“Yeah.” He wraps his arms around me from behind, holding me close.
I turn, growing weepy, and hug him tightly. “I was worried we might not be able to fix it this time.”
He strokes my hair, pulling me closer. “Me too.”
“I didn’t know if I’d ever get to hug you again.” Tears stream down my cheeks.
He gently brushes the moisture away with the pad of his thumb. “I know.”
Blinking, I look up at him. “Rowan…you’re a shifter.”
He huffs out a breath, looking overwhelmed. “I am.”
“You figured it out yesterday at the college, didn’t you?”
“I started to suspect it.”
“That means your dad…”
“Not a human.”
“And your aunt and uncle…” I say gently.
He closes his eyes, looking sick. “Yeah.”
I hug him tighter, burrowing against him. “I’m sorry—so sorry.”
“I know I should give my aunt a chance to explain, but…” He sighs. “I think I’ll see if I can stay with Marshall tonight.”
I hide a smile. “Not Ryder?”
Rowan growls out a curse, making me laugh.
“I wouldn’t have let him kiss me. Just so you know.”
“He wouldn’t have done it,” Rowan says darkly. “But the idea of it…”
“What are we going to do? Ryder won’t be around to make a move on me every time you need to change back.”
“I’ll figure it out.”
“What does all this mean for your metamorphosis experiment?”
“I don’t know yet,” he says heavily.
“Ash made a few phone calls while you were out this afternoon. The magistrate’s office said I must have an official audience in Boston after the second inspection is done,” I say miserably. “He’ll decide whether I’m guilty of gnome endangerment, dole out my sentence, and decide what to do with the tea shop.”
“This is ridiculous.” Rowan groans. “As much as I hate to admit it, Ash is highly competent. I have no doubt he’ll find the smoothest path through this. We just need to trust him.”
“You know, if you said nice things like that to him every once in a while, you two might get along a little better.”
Rowan snorts, making it clear that isn’t going to happen.
I reluctantly step out of his arms. “I guess I should get back to work.”
“I’m going to return to my aunt’s place, shower, and pack a few things to take to Marshall’s tonight. Then I’ll be back, all right?”
I cross my arms to keep from wringing my hands. “Maybe you should talk to your aunt.”
