“Just drop it. I want to get home so I can listen to Austin bitch at us for not having paint.”
Roscoe and I didn’t speak for a few minutes before he finally spoke up.
“I’m glad I met you.”
At first, I thought he was being sarcastic, but his face was sincere.
“Huh?”
“I just thought you needed to hear that.”
His tail wagged, which was usually an indicator he was going to say or do something that pissed me off. However, as another minute passed and nothing else was said, my annoyance faded away.
“I’m glad I met you, too. Even if you are annoying.”
The two of us walked up the driveway as Austin watched from the front porch. He sat alone on the wooden steps, digging one of his claws into the weathered railing and wearing a frustrated grimace.
“Paint was too expensive,” I said, making my way up the steps, brushing past the werewolf. “We’ll have to get it online.”
“Oh well,” Austin muttered. “This house is gonna be a project, and we’ll need money.”
“You know we’re only renting, right? I don’t want to sink thousands of dollars into a place I don’t even own.”
“And I don’t wanna live in a dump.” Austin said. “Do we even know who the landlord is?”
“Everything is handled through the bureau. If we have complaints, I have to make them there and they’ll work with the owner to make the repairs. I think.”
“Forget it. Don’t get ’em involved,” Austin said, looking over at Roscoe. “That porn idea of yours… it’s good money, right?”
“Uh—” Roscoe swayed nervously. “It can be. Depends on what yer willin’ to do.”
“I’m not doing shit. Not going to risk putting my face out on the internet, but Adam will do just about anything you want. I’ll rent him out to you.”
I was about to walk into the house, but stopped, slamming the door behind me. “You piece of—”
“Wait a minute now,” Roscoe said calmly, putting up his hand. “That wasn’t the deal. I’d only do it if Adam agreed to it.”
“He’ll agree to it.”
“No, he won’t,” I interjected.
“Stay out of our business. What? Do you think you’re better than the rest of us? We need money.”
“Then grind your own ass for it. Adam’s not your meal ticket.”
Austin climbed to his feet and stood over me, but Roscoe pushed his way between us.
“Things are gettin’ a little heated. Both of you need to calm down.” He turned to Austin. “I’ve been trying to keep the peace, but we need to have a talk. Just the two of us.”
The hackles on Austin’s neck rose. “Is that a challenge? Are you challenging me, old man?”
“’Course not.” Roscoe put his hand on the other werewolf’s shoulder and nodded for me to go inside. “Just need to talk.”
I allowed myself a moment to calm down before heading inside, letting the door rest quietly against the frame. Roscoe looked like he knew what he was doing, but I was a bit worried. I didn’t know what Austin was capable of; in fact, it probably wasn’t wise of me to argue with him.
“Adam?” I called out, noticing the living room furniture neatly arranged, but the half-turn wasn’t there. There wasn’t a response, so I walked into the hall and opened their bedroom door. He wasn’t there either.
As I made my way back, a soft snore reverberated from my bedroom. Adam was sound asleep on my side of the bed, wearing nothing but a pair of navy briefs with a hole in it for hislittle tail and a black tank top that had been shredded along the back.
