Page 16 of The Time It Takes

"You know a lot more about shifters than I do," I said. And though I hated to admit it, I added, "You probably know more about love, too."

His response was swift, like he didn't even have to think about it. "Are you kidding? You definitely loved her or you wouldn't have stuck it out that long." He said this with conviction, maybe even like it pissed him off. There wasn't even a hint of just being nice in his tone. "If you hadn't loved her, you'd have been gone after the first couple of times she played mind games with you." He shook his head, mouth twisting. "I don't want to talk about her."

Yeah. Me neither. It shook me up a little, though, to realize what strong opinions he'd formed about my relationship with Darby—and pretty accurate ones, too.

Sometimes being with Darby had felt like one long mind game—one I hadn't started, didn't want to play, and was definitely losing. Sometimes I wondered if, beneath everything else, she had ever even liked me to begin with. Was I just someone who didn't measure up to the imaginary boyfriend she actually wanted—the docile, perfect mind reader with no needs or opinions of his own? It was a disturbing thought, and I always pushed it away.

I didn't want to think the whole thing had been ugly from day one. I wanted to believe there'd been something real there once, not just for me, but for her, too. Then again, if it wasn't true, what good did it do to kid myself?

Maybe I'd never know the truth. I wondered if that was better, or worse.

"It's my turn for relationship drama," he pointed out. "Okay. So if I date men and the pack starts getting at me about it, you'll back me up, right? It's not going to be one of those things where I have to deal with it myself, because I'm not doing that again."

Again?

"Uh, I'll back you up," I said. "Just tell me what you need from me."

"Stick up for me. You're my partner, and they take you seriously. I don't want to have any little heart-to-hearts about who I choose to date, unless you're with me as backup."

"Of course," I said, startled that he had so much worry about this. Did he really think I'd abandon him? I guess I'd been in my own head a lot lately, and pretty distracted for even longer than that, but I was there when he needed me, wasn't I? "Have I been letting you down or something? You need to let me know that kind of thing. I wouldn't purposely leave you on your own with a problem."

He shot me a glance and then looked at me longer. "No. You just seem distant, and since you're mad at me about who I date anyway, I wasn't sure. I just don't want to be left on my own if I make a change and it causes trouble."

"Should you talk to someone first? Or should I?" I could warn them off, I suppose, or get the lay of the land. "Want me to test the waters for you?"

He thought about that. Tapped his fingers on the wheel some more. "Maybe. I don't know. Let me think about it for a day or two."

"Okay." I picked up my phone again, ready to scroll, to get my attention off him so hopefully he could calm down more easily.

Then I paused. "By the way. I'm not sure if this matters. But. Uh. Ellie asked me if I'd date her." I sighed. "I said no, of course. Her feelings might be kinda hurt. I don't know. I'm not sure how I should've handled that. But I couldn't let her think it was a possibility. And it was kind of a surprise." I shrugged, trying not to look as self-conscious as I felt. I was sure Arlie knew I wasn't bragging about being hit on by the good-looking younger woman, but I still felt awkward talking about this. Everything about Ellie's revelation had been awkward, at least for me.

He stared at me. When he remembered, he blinked. "Are you kidding?"

I put my phone down again. I'd been trying to hide behind it. "What?"

His mouth twitched into a smile. He looked like he was trying not to laugh at me.

"What?"I said again.

"Everybody noticed but you. So she finally got up the nerve to actually say what she meant. Wow. I mean, that's some growth."

I stared at him. "You knew she was...? You mean she had a crush on me and you knew?"

He shrugged. "I figured you didn't want to know. It was kind of obvious."

"Not to me." I gave him a hard look. "You have these shifter senses and you can read people better than me. Fine, but don't act like I'm supposed to just know. Clue me in next time."

"Really?" He stared at me. "She was all over you every chance she got. Every time she could, she'd get near you or try to talk to you or get your attention somehow or other. It was pretty obvious. She didn't jump up and scream 'look at me,' but just about. You didn't have to be a shifter to see it."

"Well, I didn't."

He tilted a palm. "Yeah, because you didn't want to."

"That's not true. I thought she was just being friendly. She's friendly with everyone."

"Not me," pointed out Arlie.

I stared at him. Not friendly with Arlie?