Chapter 4 Imani #2
“He sounds like a lot of fun.”
Derrick’s mouth twitches, almost a smile. “He’s got some things going on. Personal stuff. He’ll come around one day.” He pauses, something softening in his expression. “You’re a good person for taking this on. I know it’s not easy.”
“You’re a good friend to him,” I say. “Not everyone would keep trying after this many disasters.”
He looks at me for a long moment, and I can see the words forming. The thing he wanted to say earlier, before the other employees arrived.
“I’m kind of bummed you won’t be at the Winter Solstice,” he says quietly. “I was hoping you’d be there.”
There it is. The invitation I’ve been dodging.
I keep my expression neutral. “I need the money.”
He nods, but the disappointment is clear on his face. He picks up a piece of paper from his desk and hands it to me. The shopping list.
“This is everything he needs. The grocery store will put it on his tab, so don’t worry about payment. Stock the pantry, clean the cabin, and try to survive the weekend.”
I take the list, scanning the items. It’s extensive. Flour, sugar, canned goods, meat, vegetables. Enough food to feed a small army. Or one bear shifter preparing for a month of hibernation.
“One more thing.” Derrick’s voice is serious now, all traces of disappointment gone.
“Please call me if you run into trouble. I mean it. I don’t give a shit about the snowstorm.
If he’s making you uncomfortable, if you’re having trouble getting down the mountain, if anything feels wrong, you call me. I’ll come get you myself.”
The sincerity in his voice catches me off guard. My cheeks go warm.
“Thanks, Derrick.”
He holds my gaze for a beat longer than necessary, then nods toward the door. “Go get your supplies. You’ll want to do the shopping today and head up first thing tomorrow morning.”
I take the list and head for the laundry room to start packing my cleaning kit.
Keisha’s voice reaches me before I turn the corner. She’s talking to another woman, the two of them huddled near the folding table with their backs to the door.
“—can’t believe she actually took that job. She has no idea what she’s getting into.”
“Did you hear what happened at the school?” The other woman’s voice drops. “He stormed in there yesterday and went off on the staff because the kids were singing Christmas carols. Said it was too loud. Can you imagine?”
Keisha snorts. “That’s nothing. Did you hear about Earl?”
“Earl?” The other woman sounds confused. “The old guy who’s always flexing at the grocery store?”
“Yes, girl.” Keisha lowers her voice even further, but I can still hear every word. “Apparently he tried to shoot his shot with a female bear shifter at Shadow Bar last weekend. Walked right up to her, sucked in his gut, and told her he could show her what a real man was all about.”
The other woman gasps. “No. A bear shifter? Is he crazy?”
“Crazy or stupid, take your pick. She’s like seven feet tall and could snap him in half without breaking a sweat. And this old man is standing there flexing his little arms talking about how he’s still got it.”
“Oh my God. What did she do?”
“She picked him up by the back of his shirt like a kitten.” Keisha is barely containing her laughter now. “Carried him to the door, set him down on the sidewalk, and told him to come back when he grew a few feet.”
“No!”
“Yes. The whole bar saw it. David said Earl just stood there on the sidewalk for a full minute, blinking, before he shuffled off to his car.”
They dissolve into laughter.
I step into the doorway, and both women go quiet. Keisha turns, her expression shifting smoothly from gossip to innocence.
“Oh, Imani. Getting your supplies?”
“Yep.” I move past them to the shelves where we keep the cleaning kits. Spray bottles, microfiber cloths, scrub brushes. I start loading them into my bag, trying to look like I wasn’t just eavesdropping.
But my mind is spinning.
The grumpy bear shifter from the school. The one who yelled at children for singing. Is that the same Tolin I’m about to spend a weekend with?
And Earl... that’s a different bear shifter entirely. Old guy with delusions of swagger. Not my problem.
But if Tolin is the one who made a scene at the elementary school, what else is he capable of?
“You know,” Keisha says, her voice syrupy sweet, “you can still back out. Derrick would probably be thrilled if you changed your mind. He could find someone else.”
“I’m good.” I zip up my bag and sling it over my shoulder. “Thanks for the concern.”
“Just looking out for you.” She smiles, all teeth. “We girls have to stick together, right?”
I don’t dignify that with a response. I just head for the door, supplies in hand, mind already running through everything I need to do before tomorrow morning.
Shop for groceries. Go home and pack. Get a good night’s sleep.
And prepare myself to spend a weekend with a grumpy bear shifter who apparently terrorizes children and makes cleaning ladies cry.
Should be fun.
At least I’ll be away from Keisha for a few days. At this point, I’d rather deal with a grumpy bear than her passive-aggressive comments and nasty little smiles.
I push through the front door and head for my car, the shopping list clutched in my hand.
It’s long. Detailed. But there’s no column for alternatives. No notes about brand preferences or substitutions. Just a bare-bones list of items and quantities.
I have his phone number, scrawled at the bottom of the page in Derrick’s handwriting. I could call and ask.
The thought makes me cringe.
If this guy is as bad as everyone says, the last thing I want to do is give him a reason to complain before I even show up. Better to just make my best guesses and hope for the best.
I slide into the driver’s seat and look at the list one more time.
Double pay. That’s what matters. Double pay means the green velvet chair might be in my apartment by February. Double pay means I’m one step closer to the life I’m building for myself.
One weekend. One grumpy bear shifter. One chance to prove I can handle anything this town throws at me.
I start the engine and pull out of the lot.
How bad can it really be?