Page 32 of Cider
I leaned against the wall and watched him. I was so lucky. I didn’t know how it happened, but I was thankful that we were mates.
“So, I spoke with Titus.” Billy gestured for me to sit at the counter. “Told him how you’ve wanted to go to his lodge for a long time. Does this weekend sound good?” He handed me a bag of popcorn.
Mmm. Buttery salty goodness.
“Popcorn is life.” I took another handful. “I’m sure I could get Igor to watch the shop. Let’s do it.”
“I don’t think we’ve had a vacation in awhile.” Billy offered me the sweetest smile that made my heart skip a beat. “It will be nice, even if it’s just one or two nights.”
“You’ve not taken a break from your landscaping company since you started it three years ago.” I finished the popcorn.
“Well, starting a business takes time and sweat. You’re learning that.” Billy moved to sit next to me.
“It hasn’t been so hard.” I bumped our shoulders. “It has actually been fun. After getting rid of my ex, the prank wars, and now Samuel? Other than that stuff it’s been great.”
I shuddered thinking about the chickens in my shop. Billy had been the one I’d called to come catch the little fuckers.
I was a red fox that was terrified of chickens. The irony of that was not lost on me.
When I was a little kid, I’d been exploring the woods near our house and roamed into our neighbors yard. I was used to helping out around the farm so I didn’t think much of it. I’d been in my fox form when I ended up next to the chicken coop.
Me, being the smart and responsible child that I was, had decided to pop in to say hi to them since I was friends with them in my human form. I hadn’t known that they wouldn’t know it was me.
When I’d gone in, it was like the world had ended. Most of the fur on my tail and neck had been pecked away by the time I’d made it back outside.
I still couldn’t see a live chicken without hyperventilating. I enjoyed eating them immensely in a sick revenge type of way.
“You’re just getting the hard stuff done early. It’ll be smooth sailing after.” He scratched his beard. “I’ve been thinking about shaving and doing a goatee.”
That was a change of subject.
“Um. Billy. You’re an ironic enigma. You’re a goat shifter named Billy. You eat grass for a living, and now you want a GOAT-ee?” My shoulders shook as I held back my laughter. “Really?”
His brows furrowed as he frowned. “Well, crap.” His shoulders slumped in disappointment. “Guess I shouldn’t.”
“Honey,” I swung my arm around his waist. “You want a goatee? Do it.”
His arm went around my back. “You know it’ll drive Maya nuts.”
I giggled. “Now you have to do it. Annoying your sister is top priority.”
Chapter 17
After Billy left, I decided that enough was enough. I’d give Samuel his answer and let him know that his playtime was over.
I put a break sign up at the store before I walked out. Ten minutes would do it. As I was walking toward Darcorp, I waved to Jack who was on the zamboni. He winked at me before flipping me off.
That was my mate.
My good mood helped my nerves as I pushed open the door into the nearly finished Darcorp building. The layout was similar to the larger stores around the rink. It seemed stale and, well, corporate.
Samuel was directing a pair of workers near the front of their counter. His hair was slicked back again, and as I got closer, my fox wrinkled her nose at the cologne he’d bathed in.
“Excuse me.” I stopped about three feet from him. That was the closest that I was willing to be.
Samuel turned with a frown on his face. When he saw that it was me, his frown turned into an alligator smile with all the teeth.
This guy was seriously creepy.
