Page 28 of Shifter Situations

She was learning to maintain six new relationships, and none of us truly seemed to understand the complexity of that.

No. That wasn’t true. Novak had understood. He’d been himself from the moment he met her.

I’d stopped walking while I was lost in my thoughts. The scent of fresh pines and wilderness and too much blood filled my senses, bringing me back to reality. Sloane’s hand waved in front of my face.

I gazed down at her, and she quirked a curious brow as she asked, “Were you going to explain what you bring to this bromance, or should I guess?”

“I, uhm…” I trailed off, shrugging as I struggled to answer her. “I cook.”

“And?” she prompted.

“And I don’t really know. I've never thought about what I bring to the table.”

“You didn’t mention very much about yourself, and some of those things sounded like you thought you failed at them,” she acknowledged, and I couldn’t disagree with her.

“If your friendship was a house, and Stone and Novak were the foundation, as you said. Then Vaughn would be the walls, and Palmer would be the roof. York would be the doors and windows.”

I nodded. Her analogy made sense to me. It also left me thinking.

“So I’m the decor, Barbie? Is that what you’re saying?” I inquired sarcastically.

She scoffed at me. “Don’t be dense. I’m the decor. A house isn’t a home without this warmth,” she smarted, flourishing her hand to showcase herself.

I rolled my eyes. “Then I’m the yard. I think I have a spot somewhere on my body where I can add a little garden gnome tattoo.”

“You’re the nails, Briggs,” she said, grinning as she shook her head. “You hold everything together. And you’re the exterior, offering unyielding security. Your bromance had all the necessities before the furniture arrived.”

“Is she telling you about the furniture company she talked Charlie into buying?” York questioned from behind me, clearly missing the beginning of her statement.

Barbie threw her head back and groaned, “No, but thanks for reminding me of work.”

York side-eyed me as he smirked. “She bought it so she could fire one of the salesmen.”

“I did not,” she shot back.

The druid stared at her until she backtracked. “Well, maybe that was my intention at first, but he was a creepy asshole. I stand by my decision.”

I snorted at her, and she shrugged. “It was a worthwhile investment.”

“How’s that working out for you now?” York teased.

“Pleasantly. Thank you for asking,” she popped back. “The quarterly revenue is more than the original sales price now. We’ve opened up three new stores in two years, and we distribute furnishings worldwide.”

She cocked her head, playfully glaring at York with a small grin tugging at her red-stained lips. The demon snuck up behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist and propping his chin on her shoulder.

“Hypothetically,” Stone began, whispering in her ear. “If I piss you off, will you buy my practice and fire me?”

“Oh, no,” she purred. “I’d buy your practice, demote you, and then increase your hours.”

He chuckled, shaking his head, but she wasn’t done. She twisted out of his arms, standing between the two of us so she could see him.

“I’d hire several more attractive dentists and shift the advertising to something a little less… standard. Hot demon with his hands in my mouth? Yes, please.”

She hooked two fingers into the side of her mouth, pulling at her cheek before she winked at Stone. He took a step forward, stretching his arm out to grab her. She darted out of his reach, tucking herself into my side.

“Fuck with me, demon,” she sassed. “I’ll turn those boring two days a week into a busy five. You’ll be fending off horny patients trying to get a look at your tools.”

She glanced down at his tool, and Stone’s eyes closed briefly. York and I snickered as he pointed at her, struggling to collect his thoughts.