Page 4 of Just in Time
Hell’s bells. This woman was set on trying my patience.
“We’re doingfine, Momma. Fine enough to pay for our own groceries…”
“Not with all the red meat he eats, I’ll bet. Are you buying it from the Piggly Wiggly? Because that stuff’s full of hormones and antibiotics and—”
“Momma, he doesn’t eat any more red meat than the average person. That’s a myth about shifters and you know it.”
She sniffed derisively. “I’m just saying… Geri’s son is back in town. Did you see?”
“Did I seewhat?” I asked, frowning. “You think I just wait around the town square to pick up on gossip?”
“Oh, it’s old-what’s-his-name… Pete Wheeler? You know. Geri Wheeler’s boy. He graduated with you.”
“Yeah. I remember Pete. What about him?” Of course I remembered Pete. He was the only other witch my age growing up.
“He’s back in town,” she said, like that was supposed to explain everything.
“Good for him?” I countered, taking a microscopic step back towards the door to start inching my way out.
“No, you should go say hi to him. He’s gonna work at that boutique on the square.”
“I will, but I don’t think you should get your hopes up. For a few reasons. Like, he’s not interested in me, never has been, and then there’s that pesky long-term loving relationship I’ve been in for over a year..”
“Don’t dash a mother’s dreams,” she scolded.
“Momma…” I said, not bothering to hide my annoyance.
“Listen, I know you think this Wolf-man’s the shit right now…”
“Oh gods…”I groaned under my breath. “Momma… could I maybe visit you one time where you don’t do this?”
“I dunno, maybe if you came by more often, but you don’t so I have to squeeze everything into one visit a month,” she said, the salt practically crystalizing on her words. “But their kind, they don’t know what monogamy is… you know those packs they’re in? Theysharethe woman, Lily. And you know what that means… I think they call them…” she paused, looking around the empty shop as if it was some kind of big secret before whispering, “Gang bangs.”
“Momma!” I said sharply. “Momma, I’m with Brody. And I’m gonna stay with Brody for the foreseeable future. And if he ever becomes part of a pack that wants to share me, well…” I threw up my hands. “The more the merrier.”
I grinned as I turned around, waving goodbye to my sputtering mother as I left the store, my ill-gotten-kale in hand.
