Beautiful Creatures Series

Given his rent was paid through the end of the month, Tyler took his time moving. Each day after work, he and Aster would go back to his place and pack up as much as their cars would carry, then take it back to Aster’s house, where they would unpack. By the end of the week, they had cleared out all his personal property from his appointment. The limited furniture he had was placed in a storage unit. He wanted to hang on to it in case things didn’t work out and he was forced to move out. Though he wanted to be with Aster, she was unpredictable, and he wasn’t feeling secure in the relationship.

Tyler knew that Aster cared for him, but there was no way for him to know if she would take one day tire of him and if she did just when it might happen. It could be a week or a lifetime. There was just no way to know.

Once he was moved in, things seemed brighter. For a month, they lived as though they were married, and Tyler enjoyed it very much. He had stayed by Aster’s side for ten uneventful days. If Dennis was looking to strike, he sure was taking his sweet time. After a while, Aster insisted nothing would happen and that he ought to go back to work. Reluctantly Tyler went to work with Darrell.

It didn’t take Tyler long to notice Darrell often worked in a tight sleeveless undershirt or topless. He claimed the heat bothered him, but Tyler always saw the homeowners (Single women, wives, and teenage daughters) gawking. One day on the drive home, Darrell confessed that he made more money when he worked topless. The women liked to look at him and would often tip him and always referred him to their friends for renovations.

“You’re a good-looking man,” Darrell said as they drove. “You should use it to your advantage.”

“Whore myself?”

“It’s harmless. They just look, they don’t touch, and it’s not like you sleep with them. You just put a smile on their face and give them something to fantasize about.” He supposed it wouldn’t hurt, and he could use the extra work if not the tips. “So, how are you settling in?”

“Well.” He said quietly.

“Why do I sense there is more to that answer?”

Tyler sighed. “I asked Aster to marry me a month ago. She turned me down.” He confessed.

“And you moved in with her anyway? Wow, I don’t know if I could stay with someone that refused to marry me. I mean, there’s no future in that.”

Didn’t he know it? Still, Tyler refused to give up on Aster.

***

Aster hugged her father hello. “You’re looking good.” She said as they took their seats at the visiting room table.

“Thank you. I’ve been spending a lot of time working out. It’s a great way to pass the time, build the body, and scare the living shit out of the right people. Nobody dares to jump the guy that can bench press six hundred pounds without a spotter.”

Aster laughed. “Showing off, are you?”

“Maybe a little.”

Mackenzie come up to

here yesterday. We had an hour in the conjugal

of

white dress and a pair

did he

confused. “Did

always knew what was going on. “He asked. I turned him down.”

braced his arms on the table. “Why? You seem to

“It’s marriage.”

“What’s that mean?”

ridiculous. I’m not going

said, looking down, “I see what the problem is.

nothing to do with you.”

Gordon looked up at her. “You grew up watching your mother, and I fight. Watching her hurt me. It would make sense that you would have a negative association with marriage. Aster, not every marriage is like that. I should have stood up for myself. I should have left her long before I did, and I should have taken you with me. It is my fault that your life was so violent. Please don’t limit your life because I made a mess of mine. Be happy, take chances, dare to love someone. I get it,

did you become a psychoanalyst?”

of experience, that’s

her see the light. He was a wise man, although you would never know it to look at him.

***

He and Darrel carpooled each morning. His day started early, but that was fine with him because Aster’s day started early. It gave them the opportunity

the back seat of Darrell’s cap and climbed into the passenger seat. They headed into Aspin. They had a job building a three-level deck outside a large house near one of the famous ski lodges. It was hard work in the blistering summer sun. After a few hours, they returned to Darrell’s truck. He kept a cooler with bottled

the side of his cherry truck, leaving a message. I haven’t forgotten about you. “My truck!” He looked around as if looking for

culprit was long gone, and he knew exactly who was responsible. That fucker Dennis was following him. Aster came to mind, and Tyler felt his

***

reception hall by one before the guest arrived. They were moving extremely slowly and carefully; the cake was topsy-turvy, and twice they had almost dropped it. Once it was in the back of the van

purse back at the bakery. Oh well, it wasn’t

hall. They moved it from the trolly to the lovely table designated for the cake. They put on the final touches, and

transferred the final payment into Aster’s account, she and Katelyn left. They decided to stop and get lunch. Since Aster had forgotten her purse, Katelyn paid. They went to the best little burger joint in town. The place had fifties memorabilia

they walked back to the van, but as they crossed the parking lot, Aster paused and looked back over her shoulder. Her wolf senses were telling her she was being watched. Aster looked around, trying to pick the threat out among the crowd. She saw nothing. “Aster, are you coming?” Katelyn asked