Chapter Two #3
West grunted. “That’s because he’s not supposed to tell anyone to fuck off.”
“Maybe not, but he could’ve told Taylor or any one of us. There was no need for him to keep fending her off, especially because she seemed to have eight arms. She always managed to find a spot to touch.”
Ethan didn’t like that. “That’s not right. You guys shouldn’t have to go through that, especially when you’re helping people.”
Austin shrugged. “The lady was pretty drunk, but yeah, that’s still not an excuse.
West and I and the rest of the team are pretty used to it, so we know how to deal with it, but not Liam.
He’s new, and he’s nice. I could see he didn’t want to offend her, but he didn’t realize that she probably wouldn’t remember a thing by the time she next woke up. She was that drunk.”
“And you didn’t intervene?”
“Well, it’s not exactly my job, is it? I mean, yeah, I called him over, and he was clearly relieved, but he needs to learn.”
“So he’s a nice guy?”
For some reason, West squinted at Ethan. Ethan suspected that West could read him much better than Austin. Maybe not better than Jonathan, but Ethan and Jonathan had been friends for years. Having West look at him like that made him want to squirm, though.
“You know, not all dragon shifters are assholes,” Jonathan said quietly.
Trust Jonathan to see right through Ethan and know what Ethan was asking.
Ethan had been wary of letting West and Austin into his life, but in the end, he hadn’t really had a choice.
They were dating two of his best friends.
Luckily, they were good people, but Ethan wasn’t sure what he would have done if that hadn’t been the case.
What if one of them had demanded that he be kicked out of their friend group after finding out what he was?
What if they’d given Jonathan or Caleb an ultimatum between them and Ethan?
Ethan wanted to believe that his friends would have chosen him, but thankfully, he would never have to find out.
These two men hadn’t even asked him about his shifted form yet, even though they had to be curious, especially Austin.
“West and I are definitely not assholes,” Austin said, looking worried that Ethan would actually believe that.
“I’m aware, but I know you.”
“You’ll get to know Liam, too. Are you going to tattoo him?”
“I told him I’d design something for him. I’m not sure about tattooing him, though. I’m not even sure he wants me to do it.”
For some reason, Austin and West exchanged a glance. They were best friends, and they seemed to understand each other well even without saying a word. Ethan didn’t understand a thing, though.
“I think he does,” West said quietly. “He’s been talking about you a bit.”
Ethan told himself not to be afraid. Talking didn’t mean anything. “What has he been saying?”
“I think he’s just curious, like you’re curious about him.” West hesitated. “We didn’t tell him, if that’s what you’re asking. It’s not something Austin and I would ever tell someone.”
Ethan sucked in a breath. This was the first time either of them had acknowledged that they knew his secret. “Thank you,” he murmured. “And maybe I’ll trust him eventually. It’s just way too soon.”
“You have to know that West and I don’t care about you being a chimera shifter, right?” Austin blurted out. His eyes widened, and he looked at West, who rolled his eyes.
Ethan had to laugh. Trust Austin to not think before opening his mouth.
“I know,” Ethan reassured him. “You would’ve said something sooner.
” But it was nice to finally acknowledge it instead of ignoring it.
Ethan was used to not mentioning what he was to anyone because of the way they might react, but these people were safe.
Everyone in the apartment was. Ethan didn’t have to be cautious or hide what he was from any of them.
They knew, and they loved him anyway. They still wanted him here.
Austin grinned. “I wanted to say something, but Caleb threatened to make me sleep on the couch. I do have questions, though.”
West groaned. “Of course you do. When don’t you?”
“What? You can’t deny that you’re intrigued, too. When was the last time you talked to a chimera shifter?”
“Ethan will tell us when he’s ready and not one second sooner,” West said, pointing his wooden spoon in the direction of Austin’s head. “So don’t go bothering him.”
“Asking questions isn’t a bother.” Austin turned to Ethan. “Right?”
“You can ask me all the questions you want, but I reserve the right not to answer them,” Ethan told him, even though he knew what he was getting himself into.
He didn’t mind. He’d spend half the dinner answering Austin’s questions if that was what it took to make him happy. Austin was his friend, so why not? But Liam wasn’t his friend yet, and maybe not ever. There was no way to know how that would end.
Ethan didn’t like that.
* * * *
LIAM HAD HIS OWN APARTMENT, something he’d never had before.
When he’d started the academy, it would have taken him way too much time to get there every morning and go home every evening.
With his apartment, he didn’t have to worry about that, and he enjoyed the freedom.
Not that anyone in the clan had ever forbidden him to do anything, but there had always been someone watching him, and sometimes, he’d felt judged.
Still, he missed living with his family.
He especially missed his mother’s cooking.
With how traditional the clan was, he’d never been taught to cook.
When he’d come out to his parents and had told them that he was gay, they hadn’t cared about that.
No, his mother had only cared about who would cook his food.
She’d wanted to be sure he wouldn’t starve.
He wasn’t starving. Sure, he didn’t eat as well or as much as he used to when he lived at home, but he’d been learning simple recipes and hadn’t yet burned anything, something he was proud of.
West had told him that he’d teach him some stuff if he wanted to, and he’d eagerly said yes, not only because it would be good for his stomach.
He also wanted to spend more time with West and Austin.
The three of them were dragon shifters amongst a team of humans.
It felt nice to feel close to them. Although considering there were three of them now, it meant there was an equal number of dragon shifters and humans on their team.
The only thing was that the humans didn’t know about that.
He parked his car in front of the house and eagerly hopped out. He found now that he didn’t live here anymore, he was more eager to come back, maybe because he knew that by the end of the evening, he’d be going home—to his home, not the home where his family lived.
The door opened before he could reach it, and a little girl came running out. She wasn’t Liam’s sister, but with the clan families all sharing a house, she might as well have been.
He caught her as soon as she reached him and hauled her up in the air, smiling when she screeched. He tossed her a few times, glad that she was only three and not yet too heavy for him to handle. She was definitely bigger than the last time he’d seen her, though.
With a pang, he realized he wouldn’t watch her grow up the way he had with the other kids in the clan. He wasn’t here to do so anymore. It was a weird thought, and when he put her down, he had to fight to smile at her.
“I missed you,” she said when she hugged his leg.