Shapeshifter Boyfriend: Corin #2 (special preview)

“But it’s not!” My voice chokes up with a sob. “I want to love everything about her, because that will be our child.” Tears begin flowing from my eyes. My throat burns, my nose drips, and my lungs are squeezed. I rub at my eyes and try to catch a breath. “Our baby is everything we love about one another.”

My phone suddenly starts ringing and Juliette’s number appears. I quickly try to dry up my tears and clear my throat before I answer. 

“Huh-hello?” I still choke up.

“I’m sorry,” Juliette whimpers. “I didn’t know what to do or who to call, I just...It’s just pouring and I--.” She huffs in frustration. “That spot on our ceiling, in the bedroom?” She grunts. “You know?”

I sniffle and rub at my eyes. “Yeah, I do, baby, calm down. What’s wrong?”

Juliette whimpers and I realize she’s trying to hold back the tears from crying. “It’s leaking! Like bad! The ceiling opened up and fell on me!”

“Are you ok?” I almost yell.

“I’m fine, just...I need you!” She belts. “Please! Just come over here!”

“Yeah,” I gasp. “Of course. It’ll be ok. Go downstairs, take care of yourself. I’ll see you soon.”

“Thank you. I’m so sorry.” She sniffles and blows her nose.

“Yeah, just hold on.” I hang up and I grab for my coat. 

Claude stands. “What’s going on?” He asks. “Is everything ok?”

“Our bedroom ceiling collapsed. It hit Juliette and now she’s panicking. I think she might be having an anxiety or panic attack.” I rush around, trying to gather things I think I might need. “She asked me come over.”

“You sure?” Claude asks gently. “Do you want me to go over?”

I shake my head. “No. It has to be me. I’m worried she won’t calm down if I don’t go.” I then pat his arm. “I’ll be ok. Promise.”

I hurriedly make my way to the house. Juliette is perched on the porch, wrapped up in a blanket as she waits for me. As I come up the walk way, she runs off the stairs and towards me. She grabs hold of me, bare foot, and her hair already wet.

“It’s freezing! What are you doing?” I hurry her inside and set her down on the sofa. I give her a look over, making sure she’s ok after the ceiling fell on her. 

“I’m so sorry!” She sobs out loud. She shivers and jerks as she covers her face with her hands. 

“What is there to be sorry for?” I say gently. “The roof fell on you, it’s ok! I’m here, I’ll go see what I can do to take care of it.”

Juliette grabs hold of my hand. “Wait,” she hiccups.

I sigh and kiss her forehead. “It’s ok, baby, really.” I rub my hands up and down her arms. “Just breathe, ok? Deep breaths.”

She nods her head shakily. “I’m so sorry.”

“Stop it,” I chuckle. “Seriously, enough.” I give her a gentle smile. “I’ll always be here for you, ok? Promise.”

After a while, she relaxes again and I go upstairs to assess the damage. Sure enough, that ugly spot on the ceiling has opened up, revealing a leak in the roof. I sigh heavily and start cleaning up, moving things out of the way and stacking the debris aside. I won’t be able to do much more until the storm stops, so I get a bucket and tarp from the shed outside place them under the leak.