Page 31 of As The Shifter World Turns

I decided to make it easy for him even though it hurt. “We can go back to being friends. Enjoy BBQs on the roof, shift with the Sunshine Manor family, enjoy a beer together. No pressure. We’ll be Archer and Micah. Two shifters who happen to live on the same floor.

While I didn’t mention it to him, us being the only two people on the third floor would be a problem for me if he started dating. But I’d had my heart broken before and Archer and I weren’t in a relationship. We’d slept together once.

“I don’t know.” He shook his head.

“Do you want to leave?”

“No. You’re right I love it here, but you and I can’t be a thing. We both know that. And it’ll be weird seeing you with other omegas.”

It was as though he’d read my mind. “I would never parade a date in front of you.” What date? I didn’t want to be with anyone. Except Archer. And based on our circumstances, that was only a temporary arrangement.

“You and I.” He waggled a finger back and forth in the space between us. “We can’t be friends.

“Archer.” I reached out meaning to do what? I hadn’t given it any thought. My fingertips grazed his cheek. It was damp, coated in a faint trace of tears. “We can try.”

Ryder

Shit!Ivor hates working for me. Maybe I’ve been too hard on him, expecting him to take on too much. But he’s a capable kid and gets good grades at college. Also not a kid. He was in his early twenties.

I was standing in the shower at the gym, muscles aching, and an image of Kellan appeared in my head. Since we’d broken up, and been doing the are we or aren’t we dance, he’d filled my thoughts, wondering how to get him back. He wasn’t right for me if I was honest, but in saying that, I’d be admitting I made a mistake.

But as the weeks went on, I thought about him less. Except when he turned up. Sometimes at Sunshine Manor, often at work.

As I drove to the office I pictured Ivor and his cheeks that were sprinkled with freckles. Every kid with freckles used to dream if they got enough, they’d join up. And hey presto, no more freckles.

But they were adorable. Anyone’s freckles. Not Ivor’s in particular. Just freckles in general.

Ivor was already packing up boxes when I arrived. I caught a glimpse of my neat desk. Just as I liked it. Even the stapler was in the right place.

“Need any help?” I asked. Ivor was bent over a box, his denim-covered ass in full view.Nice!Not nice. It’s Ivor. My employee, Ivor.

He stood up. And I busied myself by turning on the computer and opening a drawer.

“Ryder.” I glanced up. He fiddled with the hand-held tape dispenser. “I really appreciate you giving me this job but…” He was avoiding my gaze and picking at the tape.

Damn. He’s quitting. “No need to continue, Ivor. I get it.”

“You do?” He tugged his ear.

“The job isn’t what you expected and you’ve been offered another.” Shame. I enjoyed coming to work when he was here.

“W-What?” His voice trembled. “No. Are you firing me?”

“No.”

“Really?” he asked.

“Yes!”

“I’m unclear. Do I still have a job or not?” he added.

“Absolutely. I’m very pleased with your work.”

“Phew. You had me worried for a minute.”

Daire

“And from now on we want nothing to do with that damned building.” Father was yelling and waving his hands around on screen while Dad sat beside himsaying little. “That was a dirty trick you and your friends played. But if you love the place so much, it’s yours.”

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