Page 9 of Bloody Temptations

But they love me, and would do anything for me. Even if they don’t understand me right now. I just have to remember that. I mean, I barely understand myself. How are they going to manage it?

“Yeah, Mum. I’m good. What about you and Dad?”

She laughs, happily distracted from the touchy subject of my life choices. “Oh, we’re fine. Your father has been getting into it with Donatevic down the street again, but that’s just their way.”

My family are feline shifters—specifically domestic cats. Mr Donatevic up the street is also a feline shifter, a mountain cat. Ever since he moved in six years ago he and Dad have been at it over stupid territorial things.

“What’s he been up to?” I ask, regretting not making a bigger mug of blood. Getting comfy, I settle back and let Mum go on for a bit about the War of Winter Home Maintenance that is currently occurring on their street.

It’s not too dissimilar to the War of the Street Verges three years ago when Dad and Donatevic were literally fighting over maintaining council property, all the way up and down the street. It only ended when the whole street got together and staged an intervention to get them to knock it off.

“How’s it going on the job hunt? Any hot leads?”

I cringe at the enthusiasm in her voice and lick the line of blood running down the side of my mug.

“Nothing so far. It’s been quiet. It’s hard to find things that fit, you know?” Especially when you aren’t looking. I stopped after I got the job at ORA. Not that I’ve told her that. I don’t want to hear the disappointed “Oh love” I know I’ll get. I’ll start looking again. Eventually.

Mum tsks and makes all the right comforting sounds. “But you’re alright, love? You don’t need anything?”

There is a hint of worry in her voice as she finishes up, and it makes my heart squeeze. Even though she can’t see me, I shake my head.

“Nah, Mum, I’m good. Thanks though.” My phone buzzes against my ear and I see it’s a message from the group chat Bedeer added me to. “I gotta go, though. I’ll call soon, okay? Love you.”

We get through our goodbyes and I check the message. A bunch more have come through already. It’s super overwhelming. I have never been in a group chat before. I mean, I had friends back in Twin Heads, but they were all individual friends. And considering how often I’ve talked to them since moving, we weren’t even that close.

I rub my feet together like a cricket and pull the throw blanket over me. Nights in this apartment get so cold even I can feel how freezing it is. Thumbing my way back through the messages, panic hits for a moment when I realise they are planning to head out for the night and Bloody Temptations has been thrown into the mix.

Thankfully, Willan nixes that idea and insists that they go anywhere but there—Gods bless that mage. After a little bit of loving bullying by Jesminda, they settle on a more high class cocktail bar on the other side of the city to catch up with some of her other friends. I readtheir messages with the detached interest of an observer until my name pings in the group.

Lusce

Yo, @Finn - you coming or what? Stop lurking like a weirdo.

I blush furiously, caught between feeling like a jackass and elated that they’d thought of me. Well, Lusce had-he sent the message. But everyone else seems to be giving it the thumbs up.

The fuzzy warmth of acceptance fills my chest, my teeth biting into my lip to rein in my stupid little smile while I quickly type out my message.

Sorry guys, can’t tonight. Next time?

Lusce

Got a better offer have you? *winky face emoji*

Bedeer

Pfft - what’s better than us?

Jax

Rejected! You’re breaking my heart!

Jesminda

You guys are losers. Have fun @Finn but next time you have to come so you can save me from these dorks

Lol, thanks guys. Just got stuff I need to do. But next time, definitely. Just let me know whenand where.

The group chat descends into plans for their night and then eventually just Bedeer and Jax bombing the group with increasingly bizarre memes, so I don’t feel bad about muting the chat. After messing around a little too long on my phone, I realise that I distracted myself from my nervous excitement a little too well—I am going to be late.

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