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“How do you know that?”
Yeah, Michel, how do you know that? Can’t tell him your senses help you detect sickness.“I volunteered a bit at an animal shelter.” The lie makes me cringe. “I can tell from their bright eyes and good energy.”
“Oh.” He smiles. “Cool. See you later.”
“Bye.”
I hurry out of the apartment, leaning against the wall to calm down. My teeth throb, my nails threaten to extend. I need to bite, to consume, to drown myself in a scent other than Eli’s. It’s the only way he’s safe around me. Otherwise, he’ll discover my secret the hard way.
ChapterNine
ELI
After ensuring the kitties are settled, I take a shower and dress before heading out to explore a little and get my bearings. I have some soul searching to do too. I can’t just mooch off of Michel without a goal. I’d feel like shit.
I stroll down Main Street, glancing in several shops, but pause when I come across Garrett, Ben, and Nial entering a store selling men’s clothing. Good reason to pop in myself. I could use some more casual clothing.
Slipping inside the store, I avoid the clerk greeting people by ducking behind a large display of jackets. The three men I’m semi-stalking are close by, lingering around a table of folded shirts.
“So what’s your plan then?” Ben asks Garrett.
“I have one,” he says, his voice gruff. “And when it goes through, Frenchie is fucked. He thinks he’s gonna undermine me in my own town? No fucking way.”
“Yeah, fuck that,” Nial says. “But what’s your plan, man?”
Garrett sighs, casually picking up a shirt and then tossing it back to the table unfolded. “I got this investor guy from New Onyx. Convinced him to invest in my businesses. He’s gonna bail me out next month as long as I show a profit.”
“No offense, but how are you gonna do that?” Ben asks.
I can see Garrett roll his eyes. “Let’s just say you can make numbers look however you want them too. All I need is a couple of months to get back on my feet, then I can turn things around and focus on getting Frenchie out of here.”
My stomach clenches. This is not good.
“Is your investor that guy you were talking about before?” Nial asks. “The one with the cell phone factory?”
“That’s the one. I found an article about him online talking about how he likes to give back by boosting smaller businesses. Plus, I told him that the reason my business struggled is because of Maren and Michel luring bigger businesses to our town. That got to him.”
“Ha,” Ben says. “Blame it on Frenchie.”
“Exactly. By the time my plan goes through, he won’t know what hit him. Fucking gay asshole.”
“Hey, man,” Nial says, his voice tense. “You gotta stop with the homophobic shit. You know my nephew came out.”
“Sorry. Anyway, what I think next…”
His voice fades as they walk away from me. I duck out again and keep walking. I have to tell Michel so he’s not caught off guard. I continue walking, simply enjoying the feel of being back in a small town. I forgot how much I missed this place.
Two women approach me, dressed in athletic wear. One of them looks super familiar, but I’m drawing a blank. The other is younger, a young teen maybe. The older woman pauses as she gets closer and narrows her eyes before smiling.
“Oh my god. Eli Julius.”
“Yeah.”
She laughs. “You don’t recognize me. Chrissy Landon.”
“Oh shit. Hi.”
“Hey. This is my daughter, Bree.”
