The last What Are They Eating post of the year! Sadly, they aren’t eating all that much in Willow Road, more than in Returning to the Werewolf, but still not a lot.
We have Jeremiah and Zeeb, and there is mention of both coffee and tea several times, but as for food… Jeremiah is lazy and makes a microwave meal.
Snow covered the patio, and he spent a few minutes watching it. Pure and untouched. Shaking his head, he headed for the refrigerator. It was time to place a new grocery order. The mostly gaping shelves didn’t spark any inspiration, so in the end, he made a mug of mac and cheese in the microwave. He vowed to himself never to tell his mother.
The thought hadn’t more than flitted through his head before the phone rang. He almost dropped it as his mom’s face flashed on the screen. He took the call, smiling into the phone. “You weren’t to know.”
She chuckled in surprise. “Know what?”
“I’m making pasta in a mug in the microwave. Put it in a few seconds ago, and I told myself I’d never tell you.”
She laughed. “And you shouldn’t have. Pasta in a mug? Seriously, Jeremiah, you need to take better care of yourself.”
The lecture filled him with warmth. “I know, but I’m almost out of groceries.”
“So go shop.”
Erm… yeah, no. “I’ll place an order later.” He smiled, but a heaviness settled in his chest.
“What’s wrong, honey?”
He’d never mastered the skill of lying to her, but avoidance he could do…some avoidance at least. “It’s nothing.”
“Jeremiah.” How could someone put so many meanings into one little word? He sighed.
“There is a new chief of police.”
And Zeeb isn’t much of a chef either.
Parking his car, he looked at the dark windows of his house. Depressing. He’d eat something, then go for a run. It wasn’t too cold, and the snow was coming down in big, slow-falling flakes.
He heated some leftover chicken from the day before and ate standing by the kitchen counter. He’d been unable to relax ever since he’d learned about Jeremiah. He didn’t care about some recluse, except… It pissed him off when people laughed. Whatever had happened, it had traumatized the poor soul. He’d checked the record. Jeremiah’s father, Robert Pace, had reported it. The police chief at the time, Harvey Farkas, had conducted some interviews, but from what Zeeb could tell, he hadn’t pushed for answers, more a friendly chat with some of the prominent shifter families in the village, and no one had volunteered any information.
The case was closed for lack of evidence only a couple of weeks after it had been opened. Quick and easy without stepping on anyone’s toes.
Zeeb would bet his tail that half the village knew exactly what had happened, and the other half could guess. With a growl, he put the plate in the sink and stalked into the bedroom. Pulling his shirt over his head, he kicked off his shoes and pushed down his jeans and underwear. A former tenant had installed a dog door, which was terrible from a security perspective, but Zeeb had soon come to appreciate it. He could shift indoors and sneak out through the dog door without having to freeze his bare ass off.
But even though we don’t get to take part in the Christmas dinner, there at least is one, or will be…
It made Jeremiah laugh harder. “They do like you. You don’t have to do anything for them to like you.”
Zeeb grimaced.
“Come on, let’s get started on the food. It’ll take forever.” They’d prepared a lot, so it wouldn’t take too long, but he wanted to get going. Jeremiah headed toward the kitchen, but Zeeb grabbed his hand.
“Hey, there is something I’ve been meaning to ask you.”
“Yeah? Now?”
That’s it, I’m afraid. Unless we’re counting tea and coffee.
Willow Road
Jeremiah Pace hasn’t left his house in thirteen years. He doesn’t trust anyone, least of all shifters. School was a nightmare, and despite never interacting with anyone in the village, the bullying continues in his adult life. Someone is putting ads in the paper, encouraging people to drop by his house for one service or other, but Jeremiah never opens his door.
Zeeb Hemming is a lone wolf and the new chief of police. He’s only been in Stoneshade for six weeks when he learns about the ads and goes to knock on Jeremiah’s door. Not because of what today’s ad said, but to get to the bottom of what’s going on. Human or not, Jeremiah deserves to live life in peace. The moment Zeeb nears Jeremiah’s house, he knows he’s his mate. But he can’t have a human mate.
Jeremiah pleads with Zeeb not to stir anything up. Yes, the ads are bad, but things can always get worse. Zeeb is furious someone is mistreating his mate and is willing to skin anyone who has any connection to the ads alive. But how is he to convince Jeremiah to trust him when he talks to Zeeb through a gap in the window instead of opening the door to his house?
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