Page 21 of The Werewolf Who Gave A Shift
Laughter erupted, and she grinned, sharp and confident.On the outside, she was the same Macy everyone knew.Mouthy, opinionated, and tough as nails.But beneath the banter, her heart was still stuck back at the cabin with Kaelen, with the way his hand had lingered on her cheek, the touch of his lips against hers, the way she felt safe and whole when she was with him.Turning away from the men, her easygoing smile instantly fell from her face.
Walking into the back, she went into Davey’s old office, which was now Billie Ann’s.It still felt strange not seeing Davey sitting in the chair, swearing about invoices or busted kegs.The emptiness of it hit her harder tonight, layering over the ache she was already carrying.
“Hey!”Billie Ann smiled up at her as she walked into the office.“What are you doing here so early?”
“Uh, to help set up for the Halloween party.”Macy frowned, suddenly thrown.
Billie Ann’s smile faded, her eyes sharpening with concern.“Macy, are you okay?”
“Yeah,” Macy said a little too quickly, waving a hand like it was nothing.Truth was, her head was a mess, and her heart felt like it was trying to beat its way out of her chest.“Why?”
“Because I texted you earlier.”Billie Ann leaned forward on the desk, brows drawing together.“I told you not to worry about it.I got bored and went ahead and set everything up myself.”
Macy blinked, her stomach dropping.
“Didn’t you notice when you walked in?”Billie Ann pressed, her gaze softening but unrelenting.
Macy glanced over her shoulder toward the bar, and sure enough, orange and black streamers hung from the rafters, carved pumpkins glowed from the counters, and fake cobwebs clung to the corners.Shit.
“Well, of course I noticed.”Macy lied smoothly, rolling her eyes for effect.“I just figured there was more.”
Billie Ann arched a brow.“Uh-huh.”
Macy plastered on another grin, but the truth bothered her.She hadn’t seen a damn thing.Not the pumpkins, cobwebs, or the party setup.The only image burned into her mind had been Kaelen with his golden eyes, the hardness of his body, and the dangerous pull she couldn’t seem to fight.
“Well, since I’m here and obviously don’t check my messages, what do you need me to do?”Macy asked, wanting nothing more than to steer the conversation in a totally different direction.
Billie Ann didn’t answer right away, just studied her with that steady gaze of hers.Finally, she sighed.“Well, actually, I’m glad you came in.Rafe was supposed to bartend until you got here, but Mac needed him.I’ve been trying to handle both.You want to bartend for me, and I’ll take care of the tables?”
“Sure.”Macy forced a smile and nodded, turning toward the bar.
“Macy,” Billie Ann called softly.When Macy turned back, Billie Ann’s voice was gentler.“Rafe told me what’s going on.If you need to talk, I’m here.”
Something in Macy loosened at that.“Thanks,” she said honestly, giving Billie Ann a small but genuine smile.“I’m glad you came back.”
“So am I,” Billie Ann admitted, glancing around the office.Her voice softened.“I miss him.”
“Yeah, so do I.”Macy’s gaze swept the worn space before drifting back to Billie Ann.She chuckled.“You want to start sitting at the desk, cussing and bitching like Davey used to do every single time I walked in here?That would make me miss him less.”
“You should have been here earlier,” Billie Ann laughed, shaking her head.“That’s exactly what I was doing about two hours ago.I understand Davey better now than I ever did.”
“I bet.”Macy let out a snort of laughter before stepping forward and wrapping Billie Ann in a tight hug.“You’re a good friend.”
“You’re not alone,” Billie Ann whispered back, hugging her just as fiercely.“Whatever happens with the Crows, you have us.”
Macy nodded, swallowing the lump in her throat before pulling away.She tried to lighten the mood with a grin.“I’d better get out there before the Raccoons start serving themselves.”
“That would bankrupt us.”Billie Ann smirked, shaking her head as Macy slipped out of the office.
Macy had barely reached the bar when the air shifted.The door banged open, rattling the glass, and in came Griffin with half a dozen Crows trailing behind him like shadows.The easy laughter of the room died instantly, tension sparking sharp and dangerous.
Griffin’s eyes locked on her, cold and calculating, his smile nothing but teeth.“We need to talk,” he said, his voice carrying across the bar like a threat wrapped in silk.“Your half’s due, Macy.Remember?The very day you dragged that Werewolf out of our trap.”
Billie Ann stepped forward before Macy could answer, her shoulders squared.“Back off, Griffin.This isn’t the place for your bullshit.”
Griffin ignored her, pushing through the tables until he stood in front of Macy.“Don’t hide behind your friends, Crow.You know what you owe.”
Macy’s heart pounded, but she lifted her chin, her voice steady even though her palms itched with heat.“I’m done paying.”
