were human. “He’s a unicorn.”

“So?” Neil threw up his hands. “Anything is possible, including shifters being a reality, which would have been insane if you’d told me that ten years ago. If you and Micah are meant to be together, you’ll work it out.”

“I don’t know.” Ivor tapped his fingers on the table. “Only being able to mate with other unicorns is a cruel trick the universe played on Micah and his kind. There are so few of them around, they’re kind of doomed to spend their life unmated.”

His words put a damper on my good mood. I’d tried not to think about it when Micah had told me, assuming love could conquer anything. Or lust.

“Pfft. He is so into you, Archer. And honestly, I think he hides behind the whole…” Neil made air quotes, “I can only mate with a unicorn thing.” He crumpled up his paper napkin. “It’s an excuse to prevent him getting hurt. Like the last time.”

He clamped his mouth shut. I wanted more information about Micah’s former relationship that had left him with emotional scars, but Neil changed the subject. “I have a client who keeps messaging me.”

Ivor brushed crumbs off his lap as he said, “Insisting you’re not providing the services you promised?”

“The opposite,” Neil replied.

“What does that involve?” I asked. “I’m hoping he doesn’t want an in-person session.”

“Not exactly. He’s cute and I’m attracted to him. And knowing shifters the way I do, he is definitely one. I’m sure of it.”

“Oh Neil, please be careful. He could be another Kellan.”

“Gee thanks, Archer. You’re a real party pooper.”

I covered his hand with my own. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to be a downer. But what do you know about him? He could be a creep. We should check out the guy.”

“Okay,” Neil agreed, though his face and tone said the opposite.

“You’re both crazy.” Ivor leaned back and crossed his arms. “Don’t do this. Besides, do you even know his real name?”

---