"Cooking."
"With cocoa powder?"
Boris looks at Ira, raises his eyebrows, and shakes his head as if I'm the crazy one."Don't you worry your pretty little head, Simon.We've got this."
I huff, but Ira looks so pleased I don't say anything else.
"Can you set the table, Ira?And maybe we should have some veggies to go with."He walks to check the refrigerator again, and I wince.There isn't much in the way of fresh produce.Veggies are fucking expensive this time of year unless you like kale.
I don't like kale.
I'm about to apologize when he grabs three carrots, peels them, throws away the outer layer, and then continues to peel them until he has a pile of carrot strips.Then he grabs a bowl, puts them in, sprinkles some spices on top, then some vinegar and a little bit of honey before tossing it, and tops it with some sesame seeds.
I stare.
Boris brings the pots to the table, and we dig in.It's fucking fantastic.Creamy and flavorful without being spicy--kid-friendly."This is amazing.Thank you."
"Yeah, Ira, thank you."Boris winks at him, and my heart melts a little.
* * * *
Chapter 9
Boris
I know I should leave after we've cleaned up after lunch, but I don't want to.When Ira disappears to his room, Simon gives me a terrified look.I should head home, give him some space, not impose, but I'm hoping he'll suggest a cup of coffee or something, so I pull out a chair and sit.
Simon hesitates, his gaze jumping around the kitchen only to land on the open doorway over and over again."So...eh...what are your plans this afternoon?"
I grin."I don't have any.Going for a run was my only obligation for the day."And it's not so much an obligation as a necessity, but I don't think Simon is ready to hear about it yet.How do you tell your human mate you're a wolf shifter?"What about you?"
"I was in the middle of folding laundry when you came."
"Ugh."
Simon smiles, but he looks nervous.Uneasy.Not good.
"Yeah, but it has to be done, and weekends are the only time..."His voice ebbs away, and tension creeps into his body."I guess I'll have time once I'm out of work."
I chew on my tongue for a few seconds, unsure of what to say.He hadn't looked happy when I said it was a good thing to be out of work the night before."Come.Sit."I pat the table.When he sits, I look at him."If they fire you, will it be immediate, or is there a period of notice?"
He shakes his head."No period of notice.It's due to the financial situation.They can't afford to pay our salaries.I don't know if it will be immediate, as on the same day they tell me, or if they'll keep us till the end of the month, but I'm not counting on it.They're facing bankruptcy, and every hour worked is an hour they need to pay for."
Three weeks.There were only three weeks left of November."But they normally fire people on Fridays, don't they?So you'll have another week."
Simon looks at me strangely.Don't they fire people on Fridays?Is it only in movies?
"They let us know yesterday, I think maybe that was their Friday-moment.Let people leave for the week and work through their options this weekend."
I nod."Okay.So what are your options?"
He hangs his head.I want to hop to my feet, stand behind him, and massage his shoulders.He looks like he needs it, and I need to touch him.
"I don't know.No one is hiring, not at this time of year, not in this economy, and if they did, I'm not an attractive option."
"Bullshit, you're very attractive."
The stunned look makes me grin.See, I can be motivational.
