Chapter 6
A Business Proposition
Seagulls cried overhead as the tide rushed in.
Gentle waves that had once been off in the distance now lapped at my bare feet.
A moist, steady breeze brushed against my skin, which was more exposed than it had been yesterday since I’d gotten up the nerve to remove my overshirt.
There weren’t many people out here at this hour, and those that were said good morning before passing without a fuss.
It wasn’t just a fluke. People really didn’t seem to mind werewolves or half-turns on the beach, even though most of the population was human.
I watched the older locals pass by Darryl, always nodding and waving, admiring their famous lifeguard.
Who could blame them? There wasn’t a soul out there swimming that didn’t feel completely safe with him guarding their lives.
This town was my proof that we really could thrive when given the chance, and werewolves could have careers and jobs that weren’t just mind-numbing manual labor. Perhaps one day I could be like Darryl. Confident, fun, responsible, and successful in my own way.
“Well, well, well,” a flamboyant voice called out from a few feet away. I turned in time to get a face full of sand as Adam pranced around before sitting next to me.
“Dude, that got in my eyes!” I grabbed my water bottle, squirting some onto my face.
“My bad,” the half-turn said in a mocking tone before snorting out a quiet laugh. “Whatcha doin’?”
“Trying to enjoy the ocean… with both eyes.” After washing away as much sand as I could, I turned to him. “What are you doing here?”
“Swimming lessons.” He eyed Darryl with a flirty grin. “Well, that and I heard you were here. Got yourself more hair, huh?”
“I feel like a freak,” I muttered, looking down at a tuft of thick chest hair peeking from the collar of my tank top.
“Yeah, that doesn’t really go away when you’re half-turn.”
“How did you know I was here?”
“You got your kuu, and Roscoe has a big mouth. I didn’t know he was the werewolf you chose.”
“You know Roscoe?”
Adam laughed. “Everyone knows Roscoe. He’s legendary.”
“Oh?”
“Not in a good way,” he added.
“Oh…”
“I’m surprised out of anyone you could have chosen you picked the bummiest bum imaginable.”
“He’s… bad but he’s not that bad.” I smiled and looked back at the little beach house. Roscoe had gone inside to sleep after Darryl started his shift. “Sometimes he can surprise you.”
We listened to the waves for an uncomfortable moment before I finally started in with the questions.
“Who’s your werewolf?”
Adam frowned, letting out an almost disgusted groan. “Can we not ruin the morning? Thanks.”
“Sorry. Just trying to get to know you.”
“Small talk is fucking boring. Let’s get into the dirty details. You know my name, and I’ve probably fucked every werewolf you’ve met—except Roscoe, because ew. Nice standards, by the way.”
“This coming from a guy who just admitted to indiscriminately fucking everyone. If my standards are six feet under, yours must be in the pits of hell.”
Adam opened his mouth but didn’t respond right away. “You’re a bitch,” he finally said.
“Must be releasing all this bitchy energy I’ve been collecting since we met. What’s your problem with me?”
He shoved my elbow playfully. “I didn’t say I had a problem with you. I like your bitchiness.”
“I swear to God, you’re like Roscoe.”
The look of pure horror on his face nearly had me on the ground. “Excuse me?”
“You both keep trying to get a rise out of me for some reason, and you seem to like it when I’m pissed off.”
“That’s because you’re an easy mark.” He picked up a broken shell and tossed it into the water. “And it’s funny how your face gets all red. It must suck to be that white.”
“You know, if I were to say that to you—”
“Probably not a good idea. I’ve got the card, you don’t.”
That time, I could really feel my face getting red. He shoved me again.
“Come on, I’m just kidding. We’re both going to be fur-covered monsters soon, so it’s not like skin color is going to be our defining feature anymore.”
“So, do you actually do anything else other than fuck werewolves? Any hobbies? A job?”
“A job?” He broke into another fit of laughter. “I get free money from the government, and my family’s rich. I’m happy just being a slut and playing video games.”
“Is that really all you want out of life?”
“Uh, yeah,” he said, rolling his eyes. “Once I’m a full werewolf, I’m just gonna party every day. I’ve earned it.”
“Earned what?” I asked. “It doesn’t sound like you’ve actually done anything.” I knew why I was getting so angry. This was a kid who had life handed to him, and I had to bust my ass eating tuna without mayo.
“Don’t sound all condescending. We’re both earning it since we’re forced to let werewolves live with us.
” He tugged at the chain around his neck.
“These are the only things keeping us from going on killing rampages, and I’d rather spend a year or two living with a piece of shit than being locked up in a cage. ”
“Are these kuu a new thing? What did half-turns do before?”
“I don’t know, man. I don’t question it—I just deal with it.
” He sighed and leaned back on his arms. “Look. We’re doing some good by getting werewolves off the streets while helping fund a future for all of us.
It doesn’t matter how much money you have when you’re legally barred from spending it. Or in your case, earning it.”
I glared at him again.
“Those earrings look really faggy, by the way. They look good on you though,” he said, removing his shirt as he stood, brushing away the sand that had stuck to the backs of his legs. The obvious back-handed compliment annoyed me even more. “I’m going for a swim.”
“I thought you were getting swimming lessons.”
Adam gawked at the tall werewolf in the distance. “God, you’re so clueless. No one actually goes to Darryl for swimming lessons.”
The key slid into the door, and I heaved a sigh of relief. “Thank God.”
“You’ve still got a day. Did you really think they were going to change the locks on you?” Roscoe asked, following me inside. “I wish we could take the AC with us.”
“Maybe I can see how much a window unit costs. How much money do you have?”
“Enough for us to eat for a couple of days,” Roscoe replied. His deep voice had a slight echo since the apartment was mostly empty, save for a few duffel bags full of clothes and toiletries. “Plus, Darryl hates air conditioning. It’s only for a couple of weeks, anyway.”
“I can’t keep sleeping outside.” I held up my arms, revealing several bug bites that, for some reason, hadn’t completely healed yet. “I’m being eaten alive by whatever’s on that beach.”
Roscoe gently grabbed my arm and examined it. “Ah, I forgot about these. Dune fleas. Well, that ain’t their actual names, but I know they bite the shit out of half-turns for some reason. They don’t bother werewolves, though.”
“I wish you hadn’t destroyed my air mattress.”
Roscoe grabbed the last two beers from the fridge and handed me one. “We’ll figure something out.”
I took a sip and looked out the only window with a view of the city and not a cracked brick facade. “Darryl was right about this place sucking your soul away. We’ve only been back in the city for an hour, and I already feel depressed.”
“I never really put that together, but I think yer right.” Roscoe set his beer on the counter and walked into the bathroom to pee with the door open. “I’m surprised Darryl couldn’t sweet-talk his way into yer pants. He’s sure changed a lot.” He stopped peeing and walked back out into the room.
“Did you really not flush the toilet or wash your hands?”
“It’s a surprise for the next tenant.”
I folded my arms. “I wish I could quit you.”
He let out a snort before walking back into the bathroom. “You really are a tight ass.” The toilet flushed and the water in the sink came on. “Well, probably not anymore now that I’ve claimed it.”
“That’s really funny,” I said as he padded back into the room, wiping his wet hands on his fur. “I still don’t know how it all happened that first night.”
“You may have looked human, but you were definitely half-turn, and half-turns are stretchy,” Roscoe said while holding out his balled-up fist. “You heal so damn fast I could go full Caligula on you and you’d be just fine.”
“Don’t EVER do that,” I shouted, swatting his fist away. “Are werewolves like that, too?”
“Well, yeah. That don’t ever go away.” He raised a brow. “Why? I didn’t give you any ideas, did I?”
I cracked my knuckles. “I don’t know. The Caligula thing sounds like it could be useful.”
“I ain’t letting you near my ass with yer nasty temper.”
We both stared at one another before raising our beers.
“I can’t believe I’m moving again already,” I said before taking another sip. “Wasn’t even in this place for more than a few months.”
“Staying in one place too long gets boring. Think of this as an adventure. When you’re with me, it’s never gonna get boring.”
“That’s what I’m afraid of.”
A loud knock sounded at the front door, startling me, but Roscoe remained calm as always.
“Expecting someone?” he asked.
“No,” I said, hurrying to the front door. I peeked through the hole and saw two police officers accompanying a middle-aged man standing on the other side. “Well, this should be fun,” I whispered, waving Roscoe away. “Stay out of sight.”
He nodded, disappeared into the bathroom, and I opened the door.
“Hello?” I said as the man brushed by me.
“You were supposed to be out today,” he said, looking around the apartment.
“No, the letter clearly stated tomorrow.”
“Things have changed,” he said, noticing the fur Roscoe had shed all over the carpet. “Having a werewolf live with you was one thing, but there is a strict ordinance against half-turns residing on this property.”
“We’ll be out today,” I said, holding my hands up as one officer stepped closer.
Roscoe threw open the bathroom door, and the other cop pulled a taser out of its holster.