“Do you think Asher’s family might know anything?” Reverie’s voice is tentative, more halting than usual enthusiastic self. “I mean, they’re like, super old right? So, maybe they know something.”
I shake my head. “I don’t know. I’ll ask Ash, but no promises. His family is kinda shitty.”
Reverie gasps and jumps from my hands. “You cursed! You never curse. Are you ill?”
I grin. “Oops.”
Reverie scowls, but can’t hold it for longer than a couple seconds, and soon she’s back to her normal chaotic self, pestering me with questions and ideas as I try to mentally prepare to return to work on Monday.
37
THANK GOODNESS FOR BESTIES
RAYA
I meetAsher for work at the entrance Monday morning, where we’re stopped by a security guard.
“I’m sorry, Mr. Sullivan,” he says. “I’ve been instructed not to let you in, but Ms. Merritt may go up.”
“Absolutely not.” Asher’s voice is thunderous, and I set a hand on his forearm in an attempt to steady him.
“Why isn’t he allowed in?” I ask.
The security guard’s features pinch and his eyes dart around before he answers.
“I was told you’re a danger to other staff and can’t be trusted to maintain control, and if you have a problem with it, I’m to direct you to contact Mr. or Mrs. Walton, as they’ve agreed to meet with you to discuss the issue.”
So Asher isn’t allowed in after pummeling his awful cousin in my defense, and the only way forward is to meet with his parents first.
Asher snags my elbow and drags me down the block, out of sight of the security guard.
“I can’t go in with you. Even if they agree to meet with me, I know their games. It won’t be today, they’ll make me wait,and then they’ll make me jump through hoops to get what I want.” He spears a hand through his hair and paces back and forth on the sidewalk next to me. “There’s no good option here, Raya. I don’t know what to do.”
“Okay, well, why don’t you use some PTO? Take today to think about it, figure out your plan, and we’ll go from there.”
He nods at first, then freezes and looks at me.
“What about you? You can’t go in there alone.”
“I’ll be fine,” I try to wave it off, but he’s not having it.
“No, Raya. You don’t get it. They are manipulative and cunning. They’ll come after you and before you know it, you’ll be caught up in their trap, and you won’t survive it. You won’t, they hate shifters, and probably you even more because I said you were with me.” He turns and starts pacing again.
“Shit.Shit.I shouldn’t have told them that. I should have pretended I didn’t know you, then they wouldn’t have looked twice and you wouldn’t be in such danger now?—”
“Hey, stop, it’s okay. I’m a big girl, and Alex and Kendall are there. I’ll make sure I’m not alone with any of your family, it’ll be fine.” I say, trying for a soothing tone despite my own chest tightening with anxiety. “Like I said, I doubt I’ll even see any of them, I’m sure they have all sorts of important meetings this week.”
Asher chews on his lip, his sharp fang drawing blood as his eyes flit back and forth between mine.
“I’ll be okay. If anything goes wrong, I’ll call you. Okay?”
I feel bad at how tormented he looks, but I hold strong. This job is important to me. I have fun here, with coworkers I care about. It’s something I’ve never had, but desperately wanted. I don’t want to lose all of that just to start over somewhere new again, and I refuse to let them intimidate me when it’s unlikely I’ll even see them. If worse comes to worst, I’ll look for a new job, but I’m hopeful it won’t come to that.
His brows are so furrowed they’re almost touching.
“I promise I’ll be careful,” I say.
Asher’s blue eyes bore into mine. Whatever he finds must be acceptable, because he lets out a world-heavy sigh, and then kisses my forehead in silent acquiescence. I squeeze him a little tighter than normal before we part ways, and I head into work on my own.
