Aden bounced on his feet a little when he heard the distant rev of the motorcycle.
I turned to watch Jim drive my bike down the gravel drive. His devil smile told me he wanted to pull something, but he saw the swing set and seemed to change his mind. He parked, then came over by us.
“You need to hold the beam,” Aden said. Liam tried to shush him, but Aden gave his brother a quick scowl and moved closer to Jim.
“Liam, think you could hold these bolts for me while Jim and I lift the beam?”
Liam nodded and solemnly came forward to help.
We’d just gotten the beam in place when Winifred called us to the house for dinner.
Jim made a game out of who could take bigger bites between him and Aden. Aden giggled through most the meal. Michelle didn’t say much, just stayed focused on her food then helped clean up when she was done. She was more relaxed with us, but still so detached. I knew not to push her...yet.
After eating, Jim and I worked slowly on the swing set, spending the majority of our time teasing the kids. We even took a small break to show the two how to play catch. When Liam’s eyes rounded at a high jump I executed, Jim and I quickly went back to the swing set.
“You’re going to get us in trouble,” I said for his ears only.
“I wasn’t the one that jumped to catch the ball.”
“You threw it too high on purpose.”
“Start giving them hints now, and they won’t be so freaked out when they learn the truth.”
“I’d rather just tell them the truth.”
Jim shook his head. “They aren’t ready.”
After the kids and Michelle went upstairs to get ready for bed, I paced Jim’s living room. She didn’t trust me because someone else had given her a reason not to trust. I needed to give her a reason to trust me.
Despite Jim’s advice, I felt the truth was the key. Trusting her with my secret would show her she could trust me. One, it would be telling her the truth about me before we went any further in our relationship. Not that there was a relationship, yet. But, the truth might make that more possible because she would see that I could protect her against anything. Which would be the second reason to tell her the truth. Sure, she might freak out a little like Jim said, but Mom had learned to accept Dad. Michelle could accept me.
Nerves and anticipation kept me up most the night. When I heard the boys moving upstairs, I quickly showered and went outside to start working. It didn’t take much time before the boys joined me. Michelle came out and sat on the porch, watching.
It took me longer than it should have to put the set together. What-ifs and doubts clouded my mind. The bottom line was that not telling Michelle what I was felt like a lie. And, I wouldn’t lie to her. I couldn’t. That didn’t mean I embraced telling her the truth. What if she ran without giving me a chance?
It was well after lunch when I finally secured the swing set to the ground and gave the boys the go-ahead to play. They raced for the tower and started climbing up.
Letting out a long breath, I turned and joined Michelle on the porch. She kept her eyes on the boys as they played. I sat next to her and watched them, too. I realized that in order to tell her about me, I needed to separate her from her brothers. I didn’t want to scare all three of them.
“I bought a movie when I went to the store,” I said.
I felt her turn to look at me. She quietly studied me for a while.
“Would you like to watch it with me?” I asked.
“I can watch the boys out here if you two want to go in,” Winifred said from her chair on the porch.
A swell of determination spiced Michelle’s scent as she stood and told her brothers that she would be right inside if they needed her. I quickly stood, too, and ignored the wink Winifred sent my way.
Michelle followed me to Jim’s apartment. Now that the time was here, I hesitated. I went to the TV and grabbed the movie I really had purchased in town. I turned and held it up with a hopeful smile.
The hope that we could sit together for a while before I broke the news to her died at her serious expression.
“Emmitt,” she said, reluctantly. “I really appreciate you letting us stay here, but I don’t know how long we’ll be here, and can’t afford any emotional distractions.”
At first, her words hurt. She was ready to leave before we’d even gotten started. Then, I realized what she’d said. Emotional distractions.
“What are we talking about, exactly?”
“The way you look at me...” she whispered with a blush.
Oh, the things she could do to me. The color in her cheeks and the shy look in her eyes made my chest tight. I wanted to touch her and have her touch me in return. My face. My hair. It didn’t matter. Just any sign of affection. I was starting to feel a little starved for it.
And there she was, telling me it wasn’t going to happen. But, she didn’t know about the pull. About werewolves. About me. When she did understand, she’d change her song. However, I could see this wasn’t the moment to tell her. Not with her standing there all wary and defensive.
“I see. Michelle, when I saw you in the diner, and again when you faced David, I knew you needed a friend.”
She stayed quiet a moment.
“Friendship might be more than I can manage,” she said, finally.
I nodded, sad for her, and looked down at the movie in my hands. I lifted it slightly and looked up at her with a half-smile.
“So, is that a no to a movie?”
“It’s a yes to the movie and a no to anything else.”
“Fair enough.”
She sat on the couch while I started the movie. The squeal of the machine didn’t annoy me as it once had. I’d gotten used to it over the years.
For the next two hours, we sat side by side, not quite touching. The rumble of Michelle’s truck echoed distantly before the final scene. It sucked that Jim would be home before I could talk to her again, but maybe it was for the best.
Just as the movie ended, Jim walked through the door and plopped down onto the couch next to Michelle. He grinned at me and slipped an arm around Michelle’s shoulders. She didn’t seem to mind.
“Where do you work?” she asked, turning to him.
I was going to kick his ass later. Standing, I went to turn off the television.
“Roadside construction. Thanks for letting me use your truck,” he said. Then, in the reflection of the TV, I watched him kiss her cheek.
“You need to shower,” I said without turning.
Winifred, I’m going to kill him.
Your mother will never forgive you.
She’ll get over it. Eventually.
Jim laughed and sauntered back to the bathroom.
Michelle stood, too.
“Thanks for the movie, Emmitt.”
I nodded, unable to turn around and look at her as she left because my canines were showing.
Once I knew she was out of hearing, I stood and went to lean against the bathroom door.
“What the hell were you thinking?”
Despite the running water and the closed door, Jim heard me.
“Showing you how it’s done. You’re making this way too hard. You know she’s the one, start putting some moves on her.”
“You’re the one who said she wasn’t ready.”
“For the truth. Every girl is ready for some moves.”