Chapter 5
Dravik
Sunlight pierces my eyelids as it streams in through the window.
Missy’s soft snores and whimpers break the silence as she sleeps in her fluffy bed on the floor by mine, all four legs in the air.
When Missy first showed up on my property four years ago, she was skin and bones and a matted mess.
She saw me in my true form that day, tentatively taking steps toward me.
She was cowed, with the back of her neck showing, and those big brown eyes pleading for me to help her and not attack.
I immediately scooped her up and brought her inside to the bathroom, where a warm bath was immediately dispensed, followed by chunks of raw steak.
She fell into a deep sleep on the couch and didn’t wake up for nearly a whole day.
I watch her now, those paws twitching, little growls emanating from her furry throat.
I often wonder what dogs dream of. I wonder if she is dreaming of Tito.
Dammit, Drav. I had gone a whole five minutes without thinking about Simone, and here I was back to square one.
All the way home last night, I berated myself for how I acted, how I revealed myself to her like the complete fool I was.
Of course, she rejected me. Look at me! I must be a monstrous beast to her.
But every time I close my eyes, I think of her body grinding into my face, the complete and utter contentment I felt as she took her pleasure.
Those soft, thick thighs nearly suffocated me.
I think of her snatching the part out of my hand, chastising me for thinking she wasn’t capable.
Why did I reveal myself? Why couldn’t I stop it?
Why didn’t I slow down and take a beat, and let her get to know me?
All I had were questions and no answers, along with a belly ache that didn’t seem to be in my belly at all, but hovering somewhere over my heart. Maybe it was true that I’ve been alone for too long.
With a yap, Missy straightens up in her bed as though she’s been wide awake this whole time, ears perked up, before she launches herself at the front door, scrabbling away at it, trying to dig a hole in the floor.
Curious, I get up as well to see what all the fuss is about.
Most likely, it's a squirrel, Missy’s favorite animal to chase up trees.
Although if she ever managed to catch one, I would think she would be happy to play and not hurt it.
Glancing out the front glass panels of the door, I don’t see anyone or anything in the driveway.
“Hmm…something out there, girl? If I open this door, you better not run off, it’s too damn early for me to chase you all over town,” I say sternly, although I am smiling at her. Who could say no to this face? She whines some more, bapping at the door with her paw, insistent that I open it.
“Oh, alright,” I hesitate, my clawed fingers gripping the handle. “But, remember what I said, no running off.”
Sunlight streams in, and something small, white, and fuzzy zooms into the house.
“Tito!”
He stops for a moment before Missy joins him in a playfight. She easily overpowers him, as he playfully bunny kicks against her head. My mouth falls open in shock. How did he get here? Followed quickly by, Simone must be losing her mind.
It’s now at this moment when I regret not having a phone, because I know I need to immediately bundle him up in the truck and drive him back to Simone, since I’m not able to call her.
I stand there for a moment debating, before invoking the incantation for me to shift, and throwing some clothes on.
I grab my keys and call to Missy as I head out toward my truck, knowing that wherever Missy goes, Tito is likely to follow.
Sure enough, they both jump in as soon as the door to my truck opens.
As we head through town, I notice a few shops are already open.
I’m just wondering if Simone will be at her cabin or maybe somewhere else when I spot her in the street, looking frantic, stopping people on the sidewalk.
My heart wrenches to see her tear-stained face, and I quickly pull over, rolling my window down.
“Simone!” I call. Her head whips toward me, an odd expression on her face, which quickly clears when Tito leaps down from the truck just as I open it to get out.
“Tito!” Simone scoops him up, holding his short, wiry fur to her face, sobbing into his back.
I stand by my truck, guarding it so Missy can’t jump out after him, watching her apprehensively, unsure if I should stay or leave them be.
A few moments go by, and I decide to leave, crestfallen that she hasn't thanked me or really acknowledged me in any way.
One foot is on the driver's side before I hear footsteps running toward me.
“Wait!” She calls out to me. “Dravik, wait, please.”
She’s close enough for me to touch, and I have to take deep breaths to calm my mind and my body before I shift right here in the fucking street for the whole town to see. Her tears are breaking me, and I forcibly hold my hand down by my side before I reach out and swipe them away.
She hesitates before turning sideways a bit and gestures to the store behind her. “He…he just took off running this morning when I set him down for a second. He’s never done that before. Thank you so much for finding him.” She pauses again. “Would you like to come in? Maybe, take a look around?”
It’s a handsome brick facade, like all the stores along Main Street, but last I checked, this one had been empty for a while. The sign says “Okoye Custom Builds,” and her words from yesterday filter back up to the surface, as the realization that this is her store washes over me.
“I didn’t realize you owned a shop in town.
I thought maybe you were just into techy shit.
” Like me. I keep that to myself. “This is great, I'd love to come take a look.” I turn back to the truck, where Missy’s head has popped up by the window, a pained expression on her face.
“Mind if Missy comes in?” I doubt Simone will say no, but I want to be courteous and not assume.
Simone lets out a chuckle, swiping a few more tears from her face. “Of course she can come in! I think Tito might be mad if she stays in the truck.”
The moment I open the door, Missy leaps from the truck at the same time Tito tries frantically to remove himself from Simone’s grasp. Missy is jumping up wildly at Tito, nipping at his feet.
“Alright, alright, come on you two, let’s get inside.” Simone ushers us all into her store.
The first thing I notice is her scent, it's everywhere, a heady mix of bergamot and something subtly nutty.
Soft touches of dusty blue and greige pepper the space, along with warm lamps on nearly every surface.
Toward the front are long tables with mini-lamps, perfect for anyone looking to get some work done.
Along the outer walls are displays of builds, from small form factor units to more splashy, crystal clear cases showcasing vibrant neon lights and fans.
A butcher block counter runs along the back, opposite the door, and I notice a little dog station set up with water and space to hang leashes.
It’s all so very Simone that I’m absentmindedly rubbing the spot over my heart as I look around. She is watching my face like a hawk, cataloging every expression. When I give her a wide smile, her hands come up to her mouth, eyes shining once more.
“So, do you like it?” Her voice is soft, hesitant.
“It’s so soothing. I feel like Missy and I could come here and work for hours if I wanted.
These builds are fantastic. How did you get the parts?
I didn’t think anyone shipped here!” Oddly, I feel a little jealous.
She’s got the latest tech here, while Coldwater is barely understanding that Wifi exists.
She watches Missy and Tito for a moment, who are currently negotiating cuddling on the same small bed together.
“I brought a lot over from San Francisco when I moved here.
I figured parts would be hard to source, so I spent quite a bit on inventory.
I'm hoping the driver finds Coldwater Springs any day now!” She laughs, a pleasant sound like wind chimes on a breezy day.
I sit down in one of the cozy chairs and gesture for her to sit across from me. I want to see her face and ask her everything, to get a chance to start over. My heart beats a little faster at the thought that maybe she’ll ask me questions about myself, and what I might say.
“San Francisco? That’s a long way away from here. How did you choose Coldwater Springs?”
“Well, I was the VP of Tech Operations for a cybersecurity firm for about 16 years. It was…intense. Long days and nights, lots of fires to put out. Lots of tech bros. Rarely got to use any vacation time. In what spare time I did have, I would build just to tinker around and blow off some steam.” She pauses, her eyes glazing over with a hardened sense of irritation.
“In the end, it was too much. I started thinking about ways I could actually make a difference, and what I wanted from my life. I was at a conference last year and met someone who grew up in a small town similar to Coldwater, and we got to talking. They said how much they wished they had had access as a kid, how it would have changed their lives, and the lives of the people living in town.”
“So, you chose Coldwater,” I say slowly. “Did you close your eyes and point at a map?”
She laughs again. “Kinda? I was watching that show about Montana and thought to myself, where is a super remote place that might be ready for this? Also, it's stunning here, so open and fresh.”
“And you took a leap.” My heart thrums in my chest, imagining Simone selling her whole life and prestigious position to come here and start over.
How brave someone would need to be to leap first and look later.
I reach my hand across the table to gently take it in mine, pleasure bursting along my skin, feeling hers.
Her eyes have turned liquid, eyelids heavy. “I did.” She breathes, lips slightly parted.
Without thinking, I’m reaching across the table, aching to brush my fingers along her jaw, her lips, needing to sweep her out of this chair and take her into the back where I can kneel in front of her and please her again and again until she cries for me to stop.
Just as my hand is millimeters from her silky skin, a pop makes us both jump, and the dogs yelp.
Sparks fly from the flashiest neon build behind Simone.
Another pop and more sparks come from behind me, and we see the streetlamps outside surging with blinding brightness before all the lights in town flicker and we’re plunged into darkness.