Page 6 of To Teleport, or Not to Teleport?
I took in his face. Traces of the boy I remembered were there, but a new layer had been added, by the man he’d gone out into the world and forged.
“You left,” Cami said. “Look, by some miracle I haven’t had a customer, so tell us what you saw, and maybe we can piece it together.”
“I had my reasons,” he said quietly.
“I know,” I whispered and cleared my throat. “Whatever I saw is about you. I smelled copper, maybe iron off you. Quite a few images flew by, like when skimming a book, flipping the pages quickly but never getting all the details. The images were mostly a blur, but the feeling…” I shuddered and rubbed my arms. “Malicious isn’t a strong enough description. Your return isn’t going to go smoothly.”
My final words fell between us like lead as fear seeped into my cells. Would he leave Assjacket? For good this time? Leave me behind once more? The town he’d been born in was filled with people who thought the worst of him. His mother, Cami, and me were the few who knew the boy he’d been. I didn’t want to imagine losing him again.
Grayson scoffed. “We didn’t need one of your visions to tell us something obvious.”
Anger bubbled in me as threads of darkness inside me wrapped tightly around my cells. “Dagnabbit, Grayson! This doesn’t feel like bumpkin, small-town gossip. Whatever is going on, or I should say whoever, doesn’t want you here and will probably do whatever they can to get rid of you.”
He closed the distance between us, and my heart jumped into my throat. “I’m not the boy I once was, Aileen. No one is going to drive me away.” His gaze lowered to my lips, both confusing and exhilarating me. “It’s time I claim what is mine.”
Chapter 3
Cami jumped at my side when the bell over the door announced a customer. “Hi, Mrs. Troop, what treat can I send you home with today?”
“Grayson? Is that you, dear?” Mrs. Troop asked.
Grayson’s gaze skimmed my face one last time before he turned toward Mrs. Troop, a bobcat Shifter. Like her cat, she was small and fierce. She’d been our fifth-grade teacher, and no one dared give her any trouble.
“Good to see you, Mrs. Troop.”
I wrapped my arms around my middle as a chill ran up my skin without his nearness. Unable to process that realization, I watched Mrs. Troop demand Grayson go to her.
“Now that’s better,” Mrs. Troop said. “You look well. What took you so long to return to us?”
“I had a few things I needed to do first, ma’am,” he said, and I wished I could see his face.
Mrs. Troop patted his cheek and smiled fondly. “I’m so glad you’re home.”
He scoffed. “Not everyone is.”
“I expect that may be true, but the ones who matter are happy about it. I’m looking forward to seeing your shop open later this week.”
Shop? Grayson had a shop? What sort of shop? Why didn’t I know about this?
My thoughts zoomed by a mile a minute before they landed on Cami, who didn’t share my same bewildered expression. In silence, I watched money exchanged for a box of goodies Mrs. Troop bought before waving good-bye.
The bell signaled her departure as Grayson stepped to the counter. “Can I get one of your coffees and a box of a variety of desserts to take back to my guys?”
I snapped from my stupor at his words. “Guys? Shop? What is happening?”
“You didn’t know—”
Grayson tapped the top of the case Cami was digging around in. “I got this, Cam. I’m opening a shop where people can buy goods I’ve crafted. I’d love to show you around and grab a bite of dinner after so we can catch up.”
I couldn’t help but stare at him. His words processed slowly, until Cami smacked my arm.
“She’s available around six, but I suggest you feed her first,” Cami said, sliding a box across the counter.
I had no idea what was up or down. Instead, I watched him like a deer in headlights as he flashed me a look that heated me in the most exciting and confusing of ways.
“He’s gone…” Cami said and moved into my line of sight.
“You knew about the shop?” I snapped.
