Chapter Ten:
Shay:
I pulled open the door, and I glanced around the room. I knew the daycare had several rooms, and in each room, there were children of different ages. That way, the bigger kids didn't have to hear the little ones, and the big kids wouldn't pick on the little ones.
Vee stood at the main desk, and she smiled once she saw me.
"Hey Shay," she greeted "How are you today?"
"Hey Vee," I said back, "I'm good, how are you?"
"I'm good," she looked to the side door, the one, my brothers, usually come from.
"Is everything alright?" I asked.
She nodded, "Conner just had a bit of a breakdown not too long ago."
"Is he alright?" I asked.
She nodded, "Eileen and her brother are with him."
Eileen has a brother?
"Alright," I said, "Can I go back there?"
"I can get them if you're ready to pick them up," she smiled.
I smiled sheepishly, "I was hoping I could hang out here for a little bit, I can help you guys out."
She looked surprised, "I don't know, I'll have to ask Eileen."
The door opened, and Eileen walked out and smiled wide at me.
It felt a little like she knew that I was here.
"Hey, Shay," she said loudly.
"Hey Eileen," I said back loudly.
She laughed, "How are you today?"
"I'm doing alright," I said, "How are you?"
"So good," she grinned. "Hey, are you busy?"
"Uh," I said, pretending to think about it "No, what's up?"
She pointed to the back, "Come back for a minute?"
I shrugged.
Vee smiled, but I could tell it was forced. She wasn't happy about what played out.
I followed Eileen to the back, but I stopped the second I saw a man crouched in front of Conner.
Conner had the biggest smile on his face, and I wanted to save this moment to memory.
"Shay!" Conner screamed.
I grinned at him as he came barreling over to me.
My arms opened instinctively to latch onto him.
He hugged me back tightly.
"Who is your new friend?" I asked.
The man stood up, and right away, I noticed how tall he was.
He turned to look at me, and I felt my mouth go dry.
His hair was either a really dark brown or black. The lighting in here wasn't high enough to really be able to tell for sure.
"Hi," he said a little awkwardly.
"Hi," I said, still holding Conner.
"Shay," Eileen said from next to me "This is my brother Noah."
"Nice to meet you, Noah," I said, finally releasing my brother so that I could shake Noah's hand.
He looked a little surprised but shook my hand.
"It's nice to meet you too, Shay."
He smiled lightly, and I couldn't help but think he was cute.
Man cute, not boy cute. Though I guess he has a boyish smile.
I noticed his eyes when I was right in front of him. They weren't a natural color.
I moved in a little closer, and I startled him. He moved back.
"Sorry," I said, "I was trying to get a better look at your eyes."
He looked down, and his hand went over the back of his neck.
I couldn't tell if he was shy or just awkward.
"It's alright," he said, "They are a bit different."
They looked kind of like Eileen's, only darker.
Eileen's eyes looked like a purple-blue, but his looked like a dark purple, with a hit of light purple.
"Shay!" I looked over at Cody.
He must have come from the other room.
"Hey," I grinned at him.
He came over to hug me.
"Are we going home now?" he asked.
I was about to say yes, then the memory came back to me.
"Eh," I said, "No, we are going to find something to do for a couple of hours."
"Can't we stay here?" Conner asked.
I looked down at him, and I realized he was standing next to Noah.
"I'm pretty sure Eileen and Noah have more important things to do than babysit all three of us."
Eileen laughed.
Noah smiled as he placed his hand on Conner's head.
"It's slow today," Eileen said, "Why aren't you going home?"
I smiled sheepishly at her. I didn't know how to tell her that my older brother was getting laid.
"Andre has a girl over," Cody said, "Doesn't he?"
I glanced down in horror after he spoke.
"What?" I gasped.
How in the hell did he know that?
"Deidra, right?" Cody asked.
I couldn't speak, I tried to, but I couldn't form words.
"Eh, I, Uh," I sputtered, "Maybe."
Conner whined.
"You can stay here," Eileen said, "I don't mind."
"Really?" I asked.
She nodded, "You can help me out a little with the kids."
"I accept," I said.
Eileen pointed to Noah, "Be my second set of eyes in here?"
He narrowed his eyes at her.
I felt a little like I was missing something.
Noah:
I was freaking out.
I felt her proximity in my joints.
This never happened before. I knew the second she stepped foot in the daycare. Just having her right in front of me, I was shaking.
It didn't look like she noticed, but she might just be too polite to point it out.
She was different through the glass.
The sound of her voice was soothing.
I wish we had our interview right now. I wanted to ask her so many things.
She walked out of the room for a few minutes to help Eileen with something.
"Noah?" the older boy asked.
"Yeah?" I asked, sitting down in the small chair.
"Do you think my sister is pretty?"
I nearly started to choke.
"What?" I practically gasped.
He narrowed his eyes at me.
"Do you think Shay is pretty?" he asked again.
"Well," I said, not sure how honest I should be with him, "Yeah."
"You should ask her out," he stated, "She desperately needs a boyfriend."
This little boy was something else. Kids really are honest.
"Maybe she is just taking her time?" I asked.
He looked at the younger boy, Conner, I believe.
"She takes care of us a lot," he stated, "She doesn't have a lot of time to really look."
Little did he know.
"You seem like a nice guy," he said, "She could use a nice guy."
Uh, why did it feel like I was about to get the older brother speech?
He looked me dead in the eye, "Shay is special."
"I'm sure she is," I said, "She has good brothers looking out for her."
"Don't patronize me, Noah," he said.
What the fuck?
"How old are you again?" I asked.
"I'm eight," he said seriously "I'm not an idiot."
"I never said that you were," I said, "I just don't think your sister wants me to ask her out."
He looked at me like I was an idiot.
"You don't know girls very well, do you?"
"I guess not," I said.
"She didn't have to shake your hand," he stated.
He wasn't in the room for that. Wait, wasn't he?
He just stared at me.
I didn't know what to say.
The door opened, and Shay came back through with Eileen not too far behind her.
"Talk to her," Cody whispered.
I had no idea where to even begin.
I felt a hand pull at my necklace, and I tried my best not to flinch away.
Conner tugged at the metal lightly.
"Tell me the story again," he said.
These boys.
"It was a gift from Eileen," I said.
Eileen was quick to jump into the conversation, and I was thankful for that.
"The wolf pendant?" she asked.
Conner nodded.
"When we were younger, I used to believe that Noah was a Werewolf."
Shay smiled lightly, and I felt a tingling sensation in my hands.
"You're a Werewolf?" she asked me.
I met her eyes, and I couldn't help but smile at her "Of course I am."
Her smile widened, and the tingling sensation became painful. It felt like needles poking into my palms.
Eileen pulled the pendant forward, and Shay leaned in to get a good look at it.
The pricking sensation started in my legs.
"It looks Norse," Shay said.
The symbol down its nose definitely was Norse. It was meant to be Fenrir.
Eileen didn't know it though when she bought it. She just thought that it was a silver wolf that looked pretty.
I was already impressed that she knew that.
"Horse?" Conner asked like it was ridiculous, "It's a wolf."
Eileen and Shay both giggled at his comment.
"Norse like Thor," Shay stated.
He looked like he understood.
"Noah," Cody said, "Do you have a girlfriend?"
I could see it on both of their faces, Eileen and Shay looked surprised.
"Uh," I said awkwardly "No, I don't."
"That's a shame," Shay said.
Did she really just say that?
I looked up at her, and I think she didn't realize she actually said it. Her face went crimson, and she looked down.
"Why is it a shame?" I asked her.
I didn't care if it was a good time or not to ask.
I already decided that I wanted her. If I could find out anything before the interview, I would.
She looked up at me, her blush still evident.
"You're cute," she stated, "And good with kids."
I held her gaze, despite my heart leaping at the idea of her thinking I'm attractive at all.
"Cute, huh?" I asked.
Her face instantly went serious, and I felt nervous.
"Well, calling you beautiful might be a bit too much."
Eileen looked at me with wide eyes, and I had no idea what expression was on my face.
I felt so many emotions.
I was a little embarrassed, in a good way. Flattered, most definitely.
Was it getting hotter in here?
I gave her one of my best smiles, I only know it works because of how many people have told me so.
"I don't know how to respond to that," I confessed, "I think you're beautiful."
Her face didn't change, and I felt uneasy.
She looked like she's heard that line a thousand times.
I felt like I should apologize, but then I watched as she covered her face with her hands.
Her mouth was still visible, but her eyes and cheeks were covered.
"Shut up," she said.
I couldn't help but smile at that.
It was a cute response. I didn't expect it.
She turned around, and I kept my eyes on her.
"Why do you think Noah is a Werewolf?" Cody asked.
It felt like the air became solid in my lungs.
"Because he changes," Eileen said.
She put her hands up in front of her mouth to form sharp teeth. One of her hands was the top of her jaw, and the other hand was the bottom. She proceeded to chomp with her hands.
The boys both laughed, but I knew it was true.
I'm not a Werewolf. I am something worse.
I didn't realize that Shay had turned back around, she was staring at me.
Shit.
I didn't like it when Eileen told this story.
"What color is his fur?" Conner asked.
"Black, of course," Eileen stated.
"Werewolves aren't real," Cody said simply.
"Maybe not Werewolves exactly," Eileen said, "But there are plenty of animals in the world."
"Not a person that can change into one," Cody said.
"Some can," Shay stated.
My eyes went right to her.
Cody made a face, and then it looked like he remembered something.
"You're right," he said, "I'm sorry."
I was completely and utterly confused.
How did she know that people changed? Why did Cody so easily back down about it? I didn't know the kid very well, but I knew he was stubborn.
Cody went over to hug her, and he buried his face into her stomach.
He looked genuinely hurt.
Shay ran her hand over his back soothingly before crouching down and hugging him properly.
He dug his head into her shoulder, and I could hear him crying.
What the hell did I miss?
I looked at Eileen, and she only shook her head.
Conner went over and hugged them both.
Shay pulled him into her arms.
I don't know how to explain the feeling I got watching her care so much for her brothers.
It was something I had always done for Eileen.
That only made me feel even more for her.
Eileen moved her head just slightly, indicating for me to go over there.
I shook my head. It wasn't my place to do that.
She shrugged before going over and hugging them as well.
Fuck it.
I got off of the small chair and didn't hesitate to wrap my arms around them.
The painful pricking sensation vanished the second my skin made contact with hers.
I felt relief until I heard her start to cry.
Shay:
Damn it.
It was one thing to hold Conner or Cody when they cried. It was a whole other thing when other people hugged me.
I didn't want to cry. I didn't even feel like I was about to. The second Eileen wrapped her arms around us, my eyes started to well up. When Noah wrapped his arms around us, I couldn't control the tears.
His head nudged mine, and I cried harder.
Shit.
This guy was going to think I was a mess.
I mean, I am a mess. I just don't want him to know that.
His hand ran over my back, and it tingled. How could someone have such warm hands?
I couldn't think about it. I was supposed to meet my match in two days, I couldn't let this extremely attractive man distract me.
I didn't realize I leaned my head in his direction until I felt his hand on the side of my head.
My body quickly righted itself.
I cleared my throat a little awkwardly.
"We should probably get going," I said.
Eileen pulled back, and I didn't realize until then that Noah already had.
Oh.
I missed his warmth already.
Maybe he really was a Werewolf?
I looked down at the two boys in my arms.
"Come on," I pat Cody's butt, and he giggled.
The two of them moved back, and I watched as Cody wiped at his eyes.
I was thankful that he was able to recover so quickly.
"Are you sure?" Eileen asked, "You can still hang out here for a bit."
Damn, that's right. I already forgot about Andre and Deidra.
My brother and Jody's older sister.
I guess life was funny that way.
If everything worked out, we were going to be sisters.
My gaze went down to Conner.
He squinted at me, then he nodded.
Well, I guess we're staying longer.
"I'm going to put on a movie," Eileen said, "So the boys can focus on that, so I can get some cleaning done."
I nodded. I don't mind helping.
"I should go," Noah said.
"Really?" Eileen asked, "You can't stay a little longer?"
He shook his head, "A certain somebody is blowing up my phone."
He did seem like the type to have girls all over him.
My gaze lingered on him, and I knew I shouldn't, but I feel like I need to keep talking to him.
"It was nice to meet you, Noah," I said.
He smiled lightly, "It was nice to meet you too, it's a wonder we haven't met until now."
He had a point. I came here all the time.
I barely even knew that Eileen had a brother at all.
"What's the saying?" I asked, "Two ships passing in the night?"
He chuckled, and I thought it was the best sound, "Yeah, that fits."
"Until next time then," I said.
Was I acting too weird? I felt like I was.
"Until next time," he said.
He grabbed his black leather jacket, and I swear my body reacted as I watched him pull it on.
Noah hugged his sister.
"I'll see you later," he said.
"By Connor, Cody," he said, "Shay."
His eyes met mine, and I didn't want him to leave.
"Noah," I breathed.
He turned and left.
Noah:
My phone kept going off.
I knew I didn't have a choice, I had to leave.
Baird could see my vitals, and he was in his own kind of way, was freaking out.
I didn't want to leave her. I didn't want to look away.
When she said my name the last time, I felt a sharp pain in my shoulders.
The further I was away, the better I felt.
I remember when Eileen told me that it was painful being around her mate Brian.
It was still strange to me, though. We grew up with Brian, but it was like her body didn't know Brian was her mate until she hit puberty.
When did the pain finally go away?
Would it always feel like this being around her? What if it only gets easier to deal with, but never really goes away?
Thinking about it worried me. I didn't know if I could live like this forever.
I did notice that the pain would go away when I touched her.
That was something to find out for sure.
My phone went off again, and it kept buzzing.
I glanced at the screen to see that Baird had given up trying to text me.
He was calling me now.
I took in a large breath before I answered.
"Hello?" I asked.
"What could you possibly be doing that is causing such a strange reaction?"
I didn't think he would cut right to it.
"What do you mean?" I asked.
I knew I couldn't play dumb. Baird knew better.
"Noah," he said, "You spoke to her."
How the fuck did he know that?
"Your vitals only fluctuate like this when a change is about to happen." Baird said, "Or when you are around her."
"I haven't been around her very much," I stated, "So how could we have a good read on the numbers for that?"
"I can tell that you have yet to change," he said, "I am looking at your readings right now."
I glared at the ground as I walked.
"Does she know who you are?" he asked.
"Does she know that I am a Devil?" I asked, feeling frustrated "Does she know that I am her match?"
"Yes."
"No," I frowned "She doesn't."
"Did you pursue her after you left?" he asked.
"No, Baird," I growled, "I left before her."
He was silent.
"You can ask Steven," I said, "If you don't believe me."
"I believe you," he said, "I have to ask these questions."
I only nodded. I didn't have anything else to say to that.
"I feel like I need to reschedule your interview," Baird stated.
I felt angry. So angry, my whole body started to shake.
"Calm yourself, Noah," he said, "I said I feel like I need to, not that I am."
"Then why say it at all?" I demanded.
"Do you have any idea how serious this is?" Baird asked.
I've never heard him sound angry before.
"I get that," I said, "I ran into her, I didn't go looking for her."
"You know the rules," Baird said, "Get back here. Now."
"I have to work tonight," I stated.
"Call out," Baird said, "I do not care what you have to tell them, you are not going."
Fuck.
"Do you really want there to be marks on me when I meet her there for the first time?" I asked.
I was hoping that I could get out of the punishment I knew I was about to get.
"Do not act like either of us has a choice," he said, "Get here now."
I was about to respond, but he hung up.
Fuck.
I think I was about to have a panic attack.
It's been years since I've been punished like this.
I didn't think staying to talk to her would lead to this.
Shit.
I stared down at my phone, debating whether or not to let Eileen know. No.
If I say anything, she will feel guilty. It was my choice to stay, I will own that.
I searched for my boss's name, and I took in a shaky breath before I pressed on the number.