Page 27 of Shifting Years
"Why?"
"Because he's my responsibility and you told me a man cleans up his own mess. I lost my wallet when I should have taken better care of it."
A no was expected, but his father nodded slowly. "Out of town by sundown, or else." It had the tone of something repeated often.
Being around Todd wasn't bad for me, but I was too chaotic for his life. I grabbed the backpack without asking and gave thanks to the universe I wasn't driven out of town with a single police officer. Bobby told me a story where it happened to him, and I didn't want the shared experience.
I followed Todd out, ignoring the stares of short-haired officers who now felt comfortable staring at a pair of young men. When Todd became their commander, things would change.
He wasn't officially on the force, but a policeman's son picked up keys and signed out for a patrol car. Once we were alone and nearing the town's edge, I finally spoke. "Thank you, but you're letting that poor girl marry you."
"I'll fix myself. Donna and I will be fine." Her name burned into my mind as he described how he'd propose in front of her brick home, mentioning the two tall trees they'd use for the wedding ceremony. He then added, "I did it to get you away from him. At least one person should."
"Marrying someone you don't love is a mistake," I said softly.
"You… you're a mistake." His forehead wrinkled. "Not you, but this fantasy life you think we can live. My father knows you're gay. He saw the book. Do you think you can stick around after I marry Donna?"
The faint, sour garbage scent filled the air again. "You don't plan on marrying her." It wasn't a question.
His eyes widened as I tapped my head. "Not ESP, just common sense."
His wide shoulders slumped as he drove. "I'm enlisting after I break it off with her."
"Won't your father say something?"
"I'll be overseas, and the war will be over soon. It's us against a tiny, jungle country. You do the math. After the war, I'll re-enlist and get transferred to a base far away from here."
Away from me.
***
"Did you?" asked Kim, leaning forward.
"Go overseas?" asked Todd. "Not as fast as I thought and not by enlisting. I went to tell my poor girl it was over. She deserved a husband who loved her in the bedroom."
"We're just good in that room," said Kim about his Alpha. "You both had to deal with society and, well, not really liking each other and you got together." It sounded like a question.
"Our problems aren't yours."
Todd nodded. "It's about respecting the other."
Solid advice but my Alpha hit a sore spot as Kim caressed his red hair. "I wanted a mohawk, so Idisobeyedhim. He said I looked like a rooster and made chicken sounds."
"Well, that wasn't nice at all." I held his soft hands and mirrored his breathing. "You know they used to make fun of Bowie."
The kid leaned forward with wide eyes. "Did you know him?"
"Only saw the man in concert, but he was proudlyweirdand himself. A few years later, everyone wanted to be him."
He nodded that he heard and turned toward my Alpha. "Did you ever talk to Donna?"
"Yes, and I had my first experience with Disbelief," said Todd. "It's a great tool for hiding our world, but it breaks holes in reality sometimes."
Disbelief is humanity's subconscious, and itknowsthere's no such thing as the paranormal. They're wrong, and yet not, since they can make the universe work to their understanding. Sometimes it's convincing themselves. A pale, strong man isn't a vampire, but a druggie having an adrenaline rush. Two shifters in wolf form are only large dogs or simple wolves. But sometimes, it's so blatant or overpowering, that their worldview takes over.
"I wonder if what happened to her was a kindness," I said carefully.
"Some people become monsters," said Todd. "Others lose their powers and some blip from reality. Donna blanked."
