by Renee George
He surprised me by grabbing my upper arms and yanking me toward him. "You can't do this, Dakota. Please, don't do this to me. To us."
"You shouldn't put your hands on a lady," Cal said, now only a few feet away and closing in fast, his voice calm and monotone.
"I'm fine," I said calmly. I met Luke's gaze. "We're fine. Right? Luke was just about to let me go."
"What is going on here?" my dad said, coming up the aisle behind me. Crap, I needed to get out of here before anyone else showed up to witness my humiliation.
Upon seeing my dad, Luke instantly dropped his hands to his side, and I stepped away from him.
"Nothing is going on here, Mr. Thompson," Luke said.
But my dad was not a stupid man. While it might seem like deer shifters would be one of the more diplomatic of therianthropes, bucks were known for being fiercely protective of their young. I got a bad feeling he was about to show Luke the sharp end of his antlers.
"Hey, Dad. What are you doing here?" I asked.
"Picking up some soda for the shop. Now, you better answer my question?" He stared at Luke.
"We were just having a conversation," Luke said.
"You always talk with your hands, son?"
I heard a slight growl coming from Cal. The skin on my cheeks tightened as I grimaced. I tugged at the collar of my shirt. "Is it getting warm in here?"
My dad glanced at Cal. "What's your part in all this?"
Cal shrugged. "I'm just here for beef jerky."
"It's two aisles down," Luke snarled.
The weight of Dad's gaze fell on me. He was a thin man with delicate features, typical of deer therians, but in this moment, he'd made himself large and imposing. "Give me your basket and get on out of here, girl. I'll take the flour home to your ma."
"She wants sugar, too."
He raised a brow. "I'll grab it on my way out. Now you go before someone says or does something he might regret." My dad's eyes pivoted between the two men.
"Yes, sir." My ears burned as I nodded. I handed the basket to Dad and fled the scene without looking back. Damn it. I'd really made a mess of things the way I'd handled Luke and Cal. If I had quit things with Luke after our first few dates, I wouldn't be having this problem now. In hindsight, it would have been the responsible thing to do, but at the time, I really thought I could eventually develop feelings for him. On paper, he was the perfect suitor. He ticked all the boxes. But real life didn't come down to checks and balances. I had no chemistry with Luke, and the fact that he thought we did made me feel even guiltier.
I practically ran toward the exit but was stopped in my path by Mary Ann Dwyer, Luke's mother. She wore her hair in a high chignon, reminding me of a blond Audrey Hepburn. "Dakota," she said with so much feeling it made my teeth ache. She reached out to me, her cherry red nails perfectly manicured as always, sparkling under the bright artificial lights.
I reluctantly took her hands. "Hi, Mrs. Dwyer."
"It's so good to see you. When are you coming over again? I keep telling Luke to invite you for dinner, but I'm afraid my invitation isn't being passed along."
"I..." I closed my mouth, unsure of what to say. Obviously, Luke had been as quiet about our break up with his parents as I had been with mine. It was time for them to know the truth. "Luke and I aren't seeing each other anymore," I said.
Her pleasant expression changed to one of confusion and hurt. "I hadn't heard."
Before she could get mad at my mom, I added, "We really haven't told anyone. Not even my parents."
Mary Ann nodded. "I'm sorry to hear this. You were...good for him."
"I'm sorry, too." My pulse jumped a notch as I waited for her to process my revelation. I needed to get out of the store. "I have to go, Mrs. Dwyer. It was lovely to see you."
"And you," she said absently then walked away.
When I finally made it outside, I let go of the breath I'd been holding. My phone dinged.
We still on for cinnamon rolls?
I stared at the screen, trying to will myself to tell him no. He was the wrong sort for me. While therians could date across species of animals, it was still rare for predators and prey animals to mix romantically. I'd never heard of anyone eating a spouse on a full moon, but it didn't mean it couldn't happen.
Better not, I texted. Then added, another time, maybe?
My heart was in my throat as I watched the moving ellipses on the screen as Cal texted his response. The dots stopped then started again. Then stopped.
Finally, he texted back. Meet me tonight. Let's run together...again.
Again? Had we run together last night? It would explain why I smelled like his fur, but the idea of a wolf and deer hanging out on a full moon created more questions than it answered.
I imagined him anticipating my text in the same way I had. After a short moment of trying to talk myself out of doing something stupid, I gave into temptation.
Tonight. But not in Peculiar.
Chapter Three
I gripped the steering wheel in my pick up, my nails digging into the leather wrap as I raced to the school. I'd occupied my hands rebuilding a two-barrel carburetor Dad had pulled off an 88' Chevy truck this afternoon while my mind had raced over the morning's events. So much so, that I nearly forgot I was supposed to pick Linus up for practice. When I pulled into the parking lot, my brother waved, his expression awash with relief at my arrival. My truck nosedived when I applied the brakes too hard, reminding me I needed to look at the front suspension soon. Also, the outer handle on my passenger door was broken, so I'd reached over and opened it from the inside for him. He threw his ball bag in the back of the truck then climbed in.
"Hey, bug," I said to him. "Sorry, I'm late."
"Took you long enough," he quipped. "You need to fix your door."
"I'm too busy running little brothers to baseball practice," I countered. Though he wasn't wrong. I did need to fix the door, and the frontend suspension, and replace the exhaust manifold which was causing a ticking sound when I revved the engine. Unfortunately, I didn't have the money for the parts I needed, or frankly, the time.
"Mechanic heal thyself."
"Har har," I told him. "Hilarious. If you don't eventually wind up in jail for indecent exposure, you should become a comedian." My youngest brother was a bit of an exhibitionist. He preferred four legs over two, and since our clothing doesn't shift with us, all of us Thompsons, even my other siblings, always kept a spare shirt and a pair of pants handy just in case Linus decided to publicly transform back to human after a run.
"You know..." He gave me a sly side-eye glance. "...I considered running there on my own."
"Better to keep your clothes on." He was geared up for baseball, with the stirrup pants, a t-shirt, and cleats. I knocked the hard-plastic athletic cup he wore in his pants with the back of my knuckle, and said, "Hard to protect your balls from a fast pitch when you're naked."
"Kota!" He tried to smack my hand, but I moved to fast for him to catch me.
"Missed me," I said on a laugh before sobering the conversation. "Point is, you have to be more careful, kid. Especially now that your antlers are growing points. You can't show up anywhere outside of town as a deer. First, you never know if you might run into a human. Second, poachers are real, and they won't hesitate to shoot a young buck like yourself. You have to keep yourself safe."
"I know. Sheesh. I was joking. I'm not going to expose myself outside of town."
"You know, there's a lot of people who wish you'd stop exposing yourself in town."
"I meant my other nature." He gave me a sly smile. "But, I do like it breezy."
Peculiar School district was listed as private, not public education, and the sports fields had been built north of town, beyond the one bridge in and out of Peculiar, and near a small gas station ran by a raccoon shifter named Pete Shephard, to keep the humans from nosing around. For many of us living in a therianthrope town, these sporting events had been our first contact with humans. Good
practice at blending in, my mom would say, for when we went off to college.
I'd never had a desire to sit in a college classroom. I hadn't liked high school much at all. I had always found it easier to learn by doing. I think that even if my parents hadn't owned an auto shop, I probably would have found another way to work with my hands. I glanced at my nailbeds. They were darkened in the creases with old carburetor fluid residue, and my fingers and palms were rough and callused.
When we came up on the field there were eight vehicles, five trucks and two cars, parked in the lot. Ten boys around Linus's age were already out on the diamond throwing balls around. Coach Denny Johnson, Elbert Johnson's oldest son, was working with Levi Smart, Mark Smart’s youngest son and one of Linus's best friends, on his pitching. Linus played catcher, and his face reflected his panic at being late, as he jumped out of the truck as soon as I stopped. He grabbed his gear and ran to where the coach and Levi were warming up without so much as a goodbye to me.
"You're welcome," I muttered. It was a little after four now, and my parents needed to get to their meeting, which meant I was going to make everyone late today. Mom called about the time I got back on the road. "Hey," I said. "I just dropped Linus off, and I'm heading to the shop now."
"Can you swing by Doc Smith's before you come back into town. Lisa Ann cut her arm on some barbwire. I called ahead, and Doc will have some salve ready for you when you get there."
"How did she cut herself on barbwire?" We didn't have any fences like that near town.
"She and Bobby Davis decided to go check out Robyn Smith's fainting goats." Robyn was a squirrel shifter, so no relation to the doctor. "She'd put some barbwire up after one of her goats got killed by a wild animal last summer. Darn fool kid. I've grounded her for a month."
"Bobby?" Bobby Davis was a mountain lion shifter, and at fourteen, he already had a reputation for trouble.
Mom chuckled. "You let me worry about who your sister hangs out with."
"Okay. I have my key if you want to lock up the shop when you go."
"Thanks, baby," she said.
I put my blinker on for Doctor Smith's road. "I'm here at the doc's now. Talk later."
My truck bounced hard as I made my way down the gravel drive. Doc's medical office was adjacent to his home, and I wondered how that was working out for them now that they had a baby on the way. Chavvah, at three months, looked like she had stuffed a basketball under her maternity top.
Before I could get out of my truck, Kyle Avery and Karina Wells walked out of the clinic. Karina's eyes were red and puffy, and Kyle looked ready for a brawl. They were both Michele's age, but we'd all hung around together a time or two. I got out as they reached Kyle's car.
"Are you all right?" I asked Karina.
Kyle turned to glower at me, his face turning red as if just my presence pissed him off.
"Don't, Kyle," Karina said. She coughed out a choking sob when she tried to say more, and Kyle's expression softened. He opened the passenger door, and as angry as he appeared, he was surprisingly gentle as he helped her inside.
I heard her quietly plead with him, "Please. Please don't say anything."
Kyle nodded and told her, "I won't. I promise." His tightly clenched fists did not reflect the tenderness he used when he spoke to her. He gave her a kiss on the forehead then closed the door when she had her feet inside.
Karina lowered her window when he made his way around to the driver's side. She hiccupped then said, "Can you ask Michele to call me later?"
"Sure." I watched them go before I headed into the clinic.
I was surprised to see the silver haired, gray-eyed Etta Smith behind the counter. "Hi there," I said a little too brightly. I'd been curious about the volatile wolf since I'd seen her and Chavvah duke it out during some weird pre-wedding ritual. I hoped that her working for the doc meant they were on better terms. I'd overheard my mom talking with Sunny and Chav about her, and the words "anger issues" came up a lot.
"Hi," Etta said. "Do you have an appointment?"
"No, nothing like that. My mom, Ruth Thompson, said Doc Smith would have some salve waiting for me."
Etta cast her dark gaze down at the desk and picked up a small container. "Billy Bob told me to tell you to apply the ointment twice daily. It should heal it up in a few days."
"You know the secret ingredient in Doc's salves, right?"
Etta tilted her head to the side. "Spit," she said matter of factly. She cracked a smile after.
I giggled. "It's so gross, but so effective."
She laughed. "Right? I grew up around it as a cure all, and I still think it's gross."
"I'm Dakota," I told her.
"Etta," she replied. She handed me the small container. "Thanks."
"For what?"
"For lightening the mood. It's been like a morgue around here today."
"Did someone die?"
"No." She brushed her long hair away from her shoulders and shook her head. "Might as well, though. So much crying. I never knew a doctor's office could be so damn depressing."
"Well, people don't come here because they feel good."
Etta snorted, taking some of the shine off her perfect beauty, and it made me like her even more. "Truth," she said. "Billy Bob is pretty strict about patient confidentiality, as he should, so I can't say more, but man, I've had a day of it."
"How are you settling in? I hope nobody is giving you all a hard time. Peculiar is a great place to grow up, but the locals can get a little cautious when it comes to outsiders."
Etta grinned, her gray eyes shining like silver under the fluorescent lighting. "Cautious is one word for it. I don't go into town much if I can help it. Although, I'm getting pretty stir crazy just hanging out here."
"Have you made any friends?"
"One," she said. She gave me a warm smile. "At least, I hope so."
I returned her warmth. "I'd like that." I pocketed the salve. "See you around."
"Sure," Etta said. "Don't be a stranger."
When I reached the door handle, I turned back on impulse. "Do you want to come over tonight for dinner? My mom is a great cook."
Etta blinked, frowned, then finally, she nodded, her smile suddenly shy. "That'd be real nice. Are you sure your mom won't mind?"
"What's one more mouth?"
Etta shrugged. "Okay then."
I wrote down the address on the back of a Doe Run Automotive business card for her. "Do you need a ride?"
"I'll find my way." She waved the card at me. "Thanks again for the invite. It will be good to get away from this place for a little while." The way she said it made me think that maybe things weren't as settled between her and her father as I initially assumed.
"Great. We eat at six."
"Awesome. I'll bring my appetite."
Chapter Four
"Hand me the roasted garlic from the fridge," Mom said, as she whirled around the kitchen. She had a chuck roast braising in the oven, red-skinned potatoes boiled for garlic smashed potatoes, homemade cream corn she'd made from corn she'd cut off the cob last summer and had frozen. "While you're at it, dice me an onion."
Linus ran past the kitchen in full fur and hooves.
"Boy! You better get changed and dressed before company arrives," Mom ordered.
Her excitement level over hosting a dinner for Etta made me uncomfortable. "You know, just because she's the Doc's daughter doesn't mean you should meddle."
Mom shooed me with a quick wave of a hand towel. "I'm not planning to meddle. I am just happy you've reached out to her. Chav's been worried about the girl being lonely, and I want to make sure she feels welcome."
"It's dinner, Mom," Michele said, poking her head into the kitchen. "Don't make a big deal out of it or you'll scare her off." She smirked at me, and I rolled my eyes. I didn't say anything back, because in all honesty, I agreed with her.
"Go make sure your brother is dressed," Mom said to Michele. "And later you can tell me what you've been up to
all day." She gave my younger sister and all-knowing-mom stare.
Michele blanched. "Going."
I had to walk fast to catch up with her in the living room. "Hey, Mishy. I ran into Kyle and Karina at the doctor's office today. Karina wanted you to call her."
Michele's expression darkened. "Okay."
"Bad news?" I asked.
"I can't talk about it, Kota. Sorry. Not yet." She looped her pinky into mine. "You're okay, right?"
"Yeah." I swallowed, my throat suddenly dry at her serious tone. "Fine. Why?"
"I know you've been struggling with boyfriend stuff, lately."
"How do you know?"
"Maybe Sunny's psychic ability is wearing off on me." She touched her nose and wiggled it. "Mostly, though, I've seen you decline several calls from him. He didn't...you know, hurt you or anything, did he?"
"I'm the one who did the hurting," I confessed. "I feel bad because I think he really loves me. I don't feel the same way. I've told him several times, but he doesn't seem to hear me when I say it's over."
She frowned. "Some guys don't like to take no for an answer. Luke is one of them." She squeezed my pinky tightly. "Be careful, okay?"
"Do you know something?"
"No." Michele shook her head. "Not really. It's a feeling."
"So, you really are turning psychic," I teased.
The doorbell rang, and Linus shifted from deer to human. Michele turned her attention from me to him. "Get your butt up the stairs, you little streaker!" She ran up after him.
"I've got the door, Mom," I yelled.
Etta stood out on the porch with a bouquet of yellow, blue, and purple spring flowers. I couldn't stop the chuckle that burbled up in my throat.
"What?" she asked, shaking the flowers. "It was this or wine, and I wasn't sure of your mom's policy on alcohol."
I ushered her inside. "Flowers were the right choice," I said confidentially. "Mom! Etta's here."
Mom rounded the corner, stripping her apron off, and tucking loose strands of blonde hair behind her ears. "Oh, Etta. It's so nice to have you, dear. Come in." Her eyes widened when she saw the flowers. "How thoughtful? I'll take those and get them into some water."