“What?!” No more zombie shuffling around the kitchen for Daria. She barrelled up, slopping coffee on the floor. “You didn’t tell me anything. What happened, and with who? You banged?” She peered at me, not letting me answer before peppering me with more questions. “You did, didn’t you?” I couldn’t keep my grin down and that had her waving her finger in my face. “With the big guy? No, the hot dark haired one with the dimples? Ohh, tell me it was the grumpy one. Those kinds of guys go off in the sack.”
I popped a piece of toast in my mouth and then winked as I chewed.
“No… No…” Daria was being overly dramatic and that was always fun to watch. “More than one guy?” Her voice came out in a high pitched squeak. “All three…?”
I swallowed.
“Two.”
“You had a threesome with two hot shifter dudes?” Her butt was planted back on the stool, and then she grabbed my butter knife, holding it out like it was a microphone. “So how does it feel being one of God’s favourite children?”
“Good.” I started laughing when I heard the sound of her teeth grinding together, only to turn around and find her angrily chewing my remaining piece of toast. “Hey, that’s my breakfast!”
“You banged two studs last night,” she replied. “Allow me what pleasures I can find. Soo…” I stiffened as I placed another couple of pieces of bread in the toaster, because I knew where this conversation was headed. “When are you seeing them again, and are you gonna rope the hot grumpy dude in for naked fun?”
I didn’t reply, listening to the sound of the toaster element heating, feeling the warmth on my face, then jumping when the toast popped up. I placed two pieces on a plate for Daria and gingerly carried one over to my now empty plate. Hers were pushed her way, because food wasn’t enough to distract her.
“Pretty sure this is a one time thing,” I said. “They found my workplace.”
“They what?” She clapped a hand over her mouth to stop from asking more questions, then gestured for me to continue.
“Came and helped me finish my shift and mopped the floors.” I shrugged. “We went out for a few drinks.” Where they confessed that I was their fated mate, I left that part out. “Figured the only way to round out a good chicken parmi was a threesome. Mack wasn’t into the idea and went and did ‘paperwork.’ I booked it in the middle of the night…” For a moment, all I could see was Mack’s face as he appeared in the hallway. Well, that and his very impressive chest. “Didn’t want things to get awkward in the morning, y’know.”
“So…” Daria’s demeanour completely changed, her tone lowering. She stared up at me. “You’re not like their fated mate or anything? I was sure there was something going on there because two of them stared at you like you hung the moon.”
I could’ve lied, but Daria was my best friend. If there was anyone that I could confess this to, it was her.
“They think I am.” I took a quick bite of my toast, needing a second to work out how to phrase this. “At least Tor and Kieran think I am. That’s what the whole conversation at the pub was about. Mack seems pretty determined to believe I’m not, but he doesn’t get it.” I shrugged. “Doesn’t matter what they think or whatever their animal selves reckon, because we all know how this is gonna go.”
Daria stared at me wide eyed, as if watching a slow motion car crash.
“I’ve had guys tell me I’m the one, that they can’t believe their luck in landing me.” I shook my head. “My personal favourite is when they reckon I’m too good for them, right before they prove their point. I’ve tried dating intentionally, making clear I wouldn’t be sleeping with anyone until I felt like we had something solid going, only for them to ghost the moment we fuck.”
I pushed the toast away, my appetite gone.
“Look, I’ve just reconciled myself to the fact that this is the way it is now. Dating apps have ruined everything. They make people think they have infinite choice, that someone hotter, better, will come along at the next swipe, so why settle for what you have right now? I’m pretty sure the whole fated mate line is just a shifter version of ‘I’m looking for a committed relationship’ fuckboy bullshit, so I figured we’d have a bit of naked fun and then I could walk away. No harm, no foul.”
For a moment, silence reigned in the kitchen. Daria just stared before shaking her head, her breath coming out in a hiss.
“Bloody hell, girl, I knew you were feeling jaded. I’m right there with you, babes, but damn, that’s cold.” I stepped back, arms crossing. “This could’ve been something real.”
“I’ll keep that in mind the next time a shifter tells me he’s my fated mate.” My toast was dumped in the bin, my plate put into the dishwasher. “Now, I’ve gotta get to work.”
She was in the shower by the time I left the apartment, so I didn’t get a chance to say goodbye. As I ran down the stairs, my phone started buzzing and, for just a moment, I dared to feel a tiny flicker of hope. That the guys were going to buck the terrible trend I’d been riding since my very first boyfriend in high school. Instead, it was an unknown number. With a sigh, I answered the call, expecting it to be a charity begging for donations or a phone company rep, wanting to sell me a new mobile plan.
“Hello?” I said, looking around and realising I’d need to get an Uber to the pub to pick up my car.
“Hey, Harper.” The overly friendly male voice on the line had me frowning. “This is Shaun.” I stared at the road, having no idea who that was. “Your mum gave me your number.”
Shit, I thought his name was Brian for some reason.
“Hi, Shaun,” I replied, forcing myself to use my good customer service tone. “How are you?”
“Fantastic, now I’m talking to you.” Thank god I hadn’t eaten too much toast, because my bile was rising higher by the second. “So your mother really talked you up, made you sound like a total catch.” Yeah, she said that shit to strangers. Not to me, though. “Just wanted to see if I could take you out for dinner?”
No, I wanted to snap. Absolutely not, but of course, I couldn’t do that with impunity. Mum would be on the phone minutes later, berating me about snoozing on a lovely guy like Brian.
Shaun.
