Page 20 of As The Shifter World Turns

20

DISTANCE MAKES THE HEART GROW FONDER

Archer

Gods, I hate this place.

Home , my wolf intoned as he’d done countless times a day since I arrived.

“No, I don’t,” I said out loud to convince myself. “It’s good to be away from Micah and Sunshine Manor. I’m learning new skills, and making new friends.” And to myself I whispered that maybe the time away would make me realize how futile it was being with Micah.

No! My wolf would never accept anyone except Micah, but I wanted things from life that the unicorn shifter couldn’t give me. Who was I kidding?

Not me , my beast piped up.

Oh shush you. Whose side are you on?

Micah had wormed his way into my heart and was firmly wedged in there.

It wasn’t that this city where I’d spent almost two months wasn’t a nice place. It had museums, parks, great food and it was situated around a large lake which reminded me of the one at Daire’s parents' weekend place. Though the only similarity was that they were both bodies of water. One was surrounded by tall buildings and highways and the other by trees and memories. Memories of being with Micah and us shifting together.

My colleagues here were friendly and had invited me to the movies and dinner, but knowing I was only in the office for two months, everyone, including myself, held back a little as I’d be gone soon and what was the point of becoming besties.

The phone pinged. I should have been back in my hotel room but was finishing off a project and was the last one in the office.

Micah , my wolf told me.

Since when do wolves tell time and understand a schedule?

He harrumphed and ignored m e.

The face I adored appeared on the screen. “Hi. I miss you,” he told me. He said the same thing every time we spoke. We hadn’t seen one another since I’d been gone, though he’d offered to visit for a weekend.

But though I hadn't mentioned it to Micah, this was my let’s see if I can exist without him campaign. The campaign had failed, failed so badly my heart was bandaged from being stomped on and wrung out. “Mmmm. Me too.”

“You at the office? How’s everything?”

“Yes, and things are great,” I lied. “Such an amazing group of people I’m working with and there’s so much to do on the weekends. And last minute projects at work. I’ve had little free time.” That was much the same thing I’d said whenever we spoke. It was my excuse for not meeting up while I’d been gone.

His smile faded slightly though he did his best to keep it plastered on his face. “Can't wait to see you. Not long to go now.”

My temporary stint in the office was almost over and while I longed to be in Micah’s arms, I kept pretending it was no big deal being away. And part of me felt guilty. I should have poured my heart out telling him how much he meant to me. “I miss you too,” I mumbled, avoiding his gaze.

But when I glanced up and studied him, it wasn’t his face I was looking at but what was behind him. “Are you on the roof?” The light behind him was too bright for the roof patio. “Or maybe out on the street?”

“Street, yeah.” He fumbled with his phone as he crossed the road. “Do me a favor and go to your office window, the one overlooking the front entrance.”

My heart jolted. Had he sent me a present? Or hired a sign writer to spell out, “I miss you” in the sky. Nah, too dark for that. “Why?”

“Please, Archer. Do it for me.”

Do it , my wolf insisted. He was becoming agitated and later I’d give him his fur. It was going to be a late night.

“What am I looking for?” I asked as I peered toward the sidewalk.

“Recognize anyone?”

“Huh? Am I looking for a delivery guy? Did you send me something from my favorite vegetarian restaurant?” The sidewalk was busy with people hurrying home or heading to dinner.

“Look for the guy with a bunch of red roses.”

Awww . “Oh yeah I see…” My voice trailed away. There were red roses. Check. And there was a man holding them. Check again. But that person was Micah. “What are you doing here?” My heart was thrumming so hard in my chest, I expected him to hear it. My wolf was complaining about the noise giving him a headache but he also wanted to see Micah.

“I’m here for you. Isn’t it obvious?”

“You can’t come up,” I told him. “I’m working. ”

“I’ll sing,” he threatened.

“Go ahead. I’m waiting.”

“You’ve never heard me sing.”

“Still waiting.” I tapped my fingers on the phone.

He opened his mouth and words poured out. Even through the thick glass I could hear him. There was no rhythm or melody, just a high-pitched screeching. Yikes . People near Micah put their hands on their ears, someone shouted at him and one tall guy got in his face. If I didn’t let him in, he might get beaten up.

“Fine. I’ll buzz you in.”

Waiting for Micah near the elevator, I wiped my damp palms on my pants. I’d assumed the moment we met after almost two months would be at Sunshine Manor. Not like this. The doors opened and I was hit by his aroma, taking me back to the day I met him. And I propelled myself straight into his arms.

‘Whoa,” he stumbled backward as I flung myself at him and he dropped the roses.

“I missed you so much.”

His hands were in my hair and then on my ass. His mouth on mine, his cool unicorn breath billowing over me, tongue probing at my lips, while we ground against one another. When we finally came up for breath, I knew with utmost certainty that this man, this alpha, this unicorn, was mine.

I bit his ear and whispered, “Fuck me.”

“In your office?” He glanced around. “Or out here in the elevator lobby? Might be uncomfortable on this marble floor.”

“There’s a couch in the break room.”

Daire

That’s weird. I was studying my banking app but instead of having less money than I liked, there were just zeros staring back at me. It had to be a mistake. But this was my account. It was my name in black and white. And yet the account itself was in the red.

“I’m sorry, sir, but a withdrawal was made earlier today by you.” The banking officer’s sneer carried through the phone as though he was bored dealing with stupid customers who forgot they’d taken money out.

Some hours later and after much time spent filling out forms at the local police station, it was confirmed. My identity had been stolen. It would take weeks, months or maybe years to sort out but I had Sunshine Manor to run and I couldn’t ask Micah for more money. I thanked the universe Micah’s name was on the deed as well as mine, so Sunshine Manor was safe .

I didn’t have a choice. Crawling to my parents and begging them to give me funds was my only option.

“Daire,” Father greeted me and put down the tablet he’d been studying when Dad brought me into the living room. “To what do we owe the pleasure?”

He was expecting me to say I’d failed but I’d done everything possible to keep Sunshine Manor running. I couldn’t hide what had happened so I told them everything.

“Oh, Daire, no.” Dad put an arm around me. “That’s awful.” He and Father shared a glance.

Father leaned forward. Here it comes. He’ll tell me I was stupid or careless and kick me out. “I was expecting you to ask for forgiveness long before this. But I’m impressed how you’ve stuck it out and kept Sunshine Manor running.”

I lifted my head. “You are?”

“We both are,” Dad interrupted.

“And we’ll give you money to tide you over—though the manor is still your responsibility—on one condition.”

I knew it. There had to be a catch.

Father's forehead creased. “We’ve heard you’re missing classes and close to flunking college.”

“How did you…?” I started. But father had donated money for a new library so of course he had the ear of the dean.

“Go back. Study and get your degree,” he ordered rather than suggested.

“No.”

Father’s face grew red. He wasn’t used to anyone telling him no. “What I mean is I love plants.”

That put a blank expression on both my parents’ faces. “I don’t want to sit in a lecture theater listening to a professor drone on about a subject I don’t care about. Community college. I want to study horticulture.”

Father gulped. “You want to be a gardener?”

“Yes, but more than that. I hope to have my own business one day.”

“If you’re passionate about it, then I say yes.” That was Dad. Father was still trying to get his head around me wanting to get my hands in the dirt. “But you’ll need to get a part-time job.”

“Not a problem.”

Later that afternoon, I had a job at a nursery not far from Sunshine Manor. I hadn’t been this happy in a long time.

Hey , I texted Neil when I got home. Wanna make dinner with me? We could make it a picnic and eat in the park.

I’d been neglecting Neil the last month or so. And our weekly get-togethers on the roof had been haphazard since Archer had been away. Micah was distracted. Neil said he was busy, though I was sure Ivor was often in Neil’s apartment and I’d seen the wolf shifter bringing in groceries for my old school friend. But now my future looked more rosy, I wanted to spend time with Neil.

Can’t. I’ve got a stalker .

I bounded up the stairs and pounded on his door, which probably wasn’t the smartest move as he’d told me there was some weird creepy shit happening. “It’s me. ”

It took a while for my friend to unbolt the door and he opened it a crack.

“Have you called the police?” I asked as I strode inside while Neil locked the door again.

He shook his head as I took in his pale cheeks and bloodshot eyes. “It happened a while ago.” How was it I was only finding this out now? “He’s the father of one of the kids I coach. I almost stopped coaching but Ivor’s been coming with me.”

I put my arms around him and he sobbed, his tears wetting my shirt. “Martin,” he hiccuped.

“Good you have a name we can tell the police and… wait.” I pulled away and Neil wiped his cheeks with the back of his hand. “Martin, who has a son named Toby?”

“Mmmm. You know him?”

“He’s a friend.” Or he was. If he was harassing Neil, I’d be going full grizzly on him.

“Get your beast to tear him to shreds.” It seemed my buddy was thinking the same as me. And I got that he was rattled. I would be too if I was him. But that wasn't like Neil. He hated violence of any kind. But if whatever Martin was doing scared my friend, I’d arrest his ass myself. Citizen’s arrest. That was a thing. I’d seen it on TV. I’d do it after my beast had scared the shit out of him. His fox was no match for a grizzly. “Tell me what he did, Neil?”

“The guy followed me here to Sunshine Manor,” he sobbed. “It was weeks ago and while Toby’s been at soccer practice, he’s been dropped off and collected by another parent. And other than soccer, I haven’t really been out.”

Now I felt like absolute shit. I’d let my friend down. “He came after coaching practice?”

“N-No. Another day,” he stammered. “I went downstairs to pick up a delivery and he was there.”

The poor guy was losing it and I was worried he’d need a doctor. “Did he hurt you?”

“No. Yes. No. I don’t know. He was on the porch and I ran into him.”

I placed my hands on his shoulders. “What did he say?”

“It was his fault. I said sorry and he told me it was his fault.” Those were the last sensible words I got out of him as great hacking sobs wracked his body and I wrapped him in my arms. We stood there for I don’t know how long until Neil stopped crying.

“I’ll order in food and then I’m staying here tonight.” I didn’t want him to be alone but I should have been here when it happened.

“You think he might come back?” His frightened eyes flicked to the window where the curtains were closed. “It’s been a while since he was here.”

I led him to the sofa. “Neil, I’ll do anything to make you feel safe, but I think Martin was here to see me. I saw a message from him saying he wanted to speak to me. But we never connected.” That was my fault I hadn’t texted him back.

“Maybe, but I don’t care,” he sniffed. “If he comes to see you again, tell him to stay away from me.”