January was going to suck.
23
Jack
After we cleaned up the kitchen from breakfast—well, mostly I cleaned up the kitchen while Jed sat there in silence, head on the table, occasionally moaning—we shifted back to our tiger forms and ran to my place. It was a little harder to avoid being seen in the daylight than it had been in whatever embarrassing time of night it had been when Jed and I landed on Tess's porch, but the few people we saw mostly just waved and went on their way. A couple did a double take at seeing two tigers, because folks weren't quite used to the idea of both of us yet. Nobody scowled or waved guns at us or told us to get off their lawns, though, all of which had happened to me in the past.
When I'd beenlucky.
When I hadn't been as lucky, they'd been firing those guns at me. Or casting heavy-duty spells. Or attacking with fangs and claws.
Life as a rebel leader had certainly had its moments.
We ran up to the porch, transforming mid-leap, and I shook my head and grinned at my granddad. "The funny thing is, I thought it would be boring, moving home to a small town after my adventures in the rebellion."
He threw back his head and laughed, long and loud. "Jack, from what you've told me about your year here, bored is the last thing you'll ever be."
I had a feeling he wasn't wrong.
I took a long, hot shower and then remembered to check my phone and said some very bad words when I saw the text from Tess.
Jed looked up from where he was reading the Dead End Gazette at the kitchen table. "What is it?"
I told him about the break-in at Tess's shop.
"I need to go out there." Before I realized I was going for them, I had my keys in my hand. "She said it wasn't a big deal and nothing was gone except for that crazy enchanted tree. But I need to—"
Jed made pushing motions with his hands. "Of course you need to go. Tell Tess hello from me."
"You don't want to come with me?"
Jed suddenly looked a little sheepish. "Well, I would, but it's just that… my professor lady friend is stopping by. She said she had a few clarifying questions to ask me."
I grinned at him. "I bet she does."
Jed sternly pointed at the door. "Out."
When I opened the door to my truck, though, my phone rang. I glanced down at it and answered the call. "Hey Shelley. Is everything okay? I'm on my way to the shop right now."
"Happy almost Christmas, Jack! I'm at the shop with Tess. We need food! Tess said to ask if you can bring sandwiches or pizza. And sodas. And lots and lots of dessert."
"I kinda have the feeling that she did not say lots and lots of dessert." I swung up into the truck and started it. "But I'll see what I can do."
"Okay, thanks! And don't forget the dessert! See you soon!"
Between her upcoming birthday, which was on the 23rd—the same day as mine—and Christmas, Shelley was so excited it surprised me she wasn't levitating. Although, considering her newly manifesting magical powers, she very well might start at any moment.
I decided pizza was the way to go and headed for Judd's shop, formerly known as Dead End Pizza. I tried to call Tess on the way, but she wasn't answering. I knew she'd be really busy at the shop, and I figured there was nothing to worry about if she had Shelley calling to ask me about lunch.
I also figured if I kept telling myself that long enough, the hollow feeling in my stomach at the thought of somebody breaking into her shop would go away. I still wasn't quite used to worrying about somebody the way I did about her. I blew out a deep breath, determined to put negative thoughts out of my mind. I'd bring pizza, and I'd be cheerful, and I wouldn't give her anything else to be concerned about.
It was bad enough Jed and I had bumbled in on her singing sea shanties.
The pizza shop had been a relatively nondescript building before Judd bought it. He'd repainted the outside in the colors of the Italian flag, and it looked cheerful and inviting. Inside, he'd added a nice seating area for people who wanted to eat out instead of at home. I ordered five large pizzas, plus an assortment of cannoli. The teenager at the counter kept giving me surreptitious glances in between ringing up my order and finally he stopped and looked at me, took a deep breath, and blurted out: "Are you really a tiger shifter?"
I considered flashing fangs at him, but restrained myself and grinned. "Yep. That's me."
"So, tigers like pizza?"
