“Fuck!” Carter slammed his hand down on the counter in front of him. They’d moved to this small town to get a fresh start. Hudson was there because of Carter. This was all his fault. His brother getting mixed up in whatever fucked-up thing happening was because Carter had moved them there.
Paranormals. Even repeating it to himself didn’t help Carter believe that this was his new reality. Vampires, shifters, and an oracle. A cute oracle. Carter had to admit that he’d seen Aaron a few times around town. Aaron had first caught Carter’s eye leaving the diner as Carter had been across the street. One of the many faces that Carter was starting to recognize. Just like the others that he’d sworn to serve and protect.
Serve and protect.
How could Carter even help those in the community if he was getting mixed up and keeping secrets from them?
He needed more information. Carter had always been a guy that thought things through. That needed all the details. Determination slammed into him. He had to protect Hudson. Himself. The community. Carter couldn’t do that if he stuck his head in the sand. No, he would find out the truth about all of this.
Reaching for his phone, Carter opened the message chain he had going with his brother. The last message that he’d received was thirty minutes ago.
‘Are you okay? You’re not mad at me, are you? I’m sorry. I was going to tell you. I swear I was.’
His brother was worried. Carter had been too shocked to say much as Hudson, Bas, and Aaron had attempted to share what they could. He hadn’t asked the millions of questions that he suddenly had.
‘I’m okay. Just trying to get things sorted in my mind.’Carter took a deep breath before pressing Send.‘I have questions.’
The reply from his brother came quick.‘I told Bas you would. I told him you would have ALL the questions.’Three laughing emojis.
Carter chuckled. That was such a Hudson statement. It was also true. Carter needed to think things out. To elevate what was happening. To look at all angles. That was just who he was.‘I DO have ALL the questions.’
‘Bas said Aaron is at the house. He can tell you more. Or Aaron can bring you here. You can meet the rest of my friends and we can talk. Whatever you want. Just tell me what you want.’
‘He’s here?’Aaron was there? Why? How? Carter rushed from the kitchen to the front door. He pulled the curtain aside. Not seeing anyone, Carter was confused. Flipping on the porch light, Carter peered down the street to see that no one was hanging around. Was Aaron invisible? Was that like his superpower or something?
Carter snorted. That was stupid. This wasn’t the X-Men.
The phone in his hand vibrated. Carter looked down at the notification on the screen.
‘Back porch.’
Carter turned to stalk across the house. He passed the kitchen where he’d just been. There was a window above the kitchen sink, but it faced the trees in the yard, not the back deck. How long had Aaron been there? Why was he there? Yanking the back door open, the wood vibrated in his hand from the force that Carter pulled on it.
“I’m here,” a quiet voice called out.
Pushing open the screen, Carter stepped out. Sitting in the chair where Hudson often sat as they relaxed for the evening was the cute guy from earlier. Aaron. The oracle. And he appeared utterly exhausted. Why Carter was bothered he couldn’t say. He just knew that Aaron should always be smiling, just like he’d done before everything had turned to shit. When Aaron had been flirting and throwing bad pick-up lines at Carter.
Carter returned to the house and went straight for the fridge. He pulled out two beers and popped the tops off before going out to have this talk with Aaron. The oracle.
What the hell was an oracle? That had never been answered. And this totally was going to be a drinking conversation. Carter just knew.
He walked down the steps and over to the other man.
Aaron looked even worse than he had that afternoon. His blond hair disheveled, dark circles under his eyes, with an air of rejection surrounding him.
“You look like you could use a beer,” Carter said, offering him a bottle.
“Thanks.” Aaron reached out and accepted the bottle, taking a small sip.
Carter slid into the chair next to him. “How long you been here?”
Aaron shrugged. “About an hour?”
An hour? And Carter hadn’t heard him. “Why didn’t you knock?”
Aaron took another pull from his beer. “I didn’t know if you would want to talk or not. I didn’t want to bother you.”
“Bother me?” Carter said.
