Page 23 of Bear's Midlife Bridesmaid
Jace stepped up to her rock.Easier in your form than mine, that’s for sure.
Yes.Feeling frisky, she positioned her paws onthe rock and launched herself, arcing over Jace and landing on the ground on the other side of him.I’d say we each have our advantages.
A scream pierced the air around them. Erin and Jace looked at each other, both knowing that this couldn’t have anything to do with the flubbed movie. That was a scream of abject terror.
I think that was coming from over near the mini golf place.Jace headed along the stream, moving quickly now. His much longer legs and powerful muscles had him covering plenty of ground with little effort.
Erin twitched her ears as she hurried along with him, dodging around bushes and leaping over a fallen branch or two. When they got as close as they dared without leaving the safety of the trees, Erin peeked through the tall grass.
“Come on, honey. We’re getting out of here.” A woman clutched her daughter’s hand tightly as she hurried toward the exit.
“But I want to keep playing golf,” the girl insisted.
“I understand. Mini golf is a lot of fun, but not when there’s a monster around here. Just lay your club right here. That’s a girl. We’ll go find something else fun to do.” She picked up her daughter, who wasmore than old enough to be walking herself, and ran toward her car.
A young man who appeared to be a worker stood watching with bewilderment as customers fled. “Can someone tell me what’s going on around here?”
“You’ve got some sort of creature around here,” a man said. He paused just long enough to talk to the worker, but he practically vibrated with the need to leave. “I saw it with my own eyes, something big and fierce. Glowing red eyes and everything!”
“Oh, come on, mister. That doesn’t even sound real.”
The man gestured behind him. “Look at all these crying children and tell me it’s not real.” He hurried off.
Did they see us?Erin mused.
Couldn’t have,came Jace’s reply.
She startled. She hadn’t even meant to direct that message to him. The connection had simply been automatic.You’re right. We were careful, and whatever scared them came from the opposite direction.
Jace was silent for a moment. He sniffed the air, and his ears twitched.Do you sense anything off?
Erin took stock of her senses. There was an odd energy to the air, but she didn’t pick up anything indicating another animal was nearby. Even a dog orcat would be on her radar, but there was just nothing.Maybe it left. All the screaming could’ve scared it off.
Maybe so. Just to be safe, we ought to head back.
They made their way back up the creek, resuming their human configurations before they stepped onto the asphalt and walked to the car.
Jace opened the passenger door for her. “Just a typical evening at the drive-in, right?”
11
Jace pulledhis phone out of his pocket as soon as it started ringing. He saw Ian’s name across the screen. “Hey, buddy. What’s up?” Something must have been happening since Ian preferred texting to calling.
“Hey, Dad. I know you’re busy, but I was wondering if you’d come and look at an apartment with me. If you’ve got the time.”
“Sure.” Jace glanced at the pancake he’d been making. Bubbles had formed on the batter and were starting to pop. He flipped it quickly, happy to see that the other side was golden brown instead of black. It was nice to have someone to make meals for. Ian usually just snagged a protein bar and ran out the door. “Where and when?”
Ian gave him the information. “I know it’s kind of last-minute, and you’ve got Erin there?—”
“It’s fine,” Jace insisted. “I’m happy to come look at a place with you. I told you I would, and I’ll be there.”
“All right. I’ll see you there.”
As Jace hung up, Erin came into the kitchen. “Hey. What’s wrong?”
“Who says anything is wrong?” he asked.
“Your face,” she replied simply.
