13. Dancing the night away
13
DANCING THE NIGHT AWAY
Archer
I’d counted the number of spots on the ceiling. Flipped through TV channels and given up. Read half a chapter of a book and got bored. Being cooped up in my apartment was ridiculous. And it wasn’t as though I was hiding from Micah. I wasn’t.
We’d nodded politely at one another when we crossed paths, literally, coming in the front gate. He must have arrived in a rideshare as I couldn’t see his car out front and he was dressed for work and carrying a huge ass bag of something. He appeared to be wearing make up so probably had been doing his regular TV segments where he told viewers how to spruce up their homes before putting them on the market. But I wasn’t looking at his face. Nope. Not me.
We’d done that stupid routine where we both tried to go through the gate at the same time and then Micah said, “After you,” and I protested and replied, “No, you first.” Daire, who'd been on the front porch sanding off flaking paint, rolled his eyes at us.
The narrow staircase wasn’t wide enough for both of us to go up side by side. Whoever went last got to stare at the other’s ass. I didn’t want to be the one looking or the one whose butt was on display so I’d fibbed and said, “Gotta see Ivor,” hoping my fellow wolf shifter was home. He wasn’t, but by the time I discovered that, Micah had stomped up the stairs and slammed his door.
And now I was itching to forget about Micah, just for the evening. I thought about asking Neil and Ivor if they wanted to go out, but wasn’t sure if Ivor could afford it. But as the room got dark and I couldn’t reach the lamp, and I lay there wondering what to eat for dinner, the phone beeped.
Wanna go out for a beer? From Ivor.
Pizza and beer. And we ask Neil too. If Neil was given a warning that we were going out, he’d probably be okay, especially as he was with us. Him venturing outside by himself was a different ball game.
Okay , Neil responded when I asked.
I’d never been so excited to leave the house. All for pizza and a beer we could have had at home on the roof. But that was one of Micah’s favorite places. He loved being close to the moon.
I tore down the stairs, not caring if Micah heard me. If things had been different, I would have been in his bed. But that wasn’t happening.
“Ready?” Ivor asked as I reached the front door.
“Should I get Neil?” I asked.
“Nope. I’m here.”
The rideshare arrived and we headed to a bar near Ivor’s college campus that was popular with students. And cheap. It was crowded, which wasn’t surprising, with college kids spilling out onto the sidewalk. We sat at the bar for a while, until Ivor nabbed us a booth.
“You’re good,” I told him as I threw myself onto the seat, like a baseball player skidding into home base, and was given side eye by the couple who’d wanted the booth.
Once our beers arrived and we’d ordered a small vegetarian pizza for me and meat something something for the carnivores, my two companions shared a glance. “So,” Neil began. “Spill, Archer.”
Fuck I wasn’t expecting the inquisition. I pretended to not know what they were talking about. “My beer? The night is young. Wait until I’ve had a few more.”
Ivor made a face. “You. Micah. Details.”
“Up until the day we put off the potential Sunshine Manor buyers, you two couldn’t keep your hands and eyes off one another. Then you spent a night or two at Daire and Ivor’s.” Neil paused for breath.
Ivor took over the story. “One minute Daire tells me you’re leaving and he’s looking for a new tenant. And next he says you’re not going anywhere.” He was waving a slice of pizza in the air as he spoke.
Neil twisted his napkin. “I thought we were your friends. But you didn’t share any of this with us other than Yes , No , Maybe, answers to our texts. And…” he nibbled his bottom lip. “I’m a little hurt.”
“Me too,” Ivor spoke with food in his mouth.
“Sorry, guys. I made some bad decisions—one in particular—and I needed to figure out what I was doing. And I kinda fucked that up too thinking I was leaving Sunshine Manor and then changing my mind.”
“Or did someone change your mind?” Ivor asked.
“No. That was all me. ”
“Okay. But why did you want to go? We bounced all the wanna be owners of Sunshine Manor. There’s no need to move.” Neil was peeling the pepperoni off his pizza and putting it to one side.
“If you don’t want that, I’ll eat it,” Ivor said.
Neil slapped his hand. “Don’t you dare. I’m going to have it last.”
I giggled at the pair squabbling. I’d missed this. Being around friends.
“Micah.” I leaned forward. “I slept with him.”
Pizza fell from Ivor’s mouth and Neil handed him a napkin. “How can you not have guessed?” Neil asked as he bumped his friend’s elbow. “He stayed at your place.”
“Yeah, but we didn’t discuss his love life.”
“Should I leave and let you two argue?” I asked.
“You’re not going anywhere,” Neil told me, his face all frowny and stern, and I imagined him speaking to his clients that way. It wasn’t a surprise he made such good money and had many returning customers.
“Is it true what they say about unicorns?” Ivor asked.
“What do they say?”
“That they’re really good in bed,” Neil added.
“I’ve never heard that,” I said. “Who told you?” For a human, Neil sure knew a lot about shifters.
“Got it from Daire?” Ivor offered.
“Yup.”
I chose my words carefully. “He’s a very attentive and accomplished lover.” Visions of Micah’s dick had me gulping beer and some of it trickled over my chin.
“Yeah he’s had a lot of practice being in his 30s and he lived with Jason for a while.” There was a thump under the table, and Ivor yelled, “Owww.”
“Don’t talk about Micah’s past in front of Archer.”
“Doesn’t matter,” I sighed. “We’re not together and we never will be.”
“What?” they shouted.
I filled them in and we went back and forth. Neil repeated what he’d told me once before that it might work out. Ivor said I was best to get out before I got hurt. Too late .
Neil raised his hand. “I’ve got some news.” I was eager to get the attention off me and listen as he detailed his job offer. Well, it was more volunteering than paid work.
“It might lead to bigger opportunities,” I told him but as the words left my mouth, the look of horror on his face told me I’d said the wrong thing.
Ivor flung an arm over Neil’s shoulder. “What Archer means is that if you accept it, at some point once you feel comfortable, you might be able to look beyond a volunteer position and find a paying one.”
“Yeah, that.” Who would have thought Ivor could be so eloquent. He obviously knew Neil way better than I did and sussed out what made the guy uncomfortable .
“Maybe,” Neil agreed. “The problem is my current work pays so well.”
We had no comeback to that.
“Isn’t anyone going to ask me about my love life?” Ivor asked.
“You said there was nothing to tell last time,” I told him.
“No change there,” he noted. “Except…” His voice trailed away.
Neil removed the pizza out of Ivor’s reach. “No more food until you tell us what you’ve been up to?”
“I’ve been working for Ryder and Kellan keeps popping in.”
I butted in. “Don’t mention that asswipe.”
“What’s Kellan got to do with anything?”
“Nothing really, I’m just building up to the main event.”
“When you and Ryder caught one another’s eye over the top of a monitor or a pile of boxes, ripped your clothes off and got caught fucking by Kellan when he waltzed in,” Neil suggested.
“That's so good. I’d love to see Kellan’s face,” I agreed.
“Guys,” Ivor raised his voice. “Are you listening?”
“Yes, but you’re not telling us anything,” I said.
Ivor squirmed in his seat. ”Feel a bit silly now.”
“Oh, we’re sorry,” Neil apologized. “Go on.”
“I have a crush on Ryder.”
I hadn’t been expecting that. There was so much to unpack in that sentence. Ryder who was still hung up on Kellan and might be for years to come. And Ivor who was grateful to Ryder for giving him a job.
Neil flashed me a look but Ivor said, “I know nothing can come of it because of Kellan and how he has a grip on Ryder’s heart.”
“I’m not sure that’s entirely true,” Neil offered.
“More like got his balls in a vise,” I said.
“Ewww.” Ivor made a face.
“It’s Ryder being Ryder, not wanting to admit he fucked up. He’s only human,” Neil said.
“Not exactly,” I sniggered.
Neil slapped a hand over his mouth and giggled. “You know what I mean.”
Ivor guffawed and almost elbowed the waiter as he brought over a jug of beer. “Compliments of the gentlemen at the bar.” The guy jerked his head at three college kids who waved at us. They hardly looked old enough to drink.
Poor Neil. He huddled in the corner of the booth. “This makes me uncomfortable, guys.”
“Nothing’s going to happen, Neil. We’re not going to run off and sleep with them. Unless Ivor’s planning on having a hot date with one.” I reached across the table and patted his hand. “Why don’t we get up and dance?” There was a small dance floor and two couples were shuffling around to the music provided by what was likely a local band made up of students. “We’ll hold hands.”
While Neil wasn’t keen on dancing, he also didn’t want to sit in the booth by himself. We dragged him out. Ivor bopped around, humming to himself while Neil was a great dancer, he reminded me of a rubber band he was so flexible. Me, I kept both feet on the floor as I was a sway from side to side kind of guy.
The three students who bought the beer got up and danced around us. They were freshmen and must have had fake IDs. But they were sweet and talked about where they came from and what they were studying. Neil had a vise-like grip on my hand but he chatted with them. They probably thought we were a couple or maybe a threesome with Ivor.
This is fun. We could do this more often, I thought as Neil elbowed me. I followed his gaze and squinted. “No!” At a booth near the entrance, both of them staring in our direction, sat Ryder and Micah.
“What?” Ivor froze and then hid behind me. He peeked over my shoulder. “What are they doing here?”
“Not sure about your boss slash crush, but I’m being followed. The fucking nerve.”
The three college guys backed away. “Sorry. Nothing to do with you. Thanks for the beer and the dance,” I told them.
Now Neil was the calm one. Ivor was jittery and I fisted my palms. “Let’s get out of here.”
“The check,” Neil said as the waiter bore down on us.
“Right.” I glanced at the bill and put enough money on his tray along with a tip. “You can pay me back later guys.”
“Isn’t there a back entrance?” Ivor muttered.
“Maybe, but we’re walking straight past them. Do not stop. Do not say anything.” Fury was pulsing through my veins. Why would that pair come to a student bar? “Who’s with me?”
My wolf was chanting, Micah. Micah. He expected me to get up close and personal with the guy.
No , I told him. You don’t understand .
“I have to say hello. Ryder’s my boss.”
“Of course.”
“And they’re my friends. I’m not going to ignore them,” Neil explained.
“Okay. I’m storming out. Meet you in five.” I didn’t want to catch Micah’s eye but couldn’t resist and I glared at him, hoping he was checking my ass as I flounced past.