Chapter 8
After a lot of contemplation, and the nightmare of what had happened on graduation night, I decided that living in student housing was just not going to be a good idea for obvious reasons.
Yet another dream killed by the fact that I was a damn werewolf.
Trying not to wallow in pity, and putting on a happy, brave face, I walked into the kitchen the following Sunday morning to where my mom was cooking a big breakfast.
I picked up a warm pancake from the stack and rolled it up, taking a bite from the end.
“Good morning, sunshine, have a seat at the table.”
I swallowed down my bite and said, “I actually wanted to talk to you for a minute, Mom.”
She glanced at me and nodded, turning the burners off on the stove, and instructed me to sit. I did, and then she sat across from me. “What’s on your mind, Ayla?”
“Well, I was thinking that I would rather live off campus. Would that be cheaper?”
She cocked her head at me, smoothing some hair behind her hair. She regarded me carefully with light-brown eyes. “Are you worried we can’t pay for your college?”
I shook my head before taking another bite of my pancake. “No, not at all. I just don’t think I want to live on campus. I have a car and can drive there every day.”
Mom folded her hands in front of her on the table and continued to pierce me with her motherly stare. “What brought about this change?”
I shrugged casually, even though I was nervous. I hated lying, but I didn’t think telling the truth would go over very well. “I just don’t want to be around all those girls, all that drama. And I especially don’t want to have to eat in the school cafeteria three meals a day. I know if I live in housing you’ll have to pay for a meal plan too. I’d rather learn to cook.”
She cocked an eyebrow at me as if she didn’t believe me. I’d seen the look plenty, so it didn’t surprise me. “Does this have anything to do with Ryder? Because I don’t want you two living together while you’re in college. I know you’re an adult now, and can do what you want, but if you plan on moving in with him, you’ll be paying for it.”
Ouch.
“No, it has nothing to do with him.”
Lie. It had a little bit to do with him. We needed a safe place to hang out once a month in case we didn’t make it to Wolfe Point. Ryder was going to be living on campus, and his parents said they trusted him to get away once a month to the shifting location. I was glad they had that much faith in him, because I didn’t trust myself at all.
“So you want an apartment, then?” she asked.
“Actually, I think I want a small house. I will get roommates.”
Other wolves.
“Houses in Boulder aren’t cheap to rent. But if you have roommates it would help. Maybe we should look into buying one…” She trailed off, seeming to be deep in thought, and stood up.
Seeming to snap back to reality, she looked down at me as I shoveled the last of the pancake in my mouth, and said, “I’ll talk to your dad this afternoon after he gets back from the club. I’ll have an answer for you in a couple of days.”
I stood up, walked over to my mom and hugged her. “Thank you.”
The timer on the oven went off and she pulled out some kind of breakfast casserole and told me to sit. I obeyed because the casserole smelled delicious.
* * *
Two months later, I was standing in my empty living room of the two-bedroom house my parents had bought. I was instructed to get a roommate and she was to pay my parents 400 dollars a month, but I was to collect it. I know they were just doing it to make me be a responsible adult. My father was an investment analyst for a very popular investment company and they had more than enough money. In fact, I was sure they bought the house so they could have another tax write-off. Not that I was complaining.
They were, however, pretty frugal most of the time. Yes, the house we grew up in was nice, but my mom was never one to splurge on expensive clothes or anything like that. It was always the sales racks and discounts where my clothes and accessories had come from. And now, as I looked around my moderately furnished house, with the futon for a sofa and the flat-screen TV sitting on a small TV stand, I smiled. I didn’t need much, I just wanted to get through these next four years, come out on the other side with a degree, and then start planning my life with Ryder.
He was onboard, too, as we had discussed this several times. We had our lives mapped out, and we both liked it that way. My parents and his both agreed to this, and that was the way it was going to be. The only thing I didn’t know was what my major was going to be, but my dad had told me not to worry about it right now. Just knock out the undergraduate crap like English and History, then I could spend the last two years taking classes for the degree I wanted.
This plan—it made me feel safe and content. It made me worry less, and work more on my schoolwork, and for the most part, I did. It was bad enough nature had dealt me a monthly curse as a woman, but to have to be doubly cursed once a month, well, that just sucked.
It sucked badly.
The doorbell rang and I opened it. A girl about my age stood there with one of the tear-offs from the flyer I had posted on the bulletin board in the main corridor for buy-sell-trade.
“Hi, I saw your flyer. Still need a roommate?”
I nodded and opened the door wider. “Yes, you’re the first. Have a seat.”
She sat on the sofa and I studied her briefly before beginning my questioning. She had long, dark hair, olive skin, and brown eyes. With full lips and a flawless complexion, I wondered if she was trouble, or still innocent.
“My name is Ayla and this is my house. Actually, it’s my parents’ house, but they instructed me to get a roommate, so here we are.” I smiled at her.
She smiled back and slowly brushed some of her dark hair behind her shoulder. “My name is Sanja. Nice to meet you Ayla.” She reached out to shake my hand and I felt something strange as our hands touched. I wouldn’t say it was an electric spark or anything, just a strange sensation that ran through me, and honestly, made me a little queasy for a split second. It seemed she felt it too, and pulled back abruptly. Her smile fell briefly, but she put it back on again, albeit a little more forced this time.
I cleared my throat and said, “Well, tell me a little about yourself.”
Still smiling, she said, “Okay. I’m originally from Texas. I am a sophomore this year, but am tired of living in student housing. I need something quieter. I am majoring in paranormal studies, with a minor in nature science. My mom and brother still live in Texas, and I have a few friends here that I made last year, but other than that, I’m pretty much alone.”
“Paranormal studies, that’s interesting. I didn’t even know that was an option.”
She nodded. “It’s a very interesting subject, although I haven’t gotten to take many classes in it, as I’m doing my undergraduate junk right now.”
I nodded, and said, “So do you like to party, or are you more like the quiet, studious type?”
She grinned. Damn those lips, I was so jealous. They were like the Angelina ones people pay big money for. “Honestly, I’m quiet most of the time, but if I get invited to a party, I’m game to go. I have a few social bones in my body. But you have my word I would never throw a party over here, not unless you weren’t home, or I had your permission.”
My eyes went big. “Uh...”
She laughed, and it was a high tinkling sound that made me laugh too. “I’m just screwing with you. I don’t have enough time to throw parties.”
“Okay,” I said, laughing. “Next question. Do you have a boyfriend or a significant other?”
She shrugged. “Not really. I’ve been on a couple of dates with this guy named Dane but it’s not really going anywhere. What about you?”
I nodded. “I have a steady boyfriend named Ryder, but he lives in student housing. Parents said no way about us living together.” I smiled, chagrinned.
She nodded. “I hear you. My mom is strict like that, too.”
“No dad?” I asked, and then regretted it. So none of your business, Ayla! “I’m sorry,” I immediately said.
“No worries, girl. I do have a dad, somewhere, but he hasn’t been in the picture since I was like, two. Mom’s had a few boyfriends, but nobody permanent. I’m good.”
I breathed out in relief. God, that had been so rude. Changing the subject, I said, “So do you have a job or just living on student loans?”
She shook her head. “No student loans, I am very grateful to have gotten a full scholarship. I do work at Magik’s Books & Coffee for extra money.”
I furrowed my brows. “Where’s that? Here in town? Sorry, I’ve only been out a few times. I’m from a small suburb south of Denver, and haven’t gotten out into Boulder to explore yet.”
“That’s okay. Yeah, it’s a bookstore-slash-coffee shop. It’s totally rad, you should come check it out sometime.”
“I think I will,” meaning it. “I love coffee and books!”
“Who doesn’t, right?” she asked, putting her hand on my mine again.
I felt the sensation again, but this time it lasted a bit longer, then it subsided. She quickly pulled her hand away and swept some hair over her other shoulder this time.
Laughing awkwardly, and then trying to continue the conversation, I said, “The evil and soulless.”
Sanja’s smile dropped and, looking concerned, she said, “What?”
“You asked who doesn’t like books and coffee.”
She laughed, and seemed to relax again. “Oh. I did, didn’t I?”
“So how many hours a week do you have to work there?”
“About fifteen to twenty. I enjoy it, so at least it’s not like work,” she replied, smiling.
“I need to find a job too. My parents are paying for the house and tuition but that leaves me no shopping money.” I smiled.
“Yes, got to have spending money, especially around here. Everything is so expensive, I noticed.”
“Yes, it is, unfortunately.”
“So tell me, Ayla,” she said without missing a beat or even blinking, “what do werewolves go shopping for anyway?”