Page 22 of Bear's Midlife Bridesmaid
Jace rolled down the window when he saw a staff member moving through the rows of cars. “I’m sorry, folks. We’re having some issues with the projector. It looks like it’s going to be a while.”
“I want a refund!” a man demanded a few cars over.
“You’ll need to speak with the manager,” the employee began.
“Bring him here,” the man insisted.
“Sir, if you can just hold on for a minute?—”
But the angry customer’s tirade was enough to spark the frustrations of everyone else who’d come to see a movie. Cars began backing out of their spots, all heading toward the exit at the same time. A sedan and a coupe were at an impasse as to who should be able to go first, each of them creeping forward inch by inch as they tried to get an edge on the others.
Erin looked up at the screen, but it wasn’t any better. “I’m sorry about your movie.”
“No, that’s fine,” Jace replied easily. Unlike the other customers, he hadn’t even turned on the engine. “I’ve seen it before, and I just wanted to be here with you. I know somethingelse we can do.”
“How are we supposed to make out if there’s not even a movie we’re pretending to watch?” she joked.
Jace laughed and opened the door. “Come on.”
“Where are we going?” Erin looked at the herd of cars trying to escape the lot.
He took her hand once again, a habit she was really beginning to like. “I don’t see any point in sitting in the car fighting the crowd. We can leave later once it’s all calmed down. For now, we can take a walk.” Instead of heading toward the ice cream bar or the mini golf course, Jace moved toward the woods.
Erin stepped under the trees with him, leaving behind the honking cars and angry customers. Her animal senses, aware even when she was in human form, told her that the wooded space was small but free of other humans. The earth was damp and fragrant from the day of rain, and a few drops still dripped from the overhead leaves. A creek moved through the trees, rushing with water.
Jace let go of her hand. As Erin turned to look at him, she saw that he was no longer standing there—or at least, not the version of him she was used to. He’d let out the other side of him, the side she’d known and sensed but had yet to see. Jace’s shift had been a quick one, and she now stood next to a blackbear. His thick, dark fur covered a bulky, muscular body. The long claws on his big paws dug easily into the soft ground, and he gazed at her with placid brown eyes.
“I see,” she murmured, reaching out to touch one of his ears. It was small and soft, a contrast to his large size and the fact that he could probably tear someone apart with very little effort.
Erin knew it was her turn. She wanted to show Jace her true self. He’d already seen every part of her human form, and she was eager to share this secret with him. It was still a bit difficult to shift in front of someone who hadn’t seen her do so before. Erin filled her lungs and then let the breath go, allowing her human side to go with it. She felt herself shrinking, falling into her other form. Her bones and organs shifted and changed, and she heard several pops in her skull as she accommodated this other shape. Her stomach jumped and swirled. That wasn’t unusual as she tried to fit into the small beast, but it jumped more than usual this time. Erin stretched from her neck to her stubby tail.
You’re stunning.Jace’s voice was in her head, communicating with her without any need for spoken words.
She cherished hearing that, not so much becauseit was a compliment but because she knew they wouldn’t be able to talk like this if they didn’t have the fated bond. Erin looked up at him and took a step back. He loomed over her.And you’re huge!
I’m pretty average amongst all the other bears I know.Jace took a step into the creek, letting the water rush over his paws.Maybe I should’ve thought about this a little more, though. You probably don’t like water.
Erin judged the distance before she made an easy leap from the bank to a large rock in the middle of the creek.I don’t mind it that much, but I can find a way to get around it when I need to.Her landing hadn’t been quite right, leaving her just a touch off-balance, but she’d made it.
Jace crossed to the other side.Do you get much chance to be in your bobcat when you’re at home?
I manage, just like anyone else.She leaped after him, landing more easily this time.I can slip around unnoticed fairly easily. I don’t imagine that’s quite the case for someone your size.
Are you calling me fat?There was humor in his voice even when they spoke this way.And actually, I have quite a bit of time to be myself. We own a whole segment of the beach, and it’s out of the way. There’s no danger to us.
That sounds nice.It really did. Erin could understand why they’d all stayed, living next to family instead of trying to find places of their own. She’d been lucky enough to find a group she was truly comfortable with, who loved, accepted, and looked out for her, but she knew that all shifters weren’t that fortunate.
How do you get away with it?
What?
Well, I don’t know what your situation is like there in Salem, really. I just mean, where are you able to shift safely?They’d reached the other side of the creek and were moving along it now, walking slowly.
Erin dodged between his legs, timing her steps so she walked beneath him.It’s easy when you’re small.
Jace picked up a front paw and attempted to look at her.You’re not exactly a housecat.
Close enough.Erin slipped out the other side and hopped up onto a rock.I’m still careful not to be seen, and we actually have some great parks and conservation areas. I admit that, now and then, I’ve taken advantage of the fact that people in Salem expect to see the unusual.
