clearly shown on his face.
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Griffin
"So, what about you?" Corey asked him, as he signalled a passing waiter and requested a couple more drinks.
"My parents were killed in a car accident when I was five." Ethan paused for a moment, the memories of that truck barrelling through a red light and coming straight toward them still as fresh in his mind today as they had been all those years ago. "We were sideswiped by an idiot who ran a red. I was told the only reason I survived was because my booster seat had been on the opposite side of the car than was hit."
"Jesus. Did you have any brothers or sisters?" Ethan could see the sympathy in Corey's eyes.
"Mum was six months pregnant at the time. Both she and Dad had been only children and their parents were either too old, in homes, or had already passed."
"So what happened to you?" Concern laced Corey's voice and Ethan felt a little lighter knowing his mate cared, if only a little.
"Foster care. I was a little messed up after the accident. I didn't talk for the first six months after they died. I lost count of the number of homes I bounced around in. The longest I ever stayed in one place was two years, but even that came to an end as soon as the Ryans found out they were pregnant."
73
Corey Toni
Griffin
"Fuck."
"Yeah, you could say that again. But anyway, it was a long time ago. I got out the second I turned eighteen and have been doing just fine for the last six years."
"Were any of your foster families shifters?" Corey asked him very quietly. Ethan burst out in laughter.
"Oh hell no. The first time that happened, I nearly shit myself. I was so scared." He grinned at the memory and Corey chuckled softly across from him. "There I was, just another teen going through the same crap that everyone else has to, and then bam . My entire world changed in the course of one afternoon as I walked down a back alley on my way home from school. I had been feeling off for most of the day but thought I was just coming down with a cold.
"The naked dash home after I had managed to shift back was just as scary, let me tell you. I'm pretty sure I scared Mrs Winters, the eighty-year-old lady who lived at the end of our street." Corey laughed loudly at this and Ethan smiled.
"I had no clue about any of that world. It wasn't until I moved to another foster home the next year and switched schools that I met another like me. Pierce was a really nice guy. He took me home and introduced me to his parents, who then called their Al… boss."
"Nicely done."
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Griffin
"Thanks."
Their second round of drinks had arrived at some point during their talking. Corey sat back and looked at something over Ethan's shoulder. "Food's here, by the looks."
"Great. I'm starving. Those entrees were nice but nowhere near enough."
"I hear ya."
They waited while their server started placing dishes down on the table in front of them. Everything looked and smelled amazing. Ethan couldn't wait to get started.
It took some shuffling around of glasses, plates, and table decorations, but they managed to get the first five dishes on the table.
"Well, this looks delicious," Corey said, as he picked up the rice and offered to serve for Ethan.
"Thank you." Ethan held out his bowl and after a couple of scoops, Corey started to serve himself. Ethan dished up a small amount from every selection on their table until his small bowl was just about to overflow.
He didn't start eating, though, until Corey was ready. Then conversation became stilted as they started to eat. When they had finished off one of the plates, the waiter took it and replaced it with another. They made their way
75
Corey Toni
Griffin
through the food, both of them having fairly large appetites.
They talked about work, Ethan learning that his mate was a whiz with computers. He worked freelance, writing code for different companies for programs and such, and he also did some work on the side for Ben. Ethan
72
Corey Toni
Griffin
"So, what about you?" Corey asked him, as he signalled a passing waiter and requested a couple more drinks.
"My parents were killed in a car accident when I was five." Ethan paused for a moment, the memories of that truck barrelling through a red light and coming straight toward them still as fresh in his mind today as they had been all those years ago. "We were sideswiped by an idiot who ran a red. I was told the only reason I survived was because my booster seat had been on the opposite side of the car than was hit."
"Jesus. Did you have any brothers or sisters?" Ethan could see the sympathy in Corey's eyes.
"Mum was six months pregnant at the time. Both she and Dad had been only children and their parents were either too old, in homes, or had already passed."
"So what happened to you?" Concern laced Corey's voice and Ethan felt a little lighter knowing his mate cared, if only a little.
"Foster care. I was a little messed up after the accident. I didn't talk for the first six months after they died. I lost count of the number of homes I bounced around in. The longest I ever stayed in one place was two years, but even that came to an end as soon as the Ryans found out they were pregnant."
73
Corey Toni
Griffin
"Fuck."
"Yeah, you could say that again. But anyway, it was a long time ago. I got out the second I turned eighteen and have been doing just fine for the last six years."
"Were any of your foster families shifters?" Corey asked him very quietly. Ethan burst out in laughter.
"Oh hell no. The first time that happened, I nearly shit myself. I was so scared." He grinned at the memory and Corey chuckled softly across from him. "There I was, just another teen going through the same crap that everyone else has to, and then bam . My entire world changed in the course of one afternoon as I walked down a back alley on my way home from school. I had been feeling off for most of the day but thought I was just coming down with a cold.
"The naked dash home after I had managed to shift back was just as scary, let me tell you. I'm pretty sure I scared Mrs Winters, the eighty-year-old lady who lived at the end of our street." Corey laughed loudly at this and Ethan smiled.
"I had no clue about any of that world. It wasn't until I moved to another foster home the next year and switched schools that I met another like me. Pierce was a really nice guy. He took me home and introduced me to his parents, who then called their Al… boss."
"Nicely done."
74
Corey Toni
Griffin
"Thanks."
Their second round of drinks had arrived at some point during their talking. Corey sat back and looked at something over Ethan's shoulder. "Food's here, by the looks."
"Great. I'm starving. Those entrees were nice but nowhere near enough."
"I hear ya."
They waited while their server started placing dishes down on the table in front of them. Everything looked and smelled amazing. Ethan couldn't wait to get started.
It took some shuffling around of glasses, plates, and table decorations, but they managed to get the first five dishes on the table.
"Well, this looks delicious," Corey said, as he picked up the rice and offered to serve for Ethan.
"Thank you." Ethan held out his bowl and after a couple of scoops, Corey started to serve himself. Ethan dished up a small amount from every selection on their table until his small bowl was just about to overflow.
He didn't start eating, though, until Corey was ready. Then conversation became stilted as they started to eat. When they had finished off one of the plates, the waiter took it and replaced it with another. They made their way
75
Corey Toni
Griffin
through the food, both of them having fairly large appetites.
They talked about work, Ethan learning that his mate was a whiz with computers. He worked freelance, writing code for different companies for programs and such, and he also did some work on the side for Ben. Ethan
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