Page 41 of As The Shifter World Turns

41

A NEW ARRIVAL

Ivor

“I’m exhausted, but I love it.” That was my answer to Micah’s question of whether I was enjoying my new job. Archer’s former position. And I was telling the truth. I’d been so busy, I hadn’t had time to think about how my life had fallen apart in the past however many days it was. The unicorn shifter had been taking Elune and Patch for a walk and stopped at the gate as I got out of a rideshare. “I’ll see you on the roof once I’ve showered.”

Friday night on Sunshine Manor’s roof was my first since I’d discovered that the stag shifter had not only been sticking his dick into his ex, but had gotten him pregnant. Archer and Neil had done their best to support me and we’d had a night where we drank too much wine and threw darts—real darts—at a picture of Ryder that Neil had pinned on his wall.

I let my friends see my anger but not the hurt that was crushing the air out of my lungs and threatening to swallow me. Not wanting them to know how I cried each night with a pillow over my head because if Daire heard me, he’d try to make me feel better.

Ryder betrayed me and robbed me of what little confidence I’d built up. No. By believing him, I allowed him to do that. He didn’t have the power to just take it. That’s what Neil had drummed into my head. He was good like that. He wasn’t able to look at his own life the same way, but with his friends, he knew what to say.

But words were just that. Words. I heard what Neil was saying but my heart didn’t. I’m such a fool. Putting my trust in Ryder when I suspected deep inside that Kellan was a virus—one Ryder couldn’t rid himself of— was beyond stupid.

My wolf was trying to comfort me but he didn’t get it, not really. This was a human problem. I told him if Daire was free, we'd go to his parents’ place and I’d give him his fur. That'd be the only thing that would stop me thinking of Ryder. That and the new job.

When the end of the month came and I got my first decent paycheck, maybe I’d move out of Sunshine Manor. Except I wouldn’t. This was my home and the people living here were my family. And even though Archer and Micah and baby Elune weren’t here any more, they were in the next street and we were in and out of each other's homes all the time.

“New guy’s coming tonight.”

“Who?” I asked as Daire barreled into our apartment.

“The new tenant.”

“Whoa. When did you rent out the third bedroom?” As the majority owner of the manor—Micah had a minor share—Daire lived in the large three-bedroom apartment on the first floor. I was his roommate and the third bedroom wasn’t occupied.

“No. 3B. Micah’s old apartment. I told you about him. Seb.”

“Oh right,” I lied. He probably had talked about the guy but I had no memory of it. “Great. Will he join us on the roof?” Not that I cared. I was making polite conversation.

“Not sure. I’m going up there now. You are coming, right?”

“Mmmm.” While Daire couldn’t forbid Ryder from being there, he’d asked him to stay away from our Friday night gatherings for a while. No way did I want that damned stag shifter ruining the one night a week when the Sunshine Manor family got together.

As I stood under the shower thinking of the burger and the beer I’d enjoy later, an image of Ryder and his ex together, naked, popped into my head. “Go the fuck away,” I howled as tears mingled with the water streaming over my cheeks. Sinking onto the floor, I huddled in the corner of the shower, wishing the water could wash away my despair, loneliness and the worthless feeling that comes from the person you love cheating on you.

When I finally emerged from the bathroom, fingers and toes all pruney from being under the water so long, the phone dinged. It wasn’t him. I’d blocked him on my phone the day I walked out of the office and his life. And he and Daire had almost had a punch up when Ryder banged on our door in the middle of the night. Their voices were muffled but I heard that cheating ass yell the word “pregnant”.

Thank goodness for the new job keeping my mind occupied while learning new skills and for the money I was earning which would give me the freedom to make hard choices about where I wanted to live.

No! My beast didn’t want us to leave. Ryder’s scent was everywhere in the manor which was another reason for the hurt. I couldn’t escape him. But if anyone had to move out, I wanted it to be him. I wasn’t letting that asswipe chase me away from my found family.

I’d managed to avoid bumping into him this week as I’d had to be at work early and apart from today, I’d returned after eight each night. Neil had been my wingman and stood guard out the front before I arrived, making sure Ryder wasn’t hovering near my door.

The message on the phone was from Archer. We’re coming over now. Want us to walk you to the roof?

Yes, was what I wanted to say but I had to live without minders. Thanks, but I’m going up now, I wrote back.

Holding my nose, so I didn’t get even more of Ryder’s aroma washing over me, I walked upstairs past the second floor and 2A. I gripped the hand rail as memories slammed into me of the nights I’d spent in that apartment. Fuck you, Ryder .

Neil was waiting as I reached the roof and he gave me a one-armed hug and handed me a beer. “Thought you might need this.”

Archer and family arrived and then Toby raced up to me. “Hi, Ivor. Wanna see the latest trick I taught Patch?” Thank gods for a kid and a dog providing a distraction and getting me out of my own head. “Sure.”

“Don’t damage my plants,” Daire growled as Patch’s new trick appeared to be him trying to catch his own tail. Neither child nor dog paid him any attention. They adored the grizzly and were both aware he was a big softie.

Everyone clapped and cheered as Patch finally wore himself out and Toby put the pup in the doggy playpen while we ate our burgers and Archer had his vegetarian sausages.

“I’m hoping to convince Daire to go for a run later. Wanna come?” I asked Archer.

“Daire's right here and can hear you,” my grizzly roommate noted. That brought a smile to my lips for the first time in a week.

“I’d love to,” Archer replied.

“I’ll look after Elune, Patch and Toby if you all want to go,” Neil offered.

Martin and Micah did, and Daire agreed to take everyone in the van.

After we’d eaten, Archer and Neil took me to one side. “Ivor, Micah spoke to… ummm… you know who… and he said?—”

It was too soon. I didn’t want to hear Ryder’s excuses of, “It just happened,” or “It was one time,” or “I made a mistake.”

A car door slammed down below and interrupted whatever Archer had been trying to tell me. I tensed thinking it was him, my former lover, just come back from the office. No way would he come up here when he’d been told not to. Would he? Neil and Archer stood on either side of me while Daire peered down at the street.

“It’s Seb. The new guy.”

I put my head on Neil’s shoulder while Elune, who was in Archer’s arms, leaned over and tugged at my hair. Crisis averted, for now. Ryder and I’d come face to face at some point because we lived in the same building.

“Say hi to Seb everyone.”

We all leaned over the roof and waved at the newcomer while Daire yelled, “Hey, Seb. Welcome to Sunshine Manor. Join us for a beer.”

“Thanks but it’s going to be a long night. I’ve got at least another two trips before I’m done moving in. Next time.” He jerked his head toward a figure behind him. “I’ve got a friend helping me.”

The streetlight illuminated the guy’s face when he stepped forward.

“No freaking way. Is this someone’s idea of a joke,” I muttered

“Are you kidding me!” That was Archer.

“This can’t be happening,” Neil said.

Daire sighed. “Oh man, that’s not cool.”

Even Patch whined.

“Who is that?” Toby asked his dad.

Before Martin could answer, Ryder’s car pulled up. He got out and my heart somersaulted at the sight of the man I’d given it to. I had the satisfaction of noting his haggard face and how his clothes hung loose as though he‘d lost weight. He took one look at Seb’s friend and yelled, “You!”