Etienne (The Shifters of Shotgun Row Book 1)(51)

“Come on. Thirty minutes.”

“Well, all right. Shit. I guess it won’t hurt.” We told Janis where we were going, but she seemed to care more about who she was on the phone with.

On our way. I get a treat for that. King-nuts for you.





Tansy

“So, what are we doing here, Tansy?” Justice shook his head, not loving my impromptu crew meeting.

“I don’t know. Just drinking some beers and shooting the poop, I guess. Etienne is coming, with Bruno.” I lowered my voice to a whisper as I mentioned his name and threw a beer to Loic. Part of me hoped it sprayed all over him when he cracked that puppy open.

“I hate that fucker,” Callum mumbled before holding his hand out in a non-subtle hint to pass him a beer as well.

“I concur.” Loic cracked his beer and, sadly, it barely bubbled over the top. Oh, to go back in time and shake it first because I needed a laugh.

Not knowing what was going to happen had my nerves on edge. If Meemaw wanted the crew here, it was probably to contain Bruno’s bear, meaning I was in harm’s way. Or not. Meemaw was always pretty stupid protective. Maybe that was a front for what she was up to? Ugh. I needed to stop overthinking because that was going to get me exactly zero places.

“That’s all well and good, but Meemaw said to be here, and I might need you, so sit down and nurse your beer.” ’Cause drunk shifters sounded like an incredibly horrible idea.

“Damn, you’re a feisty one, Pansy.” Callum sounded, dare I say, proud.

“Ignoring your comment, but I will remember it next time dish duty is calling.” Not that any of them seemed to mind dish time, which was something I never would’ve expected, given their gruff nature, but I was gonna take it. The worst part about cooking was the cleaning, so with that gone, I was on top of the world in my new kitchen.

“Don’t care. Your grub is worth the girly work.”

“Here they come.” I could sense Etienne before I could see them. “Be cordial or just don’t be jerks,” I warned because with their attitude, chances were good they’d just tell Bruno to fuck off.

“Hey, Etienne.” I stepped to his door, just as it opened, wrapping my arms around him. “Just in time. The guys and I were getting a drink, and I was about to start on some food.”

“Don’t tell me you dragged my sorry ass here for a party.” Bruno slammed his door. “I ain’t no friend.” True. Story.

“Tell us something we don’t know.” Callum said what we probably all had been thinking, but in the most childish way ever.

“Callum. You are not five.” I waggled my finger at him, wishing I had a camera to capture the look of shock on his face. “I had you dragged here because Meemaw said it would be nice.”

Just then, Bruno’s ghost decided to show his face. He looked from shifter to shifter before settling his gaze upon me. He was not impressed.

“Hello,” I offered, hoping the guys knew who I was talking to. I didn’t need them interrupting. I didn’t know what I was doing as it was. Distraction could only make it worse. I took a step closer, pleading with Etienne over our connection to trust me.

“No,” the ghost screamed.,

“No, what?” I kept my voice as calm as I could. I hated trying to rationalize with drunks, and dead drunks only amplified that feeling.

“No.” He stomped his foot before pointing to Bruno. “No friends. He doesn’t deserve friends.”

Just then a breeze blew through that had all of us shivering and, from the way everyone’s jaw dropped, it wasn’t only me who saw Meemaw there looking pissed as hell.

“He does deserve friends—a crew—everyone does. You know what happened was an accident, right?” She got right in his face. I hadn’t seen her like that since she was pissed I didn’t tell her about what happened at school right away. I was generally happy about not being a ghost, but that happiness was multiplied by a million as she let her wrath on him. I took a step back and then another.

“His fault.” He pointed to Bruno, his jaw set. He had no idea who he was messing with. No one won a bout with Meemaw.

“Do you remember that night?” I asked, and he nodded in reply. “Tell me about it.” I crept up next to Meemaw. It looked like a good cop-bad cop kinda thing.

The guys were all around us, some sitting on their perches still, but even I could smell their animals ready to push their way through. They were in protective mode, their eyes glued to me. Good crew.

“I went to T-Mac’s after coming home from a visit to my sperm donor in Scarletville when Emily called and told me she’d found someone else.” He spoke far too quickly for me to be sure I caught all of his words correctly.

“Was Emily your girlfriend?” I saw the hurt flicker across his face. That would be a yes.

“Yeah. She broke up with me for a loser, a freaking loser, so I told her not to be stupid, and I would be home by morning, but I never made it. Bear killed me.”

“No, Julius, he didn’t.” Meemaw stepped in front of me, and I took it as a sign to go stand with my mate. Even from the back, her body looked almost real enough to hug, and if it weren’t for Julius now piping back in, I might’ve tried.

“I was there. I know.”