Page 27 of Shifters Reckoning

“He’s still the same asshole barn cat he always was, but that’s how Callie loves him. At least he’s settled in and isn’t trying to escape all the time.” Sheila nodded toward the table. “Want anything to drink besides water?”

I shook my head. “Not this time. I’m driving home.”

“What about you girls?”

They both declined, and Sheila went on her way.

Shannon pointed to the helmet. “Got your bike out of mothballs?”

“Feels good,” I said with a grin.

We made small talk and briefly caught up on each other’s lives.

Finally, I said, “I’m sure you both suspected, but I have some news to share.”

Riley squealed. “You’re pregnant?”

My jaw slacked, and I didn’t know what to say.

Instead, Shannon guffawed. “No, I bet not, Riley.”

“I bet so,” Riley countered.

“If she’s pregnant, I’ll buy lunch.”

I waved off their impending argument. “No, I’m not pregnant. It’s news about the clinic.”

Riley’s face fell. “Oh, that.”

I scrunched my nose. “Did you really think I was pregnant?”

She shrugged. “Meet guy. Guy sweeps you off your feet and takes you to the country. This is Louisiana. Babies come next. I mean, you’re not working, so…”

“I guess that’s true.” I laughed at her youthful take on the order in which things had happened. Torbin had softened Riley’s memories and sealed them behind a mental block, so Shannon knew more about what was going on in my life than Riley did.

I turned serious. “No, I wanted to tell you that you’ll get a lump-sum payment through the end of quarter one of next year. You can take another job if you’d like. It’ll be at least spring of next year before I’m ready to reopen.”

They both nodded.

“You don’t have to pay us that long,” Shannon offered.

“You two are worth it,” I assured her.

“And Logan’s loaded,” Riley quipped.

Shannon’s eyes widened. “Riley!”

I shrugged. “She’s not wrong, and it was his idea.”

“Have you heard from your mom?” Shannon asked. “She stopped texting and calling all the time.”

“Oh, she’s moved out to Logan’s place. She’s staying out there.”

“Is that awkward?” Riley asked.

“Not any more awkward than anything else,” I murmured.

Riley would faint dead away if she knew how often we all walked around completely naked.