“Huh?”
“We’re just talking about how Bernie is a bear shifter. And both Mo and I have dated shifters before. Let’s face it, shapeshifters are hot. How about you? Ever date one?”
“Just a bird shifter in high school for like three days. I don’t know if that counts.”
Josie starts going off about the animal magnitude her shifter dates always have, so I tune out and get back to my closing report.
Before heading home for the day, I stop by the retirement home to visit Grandma. I find her resting in her room, looking paler than she did two days ago.
“Hey, Grandma. How are you feeling?”
“It’s my Ray Ray. Come sit by me,” she says, her voice weak.
Grabbing a chair, I pull it to the side of her bed. Taking her hand in mine, I stroke it, feeling her paper thin skin under my thumb.
“You look beautiful today, Grandma. Did someone come in to do your hair?”
“Yes! What a sweet boy to notice.” She says, lightly squeezing my hand. “Is Trevor with you?”
“Not today, Grandma. He and Dominic are in Branwen Beach through the new year. I know he’ll visit you as soon as he is back, though.”
Beaming at me, she firmly squeezes my hand.
“I am so glad he found Dominic. It’s important for me to know my two boys are happy and loved before I go.”
I squeeze her hand back. I hate hearing her talk about dying, but I know it's her reality.
“Ray Ray, I would love to see you happy and in love before I leave this planet.”
I try not to tense up. Grandma has brought this up in the past, but now it’s a daily request from her. I, too, wish I was madly in love like Enid and my brother. But life hasn’t brought me down that path. At least, not yet.
How I would love to show my grandmother that I, too, am happy and in love before she leaves us.
Chapter Two
Artio
As much as I love my job at Corvid Valley Retirement Home, I am very much ready to take the next few days off for a New Year’s getaway to Branwen Beach with my cousin and brothers. My promotion to Activities Director last spring was an enormous accomplishment, but boy am I tired right now.
Looking up at a knock on my office door, I see my assistant, Brynn, standing in the door frame with an eager smile.
“Well??” she says, bouncing on her feet.
I have been dreading seeing her today. And I am annoyed with myself for letting her convince me to go on a blind date with her landlord.
“I’m sorry, Brynn, but it did not go well.”
“Whaaat? Nooooo,” she whines, slumping into the chair in front of my desk.
I can’t help but laugh at her pouting lower lip.
“For some reason, I don’t hit it off romantically with other shifters.”
“Bear shifters, you said. He’s a ground squirrel,” she responds, crossing her arms like a petulant child.
“Well, apparently those, too.”
“OK, fine. Dang. He was cute, though, right?”
