Minotaur Boyfriend: Mac (special preview)

Since your great grandfather, your family has owned and operated a green grocer that gets everything they have from the local farmers in the area. Your small town recently had gotten one of those big super shopping centers. People had fought against it, but it became a widespread rumor that the local government had been paid off by the hulking corporation. 

A couple of small family owned businesses had already gone out of business. Once bright windows were dark with for sale signs plastered behind the dark glass. The once thriving downtown area now looked more like a shot in an old western these days. 

Your family was trying to compete with the monstrous shopping center, and you had started letting some of the businesses that were struggling join forces with you. You had turned one area into a deli to incorporate the bakery. Still, it was hard drawing in customers.

“You would think, after all the fighting they did to make sure it didn’t come here, they wouldn’t look at it.” Mac, one of the local farmers you worked with groused. He came from Angled Horns Farms, also family owned since his great-grandfather’s days. His family of minotaurs had been one of the first farms in the area, and he now owned a great chunk of land in town. In fact, the super market chain had come to him first because they wanted a plot of his land for the ‘scenic appeal’. Of course, Mac shooed them away.

“It’ll be alright,” you say as you total up what he brought in. “I’ve already had people coming complaining about their produce.”

Mac frowns, his usually sky blue eyes seem dim. “I just don’t know about folks sometimes,” he scoffs. “I look around and see less of the town I love.”

You start to write him a check but he stops you. “Hold off on that for now,” he says. His big hand overs yours, stalling your pen.

“But I have to pay you!” You insist.

Max nods and releases your hand. “I know, and I have to get paid. But I want you to only give me half of what is owed.”

You frown up at him. “What are you talking about?”

Mac smiles, his ears flicking forward. “You can run a sale. If you don’t have to pay as much, then you don’t have to mark up as much to make your funds back. If you have a good sale, then people will flock here for it rather than the supermarket.”

You slowly drop your clipboard down as you look up at him. “But that’s only good for us, what good does that do you to get paid half?”

“Because back in the day, your family was the first to sell my family’s produce in town. No one else would touch us because we were minotaur. But your family paid double when no one else would even sell our stuff.” He motions back to the clipboard. “So only half. Got it?”

You frown still, not liking the idea of not giving Mac what he was due. His produce was always the best, not only that, but you had harbored feelings for him ever since you were little. Mac was a bit older, but the two of you had been around each other all your lives. His father and your father had worked closely together since they were kids, and your families had always been close.

Mac was always the popular one because he was handsome, strong, and intelligent. His crystal blue eyes and black fur made him look like an old movie star, but he was burly and muscular on top of that. He had always been nice to you too, even when you were your most awkward and weird. He found a way to see the bright side of how your shyness made you act.