Chapter Four
Rex
A ding from my laptop breaks into my thoughts. The distinctive sound alerts me to a message from the Monster Network, and I shake the cobwebs from my head. I peer down at my personal computer, the one that stays with me in the back office. I don’t dare keep it out where others can snoop through it.
I click on the notification, and the screen opens to the Network chat room.
Booty: I need everyone to turn in their final requests for the event.
I’m glad he’s brought the subject up. When I was making my list, a few questions came to mind.
Howl4U: Can I bring an extra table this year? I was thinking about holding a big raffle.
Booty: Whatever you can fit in a ten-by-ten space.
LilChu: Are you still taking preorders? And do you make stuff for lizards?
I’m surprised Lil has any pets. He’ll suck the blood out of anything if it stands still long enough. I don’t hang around many chupacabras for that very reason.
Howl4U: How big of a lizard are we talking about? And do you need a harness, clothes…?
LilChu: Asking for a friend. I’ll find out.
Booty: Can you guys discuss lizard wardrobes on your own time? I want to keep this thread on topic. Solstice logistics only.
LilChu: Sorry! Just popped into my head. You know how I am. Squirrel brain.
Booty: I don’t want to talk about squirrels.
LilChu: Okaaay…
Booty: Can we get back to the subject at hand?
From there, the chat continues with other monsters joining in, and before I know it, an hour has gone by. But at least I have a clearer picture of my responsibilities at the event, and what I need to bring.
Right as we’re saying our goodbyes, there’s a tap at the door.
“Yeah?” I call out.
Gavin sticks his head in the office. “Your three o’clock applicant just canceled.”
I sigh. That’s the third cancellation this week. At this rate, I’ll be working the front desk around the clock all summer. It’ll be a helluva mess if I can’t get away for the solstice. I hate letting people down.
“How many others have applied?”
Gavin winces. “None.”
Shit. Why didn’t I offer Darien a place to stay when I had the chance? Stupid move. I shouldn’t have let him get away. I tense. In a purely professional way, of course.
“Okay, I’ll place another ad.” I snap my fingers. “Oh, and can you take some flyers down to the Bait and Coffee Shack on your way home tonight?”
“Sure, boss.”
After Gavin leaves, I open the accounting software that I’m terrible at using, but my mind keeps drifting. As it is, I can barely decide which expense categories to place items in, but now I have a pesky distraction.
Darien. And a human of all things. Why be so fixated on a job applicant who isn’t a good candidate? Who cares, right?
Being attracted to him is to be expected. He’s cute as fuck. But I can never follow through because of our different worlds. I honestly can’t fathom why any human would want to hitch their wagon to a monster. Only heartache and a potential monster PR disaster could come from such a union.
Maybe if I remind myself of that awful truth and repeat it in my head like a mantra a hundred times a day, I’ll quit thinking about him.
Good luck with that.
I let out a small growl. I either need to take a vow of celibacy or get laid. Maybe instead of worrying about having a date at the solstice, I could find one there. Trouble is, I’m not the hook-up type. Go figure.
My cell phone buzzes, which doesn’t happen often. I primarily interact with my fellow Network buddies in chat, and anyone local uses the Inn’s phone.
I glance at the screen. The fuck?
“Hey, Tarek. What’s up?”
“Me, baby.” Tarek lets out a low moan. “Hard for you. Thought you’d like some hot cock before I leave the planet for good.”
My dick twitches, but I mentally yell at it to behave. One failed space dragon relationship is enough for this lifetime. I don’t need to get lured back into Tarek’s scaly clutches again.
“You know that can’t happen, Tarek.”
“Of course it can. I can fly there in an hour. Your cock could be in my mouth by two o’clock.”
My cock is arguing back at me, insisting that this is the best idea ever. Then I remember I’m not that kind of guy. I catch feelings way too easily.
“No. We’ve been through this enough times already. You’re leaving Earth and have no idea when you’ll be back. I don’t do long-distance relationships.”
Tarek huffs. “Come on, it’s not as if we haven’t fucked before. What difference does it make?”
I frown at the phone. “The difference is that I want something you don’t.
A committed relationship, to build a life with someone.
” To not be alone. “I’m tired of repeating the same thing over and over.
” Now I’m getting mad. “I don’t want an open relationship while you're off-planet. And don’t even think about insisting that I can fuck whoever I want while you’re gone. I. Don’t. Want. That. End of story.”
“Fine.” He chuckles. “Don’t get your horns in a twist. I figured it couldn’t hurt to ask.”
While violence isn’t my go-to response in life, Tarek tends to bring out the rage in me.
“Well, don’t ask again,” I seethe, then hit the end button before he can respond. Dickstain. I block his number. No more space dragons for me.
Maybe a human wouldn’t be so bad after all.
“Fuck!” I pound my fist on the desk, my coffee mug rattling in response and sloshing coffee onto a pile of bills. “Fuck fuck fuckity fuck!”
Footsteps pound down the hall, and the door flies open. Gavin gapes at me with wide eyes.
“What’s wrong? Are you okay?”
I clench my fists, counting down from five. I don’t have time for ten.
“Sorry.” I clear my throat. “I’m fine. Just got an upsetting call, then spilled my coffee.” I peer past his shoulder toward the front. “No one’s out there, are they?” Talk about unprofessional.
“Nah. It’s been really slow. No one’s been in since Cabin Four checked out at ten.”
I need to get out in the forest. The four walls of my office are about to implode on me.
“In that case, I’m going to take a drive, get some fresh air. Call me on my cell if anything comes up.”
“No problem. And just so you know, I’ll probably be fine until Levi gets here. I think I’ve got the hang of everything now. And like you said, I can always call if I have a question.” He shrugs. “Not that it’s my place to say, but you seem sorta stressed.”
The tension in my body begins to dissipate. “You’re a good kid.” I smile. “I planned on leaving early today, but not before Levi arrived.”
Once I go over a few things with Gavin and make him take his ten-minute break, I amble out to my truck. Although my cave is located a short distance away, I never walk there. No one knows where I live, and it’s vital to keep it that way.
I climb into my vehicle, relieved that I’ve calmed down a bit. Not enough to face another moment trapped indoors, but I’m not ready to tear someone a new one, either.
As I travel down the road, I ruminate on how amazing a spring day it is. The weather is that perfect combination of low seventies, a light breeze, bright blue skies, and humidity low enough that I don’t really notice. I tend to run hot, so when those muggy days hit hard? Yuck.
I’m humming to myself, a song from the sixties that Pa used to sing all the time. The band was really popular at the time. They did a lot of folk-rock that wasn’t really my thing, but he loved them.
I sniff, my eyes beginning to burn. He was the last of my direct bloodline. He was close to five hundred when he passed, and we would joke about what we should do to celebrate his big five-oh-oh. But once his horns grew brittle and the grand shedding began, we knew it wouldn’t be long.
Our hibernations are short, relatively speaking. However, it took me a long time to settle down that winter. Somehow, I must’ve known. My pa had simply gone to sleep then never woken up.
That horrible day was the beginning of my traveling this world alone. At this point, I’ve resigned myself to the awful truth that I’ll never have someone by my side.
Another sniff and I shake my head as if I’m discarding the annoying thoughts. I have a good life, beautiful territory to live in, and all my animals to love and care for.
Romance is overrated.
I grunt. Sure. Just keep telling yourself that.
* * * *
Thank the gods, I’ve finally hired a new clerk.
It took a couple of weeks, but it was worth the wait because he has hospitality experience.
When I go to Solstice, he’ll be able to keep Gavin from alienating the guests or leaving the empty coffee pot on all night.
Don’t get me started on what a close call that was.
I brush aside the little dark cloud trying to ruin my joy as I climb in my truck after trekking to its location to start my day.
Obviously, Darien must’ve found another job.
He would’ve come back if he was still interested.
I shut the door and grip the steering wheel with a strange surge of frustration.
What was I supposed to do? Call and beg him to come work for me? If he found a place to stay closer to the inn, it was on him to let me know. And for the love of all that is holy, what difference does it make? It’s not as if we were going to become best buddies or… whatever. I grunt.
I’m losing my mind.
With renewed determination to put ridiculous musings out of my head, I pull onto the road.
Focus. I have a day off, and it’s been over a week since I’ve had time for an extended outdoor excursion.
I’ve only shifted at home, and for an hour here and there to run around with the bobcats and foxes close to the caves. They get very playful in the spring.
But now I not only need to spend the day outdoors, but a perimeter check is long overdue.
My territory is expansive, so I have no choice but to begin the inspection early in the day instead of only at night.
It’s vital that I make sure everyone is behaving themselves, not bothering the humans, aren’t having disputes with one another, or being hunted out of season.