That Shifter Love

Lucy laughed, but it was cut short when she gasped. “Oh my god! I have to be at work by two.” She threw the covers off and leapt out of bed, nearly running for the bathroom. “I can’t be late today! I called in sick yesterday. Dammit!”

Nathan watched her panic retreat into the bathroom and heard the shower come on. He followed her at a more relaxed pace and called to her, “Calm down, babe. I’ll drive you over so you don’t have to walk.”

“You’re a life saver, you know that,” she replied through the shower curtain. “I can slow down, actually have a cup of coffee, maybe even a muffin.”

Nathan smirked. “I’ll make coffee, if that’s ok.”

“Sure, and thanks,” she said. She stuck her head out of the shower curtain for a kiss. “I’ll be ready in ten.”

*****

Nathan dropped Lucy off at the café thirty minutes later with a quick kiss good bye and the promise of a text to plan their next date. Lucy’s face wouldn’t stop smiling as she walked into the back door of the café, and Jeff stared at her.

“You don’t look sick,” he said.

“I feel so much better today, you have no idea,” she replied, smiling openly at him. He only stared at her for a moment longer and walked back into his office.

Kayla rushed in immediately after and looked at Lucy, whose smile still shone brightly. “Well, somebody got laid last night,” she mused teasingly as she tied on her apron.

“Shut your dirty mouth,” Lucy retorted with a grin, then leaned in. “And hell yeah I got laid last night!”

They laughed together and Kayla said, “I want details!”

“Later, I promise. Here’s one little tidbit for you, though,” Lucy whispered. “I’m falling in love with him.”

“Holy sh*t, really?”

“Yep! Now get your stuff and let’s make some money.” Lucy laughed at her friend’s expression.

They spent the afternoon filling salt and pepper shakers, replacing ketchup bottles and napkins, and wrapping silverware in preparation for the evening rush. Jeff was busy behind the bar; one of the keg pumps didn’t seem to be working properly. Lucy filled Kayla in on the events of her life the last couple of days, not leaving out the confrontation with Austin or every detail about Nathan’s amazing love making.

Throughout the afternoon, a handful of customers came in and out, some for meals, others just for coffee, some even asked for beers. Lucy smiled at them all, and her good mood was infectious. Her tips were large that afternoon because she treated everyone to her killer smile and sunshine-y attitude.

“Hey, Kayla,” Lucy called to her friend as her customers left. “I’m taking a break before my tables start filling up.”

“Ok, I’ll go after you get back,” Kayla replied as she walked to refill waters for her customers.

Lucy walked behind the bar and into the back room, where she sat down on the bench in front of their cubbyholes and rested her feet for a moment. The murmur of the television in Jeff’s office caught her attention; he rarely left it on because he didn’t like to waste electricity on a TV in his office. She stepped through the door and reached for the remote on his desk to turn it off when she heard the prep for the next story: a werewolf attack. Her attention focused on the television.

“You claim a werewolf attacked you?” asked a male reporter Lucy didn’t recognize.

“I don’t claim it, I’m affirming it,” Austin said. Lucy gasped when she saw his face on the screen.

“Can you tell us exactly what happened?”

“Yes. I was walking a friend home from work and we started making out,” Austin told the camera, smiling like an idiot. “All of sudden, she disappeared and a wolf was standing in front of me. It lunged at me, nearly biting my throat. I ran away.”

“It didn’t follow you?”

“No, it didn’t. I ran all the way to a crowded street and hailed a cab and went straight home.”

“Who was this werewolf? Do you know her identity?”

Lucy’s stomach clenched. She looked over her shoulder to make sure no one was around. She looked back at the television as Austin answered, holding her breath.

“I do know her name, but I am not at liberty to release it. An investigation is pending,” Austin replied.

Lucy expelled her breath in a whoosh. Relief washed through her, but it was temporary. What do I do? she thought. It was only a matter of time before her name was released and everyone found out what she was. Sure, Kayla was ok with it, but she didn’t know how Jeff felt about weres. He might fire her. And her neighbors might not want a were living there.

Her panic continued to rise; she was almost hyperventilating. She turned off the television and walked back out to the hall and sat down on the bench. She’d put her hand over her chest in an effort to calm herself when she heard her phone vibrating in her cubby. She reached for it quickly and saw Nathan’s number.

“Nathan?”

“Calm down, Lucy. We heard the news report and already have a plan to talk to Austin. Your name won’t be revealed, I promise,” Nathan assured her.

“Oh my god, Nathan, I had no idea he’d go to the press!”

“I didn’t think he seemed like that kind of guy, either,” Nathan mused. “But don’t worry. I’ve told the Head and he agrees it needs to be handled quickly.”

“What do I need to do?” she asked him.

“Nothing. Let me handle it,” Nathan told her. “That’s my job.”

Lucy could hear the smile in his voice and she smiled in return. “Thank you.”

“You’re more than welcome. It’ll only cost you a kiss.”

“I’ll give you way more than that!”

*****

While Lucy went back to work, trying to ease her mind with work, Nathan discussed his plan with the Head.

“I’m going to his place to wait him out. I’ll discuss it calmly and find out why he went to the press,” Nathan told him.

“You didn’t think he would,” the Head asked.

“No. It’s been days since the incident happened. Yeah, he confronted Lucy last night, but he seemed more embarrassed than anything. Angry, yes, but not spiteful.”

The Head nodded. “All right, go talk to him. Bring him back if you absolutely need to.”

“That shouldn’t be necessary.”

*****

At Austin’s apartment, Nathan knocked quietly and waited for a response. He stood just to the side of the door so Austin couldn’t see who was at his door. He didn’t answer when Austin asked who is it, and the door slowly opened. Nathan slammed his shoulder into it, knocking Austin off balance. He stumbled back and hit the couch, tumbling backward over it and landing with a crash on the floor. Nathan quietly shut the door behind him and leaned against it.