Page 66 of As The Shifter World Turns

66

MOVING ON

Ryder

The knocking at the door startled me. I was working from home mostly because I was in a grumpy mood. I didn’t even know why. I just was.

And there was no reason to be. Things were looking great in my life. Ivor and I were mated and were having a healthy baby girl. Work was profitable, and I finally felt like I could breathe again.

And yet today I was a grumpalumpagus.

“Coming.” I shut my laptop and padded off to the door, surprised to find that it was Daire. “Hey, what brings you here?”

“A bunch of things. Wanna grab a bite at the pizza place?” he asked, his hands in his pockets.

“Yeah, sure. Let me grab my keys.” Ivor was at work all day, but I’d text him to see if he wanted me to order him food when we got to the pizza place. Maybe that was why I was grumpy. It was a work in the office day for my mate and I missed him. Missing him while I was at work was different than missing him while I was home.

“It’s a nice day out,” I said after we walked in silence all the way to the corner.

“It is.”

“Okay, fess up, what’s wrong.” This wasn’t just him wanting pizza.

“Kind of a lot of things. The deal fell through.” That explained why he was home. “And it’s having me see things a bit differently.”

“Oh man, I’m sorry. I’m a good listener. Just talk my ears off.” We turned in the direction of the pizza place and by the time we arrived he’d told me about how the deal had been his way to show his parents that he had made it—been successful without them.

They might be nice and let us use their properties when we shifted and all that, but at their core they were pretty much assholes.

“It just means that a sale fell through, not that you aren’t successful. The fact that they wanted to buy it was huge,” I said, grabbing the door handle. “This shows that they were not financially strong enough because your company is so freaking fantastic it's worth more than they could pay.” That earned me a small smile and I opened the door.

We ordered at the counter and found a table in the back. I had a feeling he still had more to say. It’s a lot to unpack when you have your self-worth defined by what shitty people who are supposed to lift you up, but rarely do, think.

“Thanks.” Daire sat, setting his soda down a bit too hard, and it splashed on the table.

“No problem. I was kinda grumpy and as you know, melted cheese cures everything.” Or at least that was my theory. Cheese made everything better.

“What were you grumpy about?” He tore the paper from his straw and plopped it inside his cup—another splash. Oh Daire, he was still upset about his parents and what they might think.

“Not sure. Mostly because Ivor wasn’t home.” I forced a chuckle, but it wasn’t funny. Or maybe it was.

“I was thinking about that, actually.” He took a long sip of his soda and I still hadn’t put the straw in mine.

“About Ivor not being home?”

“No. About your home with Ivor. What if you moved into 1A? It will be easy as he gets bigger ‘cause no stairs, it has room for the baby and a home office. And really, you need the space far more than I do.”

Three bedrooms would be nice, but also, it was Daire’s apartment in his building. It didn’t feel quite right.

“We’re fine in 2A.” He raised an eyebrow at my words and gave me a full on oh really, you think I believe that face. “I mean it would be nice, but it’s your place. You need it too.”

They called our number and he bounced up to get the pizza. I took out my phone and sent Ivor a quick message to see if he wanted anything.

Yes. Garlic knots, sausage and mushroom pizza and if they have any of those chocolate-filled dough thingies they sometimes have.

My mate was hungry. Good. It was so much better than when he had been puking. Some days had been for puking and others not. Now all the days were non-pukey.

Oh, and I love you, mate. That one had me smiling.

As I love you, omega mine. Daire offered us 1A, should we take it? It wasn’t the best way to discuss life decisions, but at least I would know if it was a hard pass .

Maybe. See about the rent and such. I would, but even if it was a good chunk more than mine, I could afford it easily.

I will. Love you.

Love you.

“Pizza is served.”

“Let me order for Ivor. I’ll be right back.” I raced to the counter, happy to see they did have the chocolate things. When I got back to the table, Daire had served up a slice for each of us.

“This looks amazing. What a great idea.” I took a bite. Better than great.

“I have a lot of them, like you moving into my place.”

“Ivor said it was fine depending on the rent.”

“I love that you asked him already.” He bent his slice in half. “It’s 10% higher.” That didn’t sound like enough, but I was going to take it.

“Done. Are you just swapping with us?” That would be a nightmare to arrange, but doable if we stacked things in the hallway carefully enough.

“I was thinking I would take Seb’s old place.” Not that it had been his place for long. “It’s move-in ready and then I can work on 2A. Paint and carpets, of course, but I was also toying with the idea of redoing the kitchen. Maybe fancy it up a bit... add a bit of equity.”

“Sounds like you’ve been thinking a lot about this.”

“I have. I mean, if I can build up a business that is worth selling, why can’t I build up Sunshine Manor, too?” he said and I nearly dropped my pizza. “Not to sell it, but to show my parents that I have a clue.”

“Sometimes I really don’t like your folks.” That was out of my lips before I could stop myself. “I mean they’re nice to let us… run and all, but they’re pretty shitty to you a lot of the time.”

“They do the best they can.” He shrugged. “And part of it is I care about what they think. And that’s on me. But I’m trying not to let their disapproval limit me from reaching my goals anymore.”

Daire leaned in closer and spoke softly, “Micah and I will still look for a buyer for our company and if we find one I might start investing in more rental places. Like, Sunshine Manor will be my home, but perhaps I could look at some other apartments or houses in the area when they turn up. Micah and I stage homes—that’s our job—at least for the moment until we find a buyer for the company, so I get a first glimpse of what’s on offer. What do you think?”

“I think you can do anything you put your mind to and if this is something that will make you happy, you should do it. Is it what makes you happy?”

He took another bite of his pizza, chewing softly. He was thinking about it—really thinking about it.

“I love plants and my videos, and while I make great money, my parents don’t think it’s a real job.” He put his hand up as I started to speak. “I know, I know. I’m not letting their opinions influence me.” He chewed his pizza. “But it’s nice to have something else other than making my videos, and I think I can have both. ”

“Then you deserve both, but I have to let you in on a little secret.” That caught his attention. “A three bedroom apartment is worth more than 10% of what we’re paying now.”

“But a new start is priceless. For me and for you and Ivor, and that kind of feels like what this is.”

We finished eating, the conversation veering towards things like movies and video games. We ate the entire pizza and by the time they called me for Ivor’s order, we were ready to burst.

“Good thing we walked.” He grabbed one of the boxes. “I need to work some of this off.”

“But doesn’t sitting down on the couch and falling asleep to a movie sound about perfect after a meal like that?” I let out a yawn because yes, I was that full.

“It does. Can you call your boss and see if you can take the afternoon off?”

“You know what? I think I can,” I teased. “Hey me, can I be a slug and watch the new vampire movie? Why yes, me, you can.”

It was a slow enough day and I hadn’t really been getting much done anyway. If Daire needed time with a friend, I was there for him. He’d been there for me more times than I could count. And now that the whole business with Seb and my ex was done and dusted, we were back to where we’d always been. Friends.

“My boss said yes.”

“Perfect. Let’s go be slugs.”