Chapter 4
“So, how'd you enjoy your night out? Meet anybody hot?” Desmond asked.
Jared regretted having shared his plans to go out with his co-workers. Now Desmond wanted to chat. He knew it was probably a seemingly trivial topic for Desmond, probably asked to merely alleviate some of the boredom of what was proving to be a slow sales day at work.
“It was all right, I guess.'
“Just all right? Tell you what, next time I go, you can tag along. They know me there. I can introduce you to some guys.”
“No thanks. I don't think it was my scene after all.”
Desmond narrowed his eyes. “Huh. Okay, then. Was just a thought.”
Great, now I've offended him.
“Yeah, I think I'm more the quiet dinner and movie kind of person after all.” Not to mention I don't ever want to encounter those two or any one else like them ever again.
I definitely don't want to share about having met them to begin with.
At least no one has commented on the fingermarks on my jaw; the concealer seems to be doing its job even under this light.
“Oh, I get it. Shy, quiet type.” Desmond sighed dramatically.
“It's hard enough to meet someone, especially if you're looking for a forever kind of guy.
If you don't go out and socialize, it's damned near impossible.
Try it a few more times? You're an okay guy, I'm sure you'll find someone to hook up with.”
Jared's head hurt from the way Desmond wittered on.
“Thanks, but I'm not into casual hook ups.” And I have the prospect of a forever but I can't tell you about it, or about how he is a shapeshifter who turned into a wolf right there in his living room.
Desmond gave a sniff, eyeing him with a level stare, then softly said, “I was rather surprised when you asked me about Club Paradise.
You never hang out with anyone after work and I've never seen you at any of the clubs.
You seem to stick to yourself. Maybe I'm at fault too. I can be a bit over the top and tend to have a bit of tunnel vision. I never noticed you were lonely. Never mind dating or picking up tricks. How about friends?”
Jared looked down at his shoes. “Not really, no. I had some back in college, then when I had to leave, well, sort of drifted apart and then there was finding an apartment, and work, and all that,” he mumbled.
“You get off at two, right? I get off then too. We'll go to Full Froth, so don't leave without me.”
Wait, what?
Jared blinked. “Full Froth?”
“The coffee shop? It's just up the street? Surely you've noticed it.”
Jared nodded.
“You drink coffee? If not, they do tea and chai lattes that are to die for. Nothing like having a natter over coffee to build a friendship, right? Good, glad that's settled.”
Jared watched in astonishment as Desmond made his pronouncement and then strode away. A friend.
Oh, now I've got a friend. I have a friend and yet I still have no one to share the recent mind fuck I've gone through. What ever next? Maybe vampires. Or aliens. Or I'll be kidnapped at Full Froth by government types who want to use me as bait to catch the werewolves. Sure, why not?
Jared sighed, then spying a customer glancing about with a look of indecision on his face, hurried over to offer assistance. He completely missed the look of speculation cast his direction by Desmond.
“So,” Desmond said, leaning across the tiny table and speaking in a low voice. “ You gonna tell me about your wolf?”
Jared sat stunned into silence. What? How the hell...?
Desmond gave a knowing smirk. “So he did tell you what he was.”
“How?” Jared couldn't bring himself to finish the rest of his question, his brain still short circuiting over the direction their conversation had taken.
“I could scent him on you. Through all the soap and all, you smell like wolf.”
“You can smell it?” Jared gave his arm a sniff. All he could smell was his fabric softener and a hint of the sandalwood and rice milk body wash he'd used earlier.
“I'm a husky myself.”
“Husky? Like- like the dog?”
Desmond nodded. “Exactly like. So, this wolf of yours, how'd he come to show himself? We don't usually do that with outsiders unless we really trust them. You'd only just met him at the club, right?”
Jared blinked. “You- you trust me?” His face brightened. “Thanks so much. I- I won't tell anyone, I swear. And, uh, well, last night... I met Steve when he saved me from these two guys.” He bit his lower lip and looked away, not wanting to meet Desmond's eyes.
“Two guys? What two guys?” Desmond's protective instincts kicked to the fore. “What did they do?”
Jared blinked again, this time in an attempt to keep the tears at bay.
“Shit, you okay, Jared? They were't just pawing you on the dance floor or propositioning you in the bathroom, were they?”
He shook his head then scrubbed a hand across his eye. “I... I was talking and laughing with them and they said they'd go eat at a nearby diner with me, just making friends...”
“And?” Desmond prodded gently.
“St-steve stopped them in- in the alley.” Jared still refused to look at Desmond.
“Oh my God, Jared! And you came in to work?”
Jared's shoulder's slumped. “I'm okay,” he said, looking Desmond in the eyes once more.
Desmond smiled at his friend's show of defiance. “Look at you. Not letting creeps get you down. But back to- Steve, you said his name is?”
Jared nodded.
“He went all wolf?”
“I- I don't know. I was kind of... out of it,” Jared flushed. Bad enough he guesses what actually happened in that alley with those guys, no need to confirm it. “But I didn't know until later. Umm... he took me to his place. Says I'm his True Mate or whatever.”
Desmond gasped. “That's huge! Do you have any idea how rare that is, to find your one true soul mate?”
“That's a real thing?”
Desmond sat back in his chair and regarded Jared solemnly. “You bet your sweet bippy it is.”
“Oh.Well, I did agree to date him.”
Desmond gaped at him. “Date? You got a wolf to agree to date when you're his True Mate? Was he not all growly and 'Mine, Mine, Mine'?”
Jared nodded. “Kinda. Well, yeah, actually. But I told him I needed to get to know him first. I just can't just meet some guy and become the star of “Bride of the Alpha Werewolf”.”
“He's the Alpha?” Desmond looked more astounded by the second. “What did you say his name was, again? Steve what?”
“Chang. Lives in some fancy building with a doorman and everything.”
“Holy fuck, dude. You have no idea what you have gotten into, do you?”
Jared looked into Desmond's bright blue eyes.
“Well, I'm actually still trying to wrap my head around the whole werewolf thing.
And now you're telling me that soul mate thing is real, and oh, that you can turn into a dog.
Meanwhile, I've spent all day at work waiting to see if aliens invade New York or the Men in Black come for me. Or some guys with butterfly nets.”
Desmond stood up “Come on. We need somewhere more private to talk. You, my friend, need me to explain quite a lot. Also uh, werewolves are a different thing, and imaginary. It's not considered polite to call us weres. We're shifters.”
Jared got up to follow. “Sorry, I didn't know. Just do me a favor. If vampires, zombies, Godzilla, or anything like that is also real, don't tell me. Though I've always rather liked unicorns. Nah, better not tell me about unicorns either. Or pixies.”
Desmond reached over and patted Jared's forearm in reassurance. “It's gonna be okay, dude. I promise you. Let's go to my place. We can talk and I'll order pizza for us later.”
“Okay.” Hell, at least I can maybe learn the rules of this new reality, right? And have a real friend to help guide me. And if Desmond says it's all real, and he can actually turn into a husky, then I've not lost my marbles. Not entirely, anyway. Yet.