Page 55 of Wolf Cursed
Apparently, my aversion to alcohol had not dimmed Idrissa’s enthusiasm about consuming it herself.
“Actually,” I said, “I could really use some new clothes.”
Her eyes lit up. “Oh, thank baby Jesus,” she said. “I was trying to be polite and not mention the whole redneck receptionist vibe you have going, but it’s seriously not okay with me.”
I looked down at the shop shirt I’d borrowed from Oscar and leggings with brake fluid stains so faint that, hopefully, no one could see them. Girl had a point.
“Let me talk to Oscar,” I said.
“We’ll talk to him together.” She followed me upstairs without waiting for a reply.
Ten minutes later, Oscar had given the green light, and I’d insisted Idrissa not subject me to her driving. Instead, we were walking the three blocks to the thrift store. I debated spilling everything to Idrissa about Drake’s accusations and what it all meant about my dad, but the moment wasn’t quite right. Or maybe I was still holding back my trust in friendship. Either way, I kept my mouth shut about all of the crazy shit that had been happening.
“I can’t believe you have me hoofing it,” Idrissa complained.
“You drive like a bat out of hell. I don’t need the heart attack today,” I said.
Before she could answer, a familiar figure waved and hurried toward us from the other end of the block.
“Hey, boo!” Isaac closed the distance and pulled me into a hug that completely lifted me off my feet. “Finally. I missed your face.”
“I thought you were on a date,” I said as he set me down.
“He wasn’t a dog person,” he said simply and Idrissa muffled a laugh. “What are you two bitchachos doing?”
“Clothes,” Idrissa said, pointing to me.
“Say no more.” Isaac grabbed my wrist and pulled me into the thrift store. “I got here just in time.”
For the next hour, the three of us pulled clothes off the rack, made choices, tried things on, and laughed until I was sure we’d get kicked out. It was the most fun I’d ever had shopping. Watching the twins poke at each other while they waited for me to check out made my chest ache with a happiness that also felt a little sad.
I was nineteen years old and just now experiencing some of life’s most simple joys for the first time. I was also being hunted by a cold-blooded killer and living under the watchful eyes of a town full of wolf shifters who thought I was the enemy. Oh, and then there was the biker gang I’d pissed off.
Life was complicated.
Outside, the twins helped me carry bags, and we visited a few more stores that left my stash of cash much smaller than when we’d started. But I had clothes. And after a week of owning literally only the clothes on my back, having possessions again—even just a few bags full—made me feel steadier somehow. Like I really did have a place in this world.
Isaac sensed my mood change and put his arm around my shoulders.
“Tell me his name, and I’ll run over his dog,” he said.
“Who’s name?” I asked.
“Whoever made you look so damn sad. I’ll kill him for you. No questions asked.”
The look on his face made it clear he meant it too. That should have disturbed me, but after the week I’d had, at least the murderer was on my side this time. Shit, where was a friend like Isaac all my life? I could have used him back at those shitty diners I’d worked at where the customers were constantly trying to get me to go with them at three am.
Okay, wow, and on that note, I was losing it.
“Actually, I was wondering when we were going to talk about the fact that the two of you are wolf shifters and you didn’t bother telling me.”
Isaac dropped his arm. “Damn. Busted.”
“We talked about it through text,” Idrissa protested.
“Not the same,” I said, pinning them both with a look.
Idrissa elbowed Isaac. “Guess you’re running over your own damn dog.”
