“Just tell me.”
“It’s something I should say in person, anyway.”
“I’m not coming if you don’t tell me.”
“I’m a shifter,” she blurts. “A fox shifter. I turn into an animal.”
I don’t compute. “Uh…”
“I was born a fox shifter. I turn into an animal. It doesn’t make me any different, just more. I’m stronger than a human, and can live a long time.”
“Huh.” I blink and look ahead for an exit.
“I can shift whenever I want. It’s not like some movies where they have to have a full moon. I’m not evil. Not saying there aren’t evil shifters. There are bad people of every species.” I carefully exit and slow down. “I don’t like hiding it from you. We’ve always been open and honest, and I hate holding back. If you move here, and I didn't tell you, I would have to be secretive. My fox likes to run in the woods, and you would have questions.” I ease into the gas station parking lot. “Haven, say something,” she pleads.
I put the car in park and take a deep breath.
“Girl, I'll hold your hand while we get some tests done. I'll move in with you and take care of you. You will never be alone. I've got your back,” I say firmly.
“I’m serious.”
“Rylee—”
“I wouldn’t lie to you. I appreciate your ride or die attitude, but it’s true.”
My heart thuds. “You’re not sick,” I mumble. How is this possible?
“No. Shifters are immune to human diseases,” she states, and I laugh abruptly.
“You are a shifter. I'm human.” I rub my forehead and close my eyes. “The story,” I mutter.
“What?”
“You wrote me a story. In a letter, when we were young.” I thought she was creative when she added a story of a small fox in one of our letters. I remember telling her she should be an author.
“Yeah,” she sighs.
“I still have that letter. So, it was a true story.” I drop my hand, open my eyes, and notice the outside world hasn’t changed. For a moment, I thought I was losing it, and there would be animals strolling around where the humans used to be.
“Yes. I understand if you want to go back home. I should have admitted everything before you planned to come. I’m not dangerous unless you're a bad person, or I’m in the ring. I would never hurt you.” Rylee fights, and I was looking forward to watching her kick some ass when I got there.
“Do you remember when my crush made fun of me when I was sixteen?” I ask.
“Yes.”
“I was heartbroken. You stayed on the phone with me all night, listening to me cry, and you promised to help me bury his body. When my father locked me in my room because I dyed my hair, you told me jokes, and we planned our future. Another time, my cheek was blue and swollen when he slapped me. I had to convince you not to drive to my house and kill him. Do you remember?” I whisper.
“Of course.”
“I believe you. I love you. You have been there for me when no one else cared. I don’t care if you turn into a snake, even though they give me the creeps. I would adjust and learn to love them.” She laughs. “What?”
“Well, about the snake shifter…” She hesitates.
“No. You know one? Hold on. I need to go in the store and buy a shit ton of snacks. You're going to stay on the phone and tell me everything while I drive.” I turn off the car and grab my purse.
“Okay. I love you, Haven,” she says softly.
“Hey, if we would hide a body for each other—” I get out of the car. “Why wouldn’t I go into the woods with you and watch you run around as a fox?” I grin as her laughter bursts through the phone.
