Change (Kitsune) (20 page)

"That sounds an awful lot like a couple’s thing to me. I'm not seeing Devon, we're just friends. I told you, I'm taking a break from the dating scene."

Alexis chuckled, "I know, I didn't mean it like that. Just that you spend a lot of time with him, and that he's more than welcome. It's been a while; I'd like to see him again."

"I'll ask but I think this might be his weekend to work."

"Oh? I thought you said he's working for your dad?"

"He is, but he offered to work every other weekend so that Dad can have some time off for a change. Maybe take Mom out of town once in a while. Dad was thrilled; it's always been really difficult for him to find someone he trusts to take care of all the animals when they had to go out of town for some reason. I don't think he's ever considered leaving just for fun before."

"I see. So how about we plan on 4:30 or so, late enough that he'll be done for the day if he wants to come, but still early enough to spend a few hours and still get in bed early for an early riser like that?"

"I'll ask him, but I can't commit to it for him."

"Ask, either way, you're welcome to come."

"Thanks, I think I will. It sounds like fun."

I gathered up my purse and PCD, said goodbye to Caden while I was in the kitchen and I told Alexis on my way out the door, "I'll call and let you know what Devon says, but unless something happens, I'll see you tomorrow. Thanks!"

When I got home from the clinic that evening I found Devon sitting out by the pool. He was wearing a pair of swim trunks and had a t-shirt was stretched tight across his abs as he reclined onto his elbows at the edge of the pool with his feet dangling into the cool water. He had his head dropped back so that the top of his head rested against the cement and, though I couldn't see them, I assumed his eyes were closed. On impulse I angled away from the stairs to my apartment and headed toward a spot of the fence surrounding the pool near where he was sitting.

"Hey, Stranger, how you doing?" I asked.

He jumped, startled, before opening his eyes and turning his head slightly to look at me "Not bad, how was your day?"

"Meh, long. I have a question for you." I asked through the bars of the fence.

"What is it?"

"Do you remember Alexis Hickman? She said she was a few years ahead of you in school."

"Petite, blonde? Looks like a pixie who could sprout wings and fly away at any time?"

"That would be her," I smiled, amused at his description.

"Yeah, I remember. What about her?"

"Well, she’s the Harmonia now, and the healer I've been working with at the pack clinic. She's invited you and me to a barbecue tomorrow afternoon at her place. Not a big event just the four of us."

"I'm working this weekend. Your dad wants to hang around for my first few weekends before he trusts me with his animals enough to leave town overnight."

"I told her I thought you were working, she said let's do it in the afternoon, about four or so."

"Why's she suddenly so interested in me?" He asked, suddenly suspicious.

"I mentioned that you're a friend, and she remembers you some from school, she just wanted to get reacquainted some. I'm pretty sure her husband, Hank, isn't from around here so unless he was around before you left, you don't know him."

"I don't see why not... I usually get through at your dad's by about three, so give me time to get back and shower. We can leave here by four, but I don't know that we can make it there by four."

"Not a problem, I'll let her know."

"Okay," He shifted his body so that he laid flat against the cement, pillowing his head in his hands as he stared up at the sky. "What are your plans for the rest of the evening?" he asked.

"I don't have any. I hadn't given any thought to what to do this evening, at least not any further than getting a shower and putting on something comfortable. Why? You want to do something?"

"It occurred to me that you keep feeding me, but the best I've done in return is delivery pizza."

"I like pizza, and if you'll recall I suggested it, after I invaded your apartment."

"I know, but I want something better tonight and I hate to go alone. Care to join me? My treat."

"You don't have to buy me dinner to get me to join you. Let me go upstairs and get a shower, then we can go. What do you have in mind?"

"I was thinking about that steak house out south of town."

"They've got good food."

"That's what I hear. How long will it take you to get ready?" He asked, pulling one hand from under his head and checked the watch strapped to that wrist.

"Oh," I thought a moment, "How's forty-five minutes?"

"No problem, that means I can stay here for a bit before I have to go get dressed myself."

"Enjoying the cool water?" I smiled, knowing how refreshing the pool could be, especially in the heat that made itself felt each day.

"It's nice, cooling and relaxing. I thought about swimming, but I didn't want to miss you when you came by, so this works."

"I didn't know you swim."

"Some. It's not my exercise of choice but it's low impact and it helps to strengthen my leg without too much strain, so I end up doing it more often than not these days."

"Maybe I'll catch you one day and we can race. I enjoy swimming and often do laps here."

"That would be fun. By the way...your clock is ticking." He said calmly, prompting me to go get changed.

"I'm gone... I'll be down in a bit." I laughed, turning turned away from the fence and heading toward the stairs that lead up to my apartment. I quickly climbed the stairs and before I let myself in, I stopped and looked back toward the pool. From here I had a much better view of Devon laying on the cement. It was obvious that he got a lot of exercise; he had a slender but muscular body that his t-shirt clung tightly to, outlining all the muscles of his upper body. They weren't the bulging muscles like the guys who spend too much time in the gym, but enough to let a person know that there was more than a little strength there, waiting to be used. An shiver ran down my spine at the thought, I quickly dismissed it and turned away from the sight.

Before climbing into the shower I went to the closet and picked out my clothes. A light weight, multi-color dress with chunky straps over the shoulders and a full skirt that reached mid-calf. It was something that looked nice but that I was comfortable in as well, and I wore it often. I pulled out a pair of strappy leather sandals with just a little bit of a heel, the leather had been dyed a shade of red that just picked up the red in the bright swirling pattern on the dress.

I suddenly realized that I'd been dressing carefully for time I know will be spent with Devon. I'd been careful not to wear just date clothes but I don't want to wear just my ragged, rough working clothes either. While he may be a friend, he's also a guy. A guy that I wouldn't mind seeing me as a woman either, maybe even as someone to be interested in. Even if I had too much on my plate right now for a relationship. I kept trying to ignore my attraction to him. He’d just moved back to town and I really just wanted to build a friendship before I considered anything else. I was determined to enjoy spending time with him, whether he sees me as a woman or just a friend.

I laid the clothes on my bed, and went into the bathroom. Pulling the pins from my hair, I shook it out, and caught a glimpse of it in the mirror. From the way the curls tumbled down my back I decided to cover it for my shower and then leave it down while we went out. It would also make it faster for me to get ready. 

After my shower I got dressed and applied on my make-up before pulling off the shower cap off. I carefully shook out my hair, combing through it with my fingers to make it lay just right. I glanced over at the clock and realized that it had been forty minutes since I'd left Devon down by the pool. I quickly slipped on my sandals and was heading for the front room when I heard the knock sound against the door.

I knew it was Devon, and when I opened the door I found him standing there a mischievous grin on his face. He'd changed into a nice pair of black slacks, glossy polished boots and a subtly patterned button down shirt. His hair was wet and combed back into a neat ponytail low on his neck. I just stood for a moment and admired his new look, I could tell he was doing the same with me.

"Time's up, you ready?" he asked, still grinning.

"Sure," I turned away, "Just let me grab my purse." I grabbed my bag and stepped out, closing the door behind me. We walked down the stairs, and into the parking lot.

"My car or yours?" I asked as we stepped out the gate from the courtyard.

"It's up to you."

"Then you drive, I don't want to have to think about it."

"Sure, just give me a second to get the door unlocked and you can climb in."

Older vehicles, cars and trucks that still required keys to unlock or start, weren‘t uncommon in the area, and I didn't think much of Devon's driving one. I waited until I heard the click of the locks opening before I lifted the handle and pulled the door open. I climbed up into the seat of the pick-up and buckled my seat belt. He pulled the pick up out of the parking lot and out onto the road.

"Isn't this the truck you drove in high school?" I asked.

"Yep, sure is."

"I'm surprised you still have it."

"I was surprised it was still around too, to be honest."

"What do you mean?"

"When I left, I left everything. I only took what I’d need at Basic. After Basic I picked up a motorcycle, and bikes are all I'd driven for the last ten years, aside from on the job. But when I got back, Dad handed me the keys. He said it was mine and he'd kept it going for me." I was stunned; I didn't know what to say. I’d been under the impression that he didn't get along with the rest of his family but it sounded like his dad had kept the truck in hopes he would come back.

"Wow."

"Yeah, that pretty much covers my reaction too."

When we pulled into the parking lot we saw that it was busy, but not packed as he parked the truck. We each got out on opposite sides of the vehicle and I met him at the front of the truck and we walked in to the restaurant together.

Devon opened the door and held it for me to enter, and then joined me while we waited to be seated. He set one hand lightly on the small of my back as we stood waiting for the hostess to get to us. I didn't think much of it, I know that the Kindred are used to a higher level of casual touching than the average human and since Devon was raised among the Kindred, I attributed the light touch to that. Besides, it felt nice.

  We were given a small table on one side of the sparsely populated room, apparently most of the cars in the parking lot were for the attached bar. We looked over the menus quickly and placed our orders with the same waitress who had waited on Gabriel and me a couple weeks earlier.

"So, after a week, how do you like working with Dad?" I asked while we waited for meal.

"It's good. It’ll take him a couple weeks to stop following me around and watching me do things or making sure I get it all done, but I don't mind. He's easy to work with and I like him. The work's hard, but that's what I was looking for. And I may see if you're mama wants to adopt me. When I'm early enough for breakfast she fusses and makes a big deal about making sure I get enough."

"She misses having us kids at home to fuss over. She's become more involved in things outside the house, but it's just not the same. I think she's eager for more grandkids, some that she'll be able to keep during the day, or at least often. Brit stays home with hers, so Mom hasn't been able to do that."

We talked about films we had seen and books we'd read while we ate our dinner and on the way home. I confirmed that I'd meet him at four the next day to go to the Jeffries before I left him at his door on my way to mine.

Chapter 16

After spending most of the night lying awake, thinking about it, I decided it was time to tell my parents. Since Bill had offered to help tell them, I called him to see when we could get it done. Now that I’d made up my mind I was eager to get it over with.

I dialed Bill's phone and paced through the apartment while I listened to it ring.

"Hello?" Came a voice I didn’t recognize over the line.

"Bill?" I asked.

"This is Gabriel, Bill's in the other room and asked me to answer the phone. He'll be right back."

"Gabriel, it's Nickie. How've you been?"

"Good. Been keeping busy, you?"

"Good, I've gone back to work, and I've been spending time at the clinic."

"Have you had time to run?" He asked.

"Not in a while. I really need to find someone to go with, and go soon." I told him what Caden suggested earlier about not having shifted recently.

"You busy this evening?"

"Yeah, I'm going to the Jeffries' for dinner, why?"

"I was thinking about going for a run and thought that since you needed to get out, you might like to go."

"Sorry, I already have plans. Do you want to make it another night?" I offered.

"When's good for you?"

"I don't have any plans for Monday evening, how's that work for you?"

"Monday's good, what time?

"I get off at 5 and I'm usually home by 5:15"

"So, how about I pick you up at 5:30? We'll grab some fast food on our way out."

"Sounds great. I'll be ready."

"Bill just came in, so I'll let you talk to him. I'll see you Monday." I heard him tell Bill it was me on the line and the rustle of the PCD being handed from one hand to another.

"Nickie?" Bill's deep voice came over the line.

"Yes. How are you doing?"

"Good, you?"

"Pretty good. I have a favor to ask of you."

"What do you need?" He asked.

"Help me tell my parents, please." I spit it out; afraid I would lose my nerve if I didn't.

"Of course! When do you want to tell them?"

"As soon as possible, if you don't mind."

"I think it would probably be best to do it here, to have them and you over for dinner. Let me talk to Karen about when would be best and get back to you. I'm sure we can do it sometime this week, but I'm not sure exactly when will be best."

"Sure, let me know and I'll be there."

"Will do. And Nickie?"

"Yes?"

"Don't worry. It'll be fine."

"I'll try, but it's hard."

"I know, but try to trust me on this."

"I'll try."

"I'll call you with a day."

"Thanks for this."

"Think nothing of it. You're family, you know that."

"Thank you."

"Is that all you needed?"

"Yes, Sir." I said, falling back on the manners my mother had drilled into us all as children.

"Then I'll let you go. Call if you need anything."

"Will do, Bye."

"Bye."

At four that afternoon I knocked on Devon's door. When it opened I felt a rush of moist air and picked up scents that told me he'd recently gotten out of the shower. Devon’s hair was still wet from the shower but he’d pulled it back into what I was starting to discover was his standard ponytail at the base of his neck. He was dressed in a navy blue polo shirt and a nice pair of pressed jeans, but his feet were bare.  

"You about ready?" I asked.

"Just about. Come on in while I pull on my boots." He turned and disappeared into the bedroom. He soon reappeared with his boots and a pair of socks in his hands. I watched him sit down on the sofa and pull on one sock and boot, and then the other. He smoothed the leg of his jeans down over the tops of his boots and stood, flexing his feet into place in the well polished boots. "Now I'm ready. You driving or am I?"

"I'll drive this time; I know where we're headed."

"Fine by me," He said, motioning me toward the door. I opened the door and walked out, heading to the parking lot and my car. We made the short drive in companionable silence, and a few minutes later we pulled up in front of the Jeffries' home.

It wasn’t until we got out of the car and headed for the door that I felt the vibrating tension from Devon, I looked over at him and he was smiling and appeared relaxed. I briefly wondered what could be bothering him, but the thought soon slipped my mind when the door in front of us opened and there was Alexis, smiling and excited.

"There you are!" She all but bubbled. "Come on in, we've been out back on the patio and I heard your car pull up. Do you want something to drink?" She asked as she stepped back and gave us room to walk into the house.

"What do you have?" Devon asked.

"Water, tea, soda, beer." She said, leading us through the house.

"I'll take a beer, if you don't mind," Devon replied.

"I'm driving tonight, I better stick to soda," I said.

"You can have beer if you want it, didn't anyone tell you?" She looked surprised when I shook my head, confused, "Our fast metabolisms process alcohol too quickly for it to intoxicate us. You'd have to drink, like a whole bottle of whiskey as quickly as you would a beer to be affected."

"No, no one told me." I said, still unsure, "How about we do this, I'm planning on being here a couple hours at least. I'll have a beer now and we will consider more based on how that one affects me."

"Sounds like good reasoning to me." Devon put in.

"Not a bad idea at all." Hank said, entering the room.

"Oh! I forgot! Hank, Alexis, this is Devon. Devon, this is Hank and Alexis, the pack's Lysandros and Harmonia."

"Pleased to meet you both." Devon extended his hand to shake first Hank's hand, and then Alexis'.

"It's nice to meet you too." Hank replied.

"It's been a really long time, you look good." Alexis said.

"You know him?" Hank asked Alexis.

"My best friend growing up was Devon's older sister Amy. I used to see him a lot; though back then he was just that annoying little brother who would never leave us alone. Right Devon?"

"It's true. The two of you went off to school before I started high school and you hadn't made it back yet when I left town." He said.

"Why don't we go on out and sit down. I have dinner all ready to go on the grill, there's nothing left that we can't put together in the last few minutes. But it's still a little early to eat, so let's enjoy the nice evening."

We followed her through the kitchen and out on to the back patio where there was a table and chairs arranged to one side. The guest house-turned-clinic sat on one side of the large yard, and on the other side of the patio sat a large brick grill with a large fire built in it, it smelled of mesquite smoke, which meant that it was probably what we would cook over once it burned down into coals. 

"So, Devon, you said you left town some time ago. What've you been up to since then?"  Hank asked as we all sat down around the table. 

"I ran away and joined the Army, just like boys have been doing for centuries," He laughed, "I actually liked it too and had planned to make a career of it until my injury changed everything. Now I'm home, much to my mother's delight, and I'm working for Nickie's dad.

"He needed someone to help him out of the farm, someone who could take over a lot of the heavy lifting." Devon explained about the deal he had worked out with Dad and how things were working out, and ended with the reasoning he had been telling everyone, "The benefit to me is that I have someone who understands if I need to take a few extra breaks or call it a day early when my leg acts up."

"Does it do that often?" Alexis asked.

"Not so much anymore, but sometimes, especially when I've put a lot of stress on it."

"Sounds like a good deal for both of you." She replied.

"I think so. And I think James is starting to think so too. He was a bit cautious at first, I think he expected me to do as little as I could get away with, because he's used to how a lot of kids work. But after a week I think he's realizing that that's not how I do things."

"That's good, for both of you." Alexis said. "Do you have any long term plans?"

"Not really. I like working for James and I'm still getting settled in here, getting reacquainted with old friends. That's pretty much the extent of my plans right now. I'll see how things go, what comes my way for a while before I make any decisions about the future."

"Sounds like you have a good head on your shoulders." Hank said, "You seem a lot like your dad in that manner."

"Yeah, I've been told that I'm a lot like my dad. It's a damned a shame that I didn't inherit the one trait that matters."

That surprised me, it was the first time I’d heard him sound so bitter about his inability to shift and I'd never heard him talk about it like that. He'd always seemed so accepting of his not being able to shift. Suddenly I noticed that the tension I’d felt from him outside the front door was back, and quite a bit stronger.

"What do you mean?" Hank seemed confused.

"Surely you know that while I may be considered Kindred because of my family, I don't really belong. I don't shift."

"Well, of course I know you aren't a shifter. But that doesn't mean you don't belong. Or that anything's wrong with you."

"Why not? Everyone else thinks it does."

"DEVON WILSON!" Alexis gasped, calling him by both names in surprise, "I do not! And I'm certain that much of the pack feel the same way I do."

"I'm not so sure," Devon leaned back in his chair and folded his arms across his chest.

"Hang on a minute, everyone just calm down a moment. I think I know what's going on here." Hank was calm but confident.

"What?" I was confused by the whole episode.

"Devon, it's been what? Ten years since you left?" He asked.

"About that."

"And you were what? About eighteen when it was determined that couldn't shift? How much time was there between when you were told you would probably never shift and when you left? "

"A few weeks maybe. I joined the Army as soon as the Anikitos gave me permission to leave and I left as soon as they could get me into Basic." He answered the questions grudgingly.

"I've seen this before."

"Really?" Devon asked, "You know someone else who can't shift?" He voice skeptical.

"Yes, I do, Devon." Hank's said, still calm, "I have a sister who doesn't shift. When she was about eighteen it was determined that she would probably never shift, and she was very angry for a while. She felt as though everyone in the family and in the pack thought she was less than they were, and that they pitied her."

"Well, don't they?" The resentment in Devon’s voice stunned me.

"Well, maybe a little at first. The pity that is, but they didn't feel superior. It took a while for her to realize that yes, they felt sorry for her at first but that passed and they still treated her like they always had. She was still a member of the pack, and in most ways, an equal."

"So, what are you trying to say? I'm being childish?" Devon snapped.

"Not at all, I'm just trying to point out that you're operating on perceptions of people and feelings that are ten years old. Give your family and the rest of the pack a chance. I think you'll find that no one pities you or believes they are better than you. And more than that, you may find that many admire you for being able to make so much of your life despite the disappointment of not shifting."

Beside me Devon took a deep breath and let it out slowly. I felt the tension draining out of his body.

"All right, I see your point." Devon said carefully, "I'm sorry for the chip on my shoulder. I'm not sure what triggered such a reaction; I really have come to accept that I'll never shift."

"I understand part of it. You had come to terms with it, I don't doubt that. You had built a life for yourself that wasn't affected by the fact that you don't shift. But then you were hurt and the Army discharged you and now you have come back here and you had it all thrust back in your face."

"But I've been back for three weeks, two of that living with my parents. Why would it take this long and why now?"

"Who knows, maybe seeing Alexis? From her reaction when the episode started, I'm sure used to torment you as a kid. Perhaps that was the straw that broke the camel's back and you just couldn't contain it anymore. Whatever caused it, it's over. Let's move on. I think we can still enjoy our evening."

"I hope so." Devon said, hopefully, "I'm sorry about my behavior, Alexis, and I promise I'll do better."

"Are you okay?" I asked.

"I think I am now. I'm sorry, you didn't deserve that."

"It's all right. It's kinda why I been reluctant to tell my family, I'm afraid I'll end up feeling like you have."