Chapter 22

B y the time we made it home I was hungry and tired. Too tired to want to cook, too hungry to go to sleep the way my stomach was attempting to eat itself.

"Sandwiches?" I mumbled on a yawn.

Kooky nodded and got to work slicing up the bread we'd made the other day.

"You never said what brought you back so soon," I chimed in conversationally as I joined him at the counter and heated up a pan to toast the bread.

"Can't come back soon?" he teased. "Jo not have ‘nough time, her males?"

"Okay," I had to laugh at that, "first of all, boyo, they aren't my males, not exactly, not really. They're-"

My god, what the fuck were they if they were mine but not really?

"What they then?" he prodded, nudging me as if to kickstart my brain as I suddenly stopped talking.

Frowning, I stirred a small pat of butter around in the pan. "I honestly don't know anymore." The idea of them not being mine bothered me, so much so there was a whole other layer of a belly ache eating at me. "If I'm not really theirs, and vice versa, not in any true kind of sense, what the fuck are we?" Frowning, I set the spatula-like utensil in my hand down. A deep groan left me. "This is all so confusing."

Kooky sent me a commiserating look. "They no know. Not Jo fault."

"Don't put it all on them. I have no problem accepting my part in this shit show. I'm no angel." A small, self-deprecating laugh left me. "God knows I'm not."

"Eh." Kooky turned to me then, gripped my chin in his hand, and bent to lean down, getting right in my face. "No. Jo no say that," he rumbled out sharply.

I blinked and gaped at him a little at the rebuke. He pulled back just in time before I spluttered out a laugh, right in his dead serious freaking face.

"Alright… I won't." I sounded full of sass but my heart was swelling up bigger than I was pretending my head was.

"Goot," he grunted out.

As we ate at the table, I chose to sit next to him this time as opposed to across. Scooching in closer than necessary as we ate, noting he had to tuck his elbow in, I was that far into his personal space, he grunted noncommittally but didn't say a word.

Once he'd finished eating, I licked my dry lips, wondering if I was really going to do this, to just go for it with him.

"Kooky?"

The male I'd come to know and trust more than anyone finished off the water in his mug and glanced down at me. Pausing at the look in my eyes, he shifted a little, putting a smidgeon of space between us.

Confidence dimming, I knew if I didn't gather up the nerve to do it now I might never.

Saying his name softer, he responded as I'd hoped he would, bending down to lean in closer.

When I leaned in closer, his eyes darkened, throat working as he swallowed hard. "Jo…" he murmured softly.

I heard it then, in his tone, and knew I'd erred.

"Sorry," I blurted, quickly pulling back. Face flaming, I washed my dishes and babbled some short excuse about being tired and hurried from the room with my tail tucked between my legs.

It was probably the nicest rejection I'd ever gotten but it somehow felt crueler than when Bum-bum was shouting at me to leave.

Crawling into bed, I turned the light out and stared into the dark.

After everything that's happened in the woods and the creatures that dwell within, it all somehow seemed more ominous, isolating, being all alone in this huge bed in this enormous room. Huddling down into the blankets, I jerked them up past my chin.

It served as a good distraction from Kooky turning me down. So much so, I found it hard to think of little else as every little sound sent me jumping.

After a while I gave up trying to sleep at all. The urge to crawl under the bed and camp out there was strong.

A few hours into feeling like a kid afraid of the dark, I turned on the light beside the bed and reached for my favored furball filled monster romance. Staring at the cover on the front longingly, I had to face it. That was never going to be me. I was doomed to live this half-life, tied to males that had no intention of finishing that next step, solidifying our bond. Might as well start drinking unicorn blood now.

Thinking of the only unicorns I knew of in existence in Yetidom, I shuddered and huddled down into the bedding harder. Anybody even thinks of touching my Baby for anything other than pets and sweetness was going to eat lead.

Cracking my book open, I tried to read but those damn intrusive thoughts and cringing over the stunt I'd pulled in the kitchen haunted me.

By the time the sun was peeking in through those enormous front room ceiling windows, I was about ready to scream.

Hearing footsteps approaching, I quickly rolled over, offering him my back, and feigned sleep.

"Jo?" Kooky called out softly, as I faked a light snore.

My heart was pounding a mile a minute. Assume I'm having a nightmare and leave me be, I silently begged.

It took everything in me not to cringe away as the bed dipped and creaked with his weight.

Shit. Go away! Leave me be to wallow in the truth of your feelings, man!

My eyes squeezed shut tighter as I heard the telltale crinkle of my book. Shoot! I'd left it out in the open on the bed.

A soft, warbling rumble left him as I heard him flipping through pages, before finally, thankfully, setting it back down.

"Jo?" he whispered softly, scooting closer to lean over me. I almost jumped as he bracketed me in and bent over me.

Hunched down in the bedding, shoulders hiked high, expression scrunched up, I knew there was no way he was buying any of this shit but saint that he was, he didn't say a damn word.

"I go," he rumbled out softly.

My heart stilled in my chest as he reached out, absently brushing my hair away from my face.

His fingers were so damn warm to the touch, as always. The urge to lean in and chase that warmth made me feel like a needy fool.

Don't go! A part of me howled, while the other half was flooded with relief.

When he started to lift up, he hesitated. My fake sleep breathing ceased as warm breath coasted over my face.

That first light brush of his cheek bussing my forehead, a soft, whisper of a purr filling his throat, were nearly my undoing.

"How long will you be gone?" I whispered, opening my eyes a slit to peek at him.

"Long hunt," he said simply, pulling back.

He pulled back completely then, lifting himself up from the bed, striding out, his gait stiff, like he was forcing one foot in front of the other.

Did he not want to leave? Was it because he had something else to say to me? Did he want to yell at me for ruining this good thing we'd had going? Was he mad at me? About what had happened?

Frowning, I rolled back over, facing the wall. What did any of it matter? I had my answer now, and he was leaving, at any rate, so what was the fuss?

I could wallow around and moan about it all I liked in the quiet and total isolation of this McMansion in the middle of damn near nowhere.

That flip floppity organ in my chest dropped out of my stomach as I heard the backdoor quietly close.

Mr. Stealth Ninja Guy was letting me hear him move about the country and leave as a courtesy.

I'd never known of him coming or going unless it was intentional.

Growling softly under my breath at the wetness leaking from the corner of my eye, I swiped it away angrily.

You do this to yourself, you know, the little devil on my shoulder informed me.

Yes. Yes, I did.

???

M y wallowing continued, because I could and why the fuck not, right? I had no one to impress. Who gave a shit.

The crux of it all was when night fell. It grew dark and creepy quiet. I couldn't very well bring Baby into the house to keep me company, and half the night I got up to peek out the back and make sure she was hearty and whole, no Krampus hanging around to try and murderlize her.

I was a sorry mess.

Sometime later, I'd stopped counting the days, I'd had enough of my sorry ass and dragged it into the bathroom.

The sun was beating down surprisingly hard, like it was sick of my shit too and meant to fry my buns from this world if I didn't get off my god damn ass and wash my stinkin' pits already.

Getting the bath going was easy at Celuk's. Before I knew it I had a big ol' tub full of sudsy bubbles.

Humming to myself, I lingered, whiling my time away up to my neck in sweet smelling water with tiny soap bubbles frothing the top.

A soft rap on the house as I dragged my pruned hide out of the water gave me pause. It continued, longer, louder, more urgent than before.

Wrapping one of the oversized towels Kooky had on hand around me, I grabbed another one, drying my hair with it as I tiptoed towards the door.

"Who is it?" I called out.

A series of loud grunts issued from the other side of the door. "Boog," he said finally.

My eyebrows shot up at that. Since when does he go by Boog?

Opening the door, I was pretty sure Boog was just as surprised to see me in a towel and nothing else as I was to see that hangdog look on his face.

"Hey, bud, what's going on? I thought you'd be balls deep in pumpkin pie right now, cough, total pun intended."

It started with a hard shake of his head as he shuffled inside, morphing into a sharp hitch in his chest. His hands wrung, head hanging low.

"She no- Mally say- Mally no want Boog," he blurted finally.

"Bullshit," I burst out, ushering him inside.

"She no want." Amber eyes filled with moisture. He was trying to be tough and will them away but it wasn't necessary, not with me.

Grabbing one of the clean tea towels from the kitchen, I rushed back over to him. Guiding him towards the couch, he sniffled as he nodded his thanks, took the cloth, and swiped at his eyes.

Hesitant to join him in nothing but a towel, I smiled sympathetically but found myself frowning. She likes him. I know she does. Their connection is undeniable, even I could see it. "What happened?"

Haltingly, he launched into the tale of Mally telling him one morning that he wasn't her mate. After her insisting he wasn't, Khri asked him in their tongue if he trusted him. Boog said yes, and then Khri advised him to take his mating pelt and leave. To come back when he called for him.

"No come for Boog. Mally no want Boog," he blurted miserably.

"Khri… I never took him for the tricky kind. He's smart. I shoulda given him more credit," I mumbled absently, tapping a claw along my chin.

Boog looked at me, askance.

"Do you trust Khri, Boogiwoogaloo?"

"Yes," he said simply.

"He's a good guy? You trust him with your pumpkin pie?"

Another nod.

"Well," my hands lifted, hair towel over my arm, and I clapped my hands, "then I say trust him. Dorothy doesn't raise total morons, Doogie not withstanding. Give it time."

Boog gulped loudly, his throat bobbing as it worked. "But what if Khri never comes for Boog?" Worry filled eyes met me.

"He will," I promised. "Don't worry." I tried for a smile but it felt tight.

I liked Mal. One hundred percent. Wouldn't stop me from kicking her ass for breaking my Booger's heart, though.

Glancing around, Boog frowned. "Joansie ‘lone?"

"I'm living in my Home Alone era, what can I say?" I joked, shrugging like I wasn't feeling totally fucking alone and depressed.

"Where Celuk?" he rumbled out softly, curiously.

I had to laugh at that. "It's just been me and Kooky, mostly me of late. Kooky took off on some kinda thing the other day and, you know, here I am. Celuk must be some kinda nature loving recluse," I murmured faintly.

"Jojo… ‘kay ‘lone?" he grunted out.

"It's definitely easier knowing that Krampus stalking me is gone. Someone left me its head like a souvenir but Bum-bum swears it wasn't him…" My voice trailed off, gaze darting to the male curiously.

Boog's hands shot up. "Boog no do it."

"I didn't think so." My shrewd stare lightened.

Boog blinked as he got a good gander of my getup. "Too cold for no clothes."

A soft laugh escaped me. "To be fair, I'd just gotten outta the bath."

Boog blinked some more, his befuddled frown turning into a scowl. "And Jojoknee answers door naked? No know who there?"

"Alright, dad," I taunted, but he wasn't wrong. "Message received. I'll go put some clothes on."

"Goot." Booger gave a firm nod. Folding his arms over his chest, he looked anything but casual as his scowling face scanned everything.

"There are brownie bite cookie things in the box on the table," I told him, smiling to myself as I disappeared into my bedroom to get dressed and the sounds of Boog shooting up to raid my cookies reached my ears.

"Joansie?" Booger called out hesitantly.

"Yeah?"

"Jo want… comes back with Boog?"

Would I come back to the village with him?

To clarify, he added, "Boog needs- Boog wants Jojo be Boog winged man ‘gain."

Grabbing out my suitcases as I quickly dressed, I called back as I hurriedly began to pack, "Alrighty, but just understand, I'm doing you a huge favor here!"

"Boog ‘member," he promised.

This was my out. Call me a coward if you will but I took it.

"Can Kooky read?" I mumbled to myself absently as I wheeled two overly stuffed rolling suitcases out to the living room, my duffel bag and purse over my shoulder.

"Fast," Boog marveled, standing to help me with my crap.

"I've gotta take Baby, set her up at Dorothy's. Don't want to leave her all alone out here for heaven knows how long while Kooky plays wild huntsman." Tapping at my lip, I murmured, "I hope Dorothy is okay with that."

As if talking about him had summoned him, the back door creaked open, then slammed loudly shut. Moments later Kooky was storming in, looking fit to be tied.

Wondering what had crawled up his butt but not of a mind to ask him, I stopped halfway to the door with Boog.

Kooky blinked, grunted, and his scowl fell instantly. "Where go?" he grunted out, punctuating each word with a heavy, grumbling chuff.

Not about to admit I was taking the out I'd found, wriggling through that loophole to escape the awkwardness I'd made as much as I was leaving for Boogster, I went with the latter.

"Booger needs my help. Thought I'd go back to the village for a few." With a shrug and a nonchalance I wasn't really feeling, I smiled. "With the Krampus heads-a-rollin' and their carcasses littering the landscape, I figured things are safe now. I mean, that was the whole point of me hanging around here, right? The Krampus?"

Kooky glanced from me to Boog repeatedly, frowning whenever his gaze drifted over my amber eyed best bud. Barking something at him, the stiffness in Kooky's shoulders eased at whatever Booger had replied.

"With Khri Pumpkin," Kooky grunted out.

Boog nodded vigorously.

Reaching out, I gave my buddy a there-there pat as his expression bunched. "His lady is having one of those will she, won't she moments." Another heavy pat. "Don't worry, Booger buns. This too shall pass."

"Khri say wait for Khri say, come back," Booger mumbled miserably to Kooky.

"Khri goot male," Kooky assured him. "Boog be back."

As if his assurances bolstered him, Booger rumbled his thanks and even lifted his head a bit higher.

Pausing at the door, I glanced over my shoulder.

Kooky looked a little lost as his gaze continued to dart from me to Boog. "If you're going to be gone for long stretches, just stable Baby at Dorothy's and have them get word to me. You know I'll take good care of her."

Kooky grunted out a softly uttered thanks, scowling as his arms folded over his chest and he twitched, shifting from foot to foot.

Don't want me to go? Just fucking say so.

He didn't.

I made it all the way out the door and down the way. Boog and I were idly chatting it up as we walked when I heard a loud shout in the distance.

Turning, I spied Kooky rushing up on us.

My hopes were dashed as I spotted the flash of color waving in his hand. My beanie.

"Forget," he called out, striding over to stuff it down on my head.

"Can't forget that," I mumbled under my breath glumly, though I smiled my thanks.

It really hurts to fake smile. Learn something new every day.

"Jo." Kooky stalled, rocking back on his heels as he loomed over me.

Forcing myself to meet his gaze, I stared into smoky blue-grey eyes, wishing for more. "Yeah?"

Bending his tall frame, leaning in towards me, giving me all kinds of horror flashbacks of my misstep, it was an automatic response, leaning slightly away from him.

Kooky's lips tightened as he noted this. It took him several tries to spit it out, his voice had grown so deep, sounding like he had rocks in his mouth, as he mumbled, "This what Jo want?"

"I want to help Booger. He needs me." Plainly put, blunt, there it was. No need to dance around, erm, other subjects, however related to my choices.

Kooky stared into my eyes as if searching for something before giving a loud grunt and nodding. "I get Baby," he grunted out.

"Nah. Don't fuss with harnessing her." My hand lifted and I waved it off. "The walk will be good for me. Besides, I'm sure you have other things you'd like to be doing than escorting us back to the village."

Kooky once more glanced over at Boog, frowning, grunted, but didn't otherwise respond. I'd swear he was annoyed at Booger's presence but trying to hide it.

Boog hadn't done anything wrong, though.

"It'll be like a vacation. No need to pop in and make sure the human hanging around is still kicking, right?" Reaching out to give his arm a pat, I froze up and dropped my hand limply to my side.

Kooky scowled from my hand to my face, canting his head as my cheeks pinkened.

Right. Time to go. Awkwardness abounds. With an overdone wave and a mumbled, "Better be going. Catch ya later," I spun on my heel and tromped through the snow.

"Beed safe," he called after me.

"You be safe," I called back over my shoulder, carrying on without another backwards glance.

I couldn't. If I looked back and found even a hint of that something I'd hoped for, my sad little ass might rush back into that house and never leave. I had my head too far up my own ass with him to see, even after I'd been given obvious proof. He don't want cha, woman! Deal with it!

He was pretty fucking perfect, my ideal dream guy. Kooky cared, so fucking much it made my head spin, and had no problem showing it. But he wasn't into me.

Ugh. Some assholes have all the luck. Mal had no idea how lucky she was to snag a guy like Booger.

"Don't worry, big guy," I assured Boog. "It'll all work out."

Boog shot me a forced smile as we trekked on.

"What goes, you Kooky?" We'd traveled a ways before he addressed the elephant in the room.

"Weather's pretty outside today, isn't it?" Cupping my hand over my eyes, I stared out into that great, white, fluffy beyond.

Booger grunted at the subject change. "No want talk ‘bouts it?"

"Nothing to talk about, Boogerino." My gaze met his evenly. "We're temporary roommates, friends… nothing more."

Boog stopped walking and glanced over his shoulder. "Jojo sure?" he rumbled out softly, a curious look on his face.

I couldn't hold back the incredulous snort that left me if I'd tried. "Positive," I deadpanned.

Boog caught up to me as I kept walking, staring off into the smokestacks in the distance.

"Whats ever Jojo says," he grunted out, lips twitching in a goofy half smile.

"You been sippin' Prokar's punch?" I muttered, eyeing him and his sudden bout of silliness.

Could he tell I was down in the dumps and this was his way of trying to tease me out of it?

"Your eye looks less disgusting. The urge to kill it with fire is receding," I joked, to a glower from my companion and a tight lipped stare. I cackled at that.

"No know what do without Pumpkin," he confessed, slipping back into the morose, woe is me thing he has going on.

"Would it make you feel better if I stopped by Khri's and popped in for a visit?"

"Joansie do that for Boog?"

Ugh. I wanted to hug the big galoot at that look on his face, swear to him everything would be just fine, Carebear swear, but I knew better.

"Of course. What are friends for?"

Dragging my rolling suitcases along behind him, he wrestled my duffel bag from me, leaving me with just my purse to carry. "Jo goot friend," he purred happily.

"I'm the best, and don't you forget it," I cheered, to Boog's rumbling agreement.

A short, rough growl sounded off a distance behind us. Spinning around, clutching my purse to me, the bullet box clinking away noisily from inside, drew Boog's attention.

"No worries. Be ‘kayed," he assured me.

"I heard something," I whispered, officially feeling spooked.

Boog patted my shoulder comfortingly but quickly lifted his hand as another growl sounded off.

"Is there, like, a fucking bear out there?" I burst out. "I thought they got all the Krampus bothering me?"

"Not Krampus," Boog promised, motioning for me to keep walking.

"Are you sure it's safe?" I muttered, scurrying to keep up with his long legged stride.

"Yes," he said simply.

"So… you recognize whatever the fuck that was?" I prodded, glancing from the woods to him as I picked up my pace.

"Yes," he said simply, eyeing those smokestacks growing closer and closer.

"What the hell was it, then?" I'd like to know!

Stopping long enough to give me a long, sideways glance, he smiled a little, humor lighting his features. I failed to see how any of this was funny!

"Jojo no know?" His lips quirked, and I just wanted to smack him one.

"No! Obviously!"

Realizing I was well and truly freaked, he motioned for me to calm myself. Wrong thing to do.

My nostrils flared and if I could puff smoke from them I so would. Lips pursing, my eyes narrowed.

"Calm." A soft chuckle left him. Holding his hands up defensively, he teased, "No hurt the Boog!"

Slapping at his arm, I demanded to know, "Tell me!"

"We be followed," he finally admitted.

"And you think having a stalker is funny?" I screeched.

With a sharp bark of laughter, Boog turned, calling out to whoever was following us, hidden by the greenery and white capped shit surrounding us, in Lo denaii.

A branch snapped loudly and then a rock went whizzing by Boog's face. Boog ducked and caught it, tossing it up to catch it once more. The fool laughed at the whole thing like it was hilarious.

"Well?!" I shouted, my gaze pingponging from the direction that rock had shot at Boog from to the Booger in question.

"He no want Boog say."

"Well isn't that just fucking skippy!" Throwing my hands up, I decided to wash my hands of this weirdness, stomping away from Boog and our invisible follower.

Boog was laughing so hard it took him a minute to catch up to me.

"Are you ever going to tell me?" I huffed and puffed, my sassy pants pulled up to my arm pits, kissing my underboobs today.

"Jo really want know?" Boog asked carefully.

Pausing to eye him, I muttered, "When you say it like that, I'm not so sure anymore."

"Ey! Where you go? Where Jo beed?" Rek stormed up to us, eyeing my bags as Boog acted as my bellhop.

"Ey!" I shot back, "Where you brain? Why such big jerk?! Grr-grrr-grrr!" and flicked the tip of his nose.

Booger chuckled as Rek clapped his hands to his face, hissing at me as we passed.

"Hello, Rek. Nice to see you, too. Why, thank you, Joanie. It's been a minute. I've missed you, too. Tee-hee!" I mock cooed as Boog escorted me to my hut.

"Rek no sound like that," Rek growled out from behind us.

"I know, but I can dream," I shot back sweetly.

"Make sound Rek haves no balls," the furball grumped under his breath.

"As opposed to the peanuts you're toting around now?" I quipped.

"Peanuts…" Boog chuckled, turning to Rek to show him the proposed size of his testicles, just in case he didn't know.

"Rek balls not… small. Rek have big, BIG balls! Joanie wishes she had Rek's big balls!" He'd stopped walking, calling out to us.

"How long do you think it will take him to realize how many different ways that could be taken?" I mock whispered to Boog, who rumbled back, "Nevers."

"Rek hears you!" he called after us. "Hears ‘bout Rek's balls!"

And the closer we got to my place, the closer it was to Gopher's.

As if he was lying in wait, he jumped up from where he was sitting on a large rock lining the path, the fork in the road between his place and mine.

"Jo!" he called out, like he was truly happy to see me.

Considering he'd ended us, and the confusion he'd created within me continuing to act like my not so secret boyfriend-mate that wasn't afterward, I couldn't say the feeling was mutual.

"Gofur," Boog greeted, allowing me those few precious seconds as Boog immediately started to chat him up, to slip free and slink off to my place.

My hut looked exactly as it had when I'd left it.

Pleased to see heating rocks in the tinder basket, I got to work heating the place. It would be nice and toasty by the time I got back from visiting Pumpkin. Then I could throw myself on my bed and wallow a bit more.

My overtaxed brain didn't want to think about the stacks of dung chips Gopher was known for piled up in the corner.

If this place had an oven I'd never need to leave it.

The weight of my decision to turn tail and run from Kooky like the chicken I was sat heavily on me. I'd like to think I wasn't the type to run from shit but I was batting a thousand here lately in that department.

The soft knock on my door was pointless. Like he was in some kind of all-fired hurry, Gopher came rushing in.

Boog came grumbling after, lecturing him in Lo denaii, his tone implied.

Gopher's gaze darted around the room worriedly, like he was looking for something.

"Can I help you? I don't recall saying you could enter." My frown deepened. "I could have been indecent."

Gopher blinked and his gaze shot to my person. He gave a sniff. "Smells nice."

"I'd hope so with a lifetime supply of nice smelling poop patties filling up the place," I huffed out under my breath. Grabbing one of my spare baskets, I handed it over to Boog. "Pick what you want out of that mess. You can give them to your Pumpkin, with my blessing, once she comes around."

Brightening at the prospect, Boog thanked me and walked over to examine the tall stacks.

"Did you want something, Gogo boots? I'm heading out the door." Turning, leaving him at my back, I grabbed some tea sachets, cookies, things I thought Mal might enjoy trying, and placed them in one of my smaller baskets, tucking in a bit of cloth around it.

I listened as he swallowed thickly, shuffling closer on his big clown feet. "Jo smells nice," he uttered nervously.

My hands stilled on the basket. "Thank you."

"Where- where Jo go?"

Why did I do this? Every fucking time. He was so sweet and wore his vulnerability so openly, it wasn't any wonder how I'd fallen for him. I knew his whole break up thing hadn't been malicious. He'd been thinking about both of us, probably mostly me.

Shitting all over that, I confessed, "I've missed you."

"Go'… Go' miss Jo, too." His voice cracked as he spoke.

"Would you be alright if I… gave you a hug?" Peering at him from the corner of my eye, I got a flash of fur and then he was smothering me, purring like a wildman as he cuddled me close and nuzzled my head.

My eyes pricked as I turned and hugged him back. God, this shit sucked. Holy fuck, did I miss him.

We stayed like that for a long moment, until Boog cleared his throat and stood from where he'd been crouched near the patty bins.

"Movies night?" Boog suggested, glancing between us.

Pulling back first, quickly wiping at my eyes, I nodded. "I brought my tablet and it has a full charge. Sounds like fun."

"Go'?" Booger looked to Gopher, who looked like he wanted to back out but couldn't find a polite way out of it.

"How's about we plan this for the typical movie night, and if anyone can go, they go. If not, no big. Like old times."

Gopher gave a half nod at that. It gave him an easy out. He still didn't fully trust himself with me. It hurt but I understood it, maybe now more than ever.

"Alright then, well, everyone get the fuck out, I've got a meet and greet with the village newb," I announced, shooing them both out to be on my merry way.

"Missed Jo lots," Goph rumbled out, the back of his hand brushing my knuckles as we walked and he remained close.

"I missed you heaps and bounds, Goph." My gaze darted between us and I yanked up my big girl britches. "Friends?"

Gopher looked startled for about all of two seconds before hastily blurting, "Friends."

A smirk of a smile tilted my lips. "If I make you a friendship bracelet, you think you'd wear it?"

The beast man looked like he might have a sudden bout of allergies come over him as he nodded, throat working, and boldly brushed his fingers along the bracelet on my wrist.

It was better than where we'd been before this. He was trying. I'm a greedy enough bitch, I'll eat up every scrap he's willing to throw my way.

"See ya, fellas." My hand lifted and I waved at them.

Both parties looked reluctant to leave me, each for equally different reasons, but left all the same.

Rek rounded the corner as Gopher and Boog grew smaller and smaller in my field of vision. I waited. I fucking knew better. I'd better by now.

"Look," I said, before he could start in on me. "You know where I stand on us, and I have no plans on budgin'. You need to ask yourself if this is the hill you're willing to let us die on." Leaning in, I boldly ran my fingers through the mat on his chest. "No games. No ultimatums, threats, or whatever shit you've got up your sleeve trying to strong arm me with this shit. You want me, you got me, but I'm sold as is. No exceptions. No ‘and then'. You feel me, my furry machismo?" With a little pat-pat to the middle of Rek's chest, I walked away, leaving his gobsmacked looking puss spluttering and gaping, softly purring, after me.

Dorothy's advice from not so very long ago came back to me, bolstering me.

I just hoped in my gamble for it all I didn't end up with a big fat nadda.