Page 191 of Bride of Choice

Ignoring him, I slipped out of my boots, paused to realize the blanket was back on the bed because at some point he’d remade my fucking bed, and peeled off my hoodie and several sweater layers.

“What this?” His utensil lifted to point at it.

“I don’t know.” My hand waved at it airily as I mentally said fuck it and took a seat. The food wasn’t hot but it was good. “Bum-bum kidnapped me and dragged me to his house to shove it at me and lock me out.” Thinking it over as I ate, I shrugged. “He’s weird. Maybe it’s an I don’t want to mess with you anymore gift.”

Rek glanced curiously from the box to me. “Joansie no want… see?”

Another shrug, another shovel of food. “Not really.”

Rek stood, fiddled with the lid until it slid to the side and popped free. An unnerved grunt left him as he got a good look at what was inside.

“A weapon?” I guessed.

Scowling down at the contents, Rek muttered, “Jojoknee no need another Bob. Jojoanie plenty dicks already.”

“You’re a dick,” I muttered, ignoring his growl as I joined him at the box. “That’s not a-” Oh, it sure was. Lifting it up, I gaped at a blue and white swirls patterned replica of Bum-bum’s monster peen. “What does he want me to do with that?!”

“Diddle self and think of Joansie many seemkret boydfriends she has,” Rek muttered petulantly.

Two handing it, I waggled it at him like a bat. “Say that again, louder.”

Rek shuffled back a few steps, grunting uncomfortably.

“That’s what I thought.” A sniff left me. “Get out.” Pointing that monster towards the door, I jerked my chin.

“Rek leave. Hunt,” he grunted out, suddenly having trouble making eye contact with me.

“So?” Adding fuel to the fire, I snarked, “I’ll be so busy with all my other secret boyfriends you seem to think I have, and their dicks, who says I’ll have time to mess with you?”

“Rek… Rek still Joanie- Joanie still want- Jo-”

Sighing defeatedly, my shoulders slumped and the peen I was wielding like a baton lowered towards the floor. “I’m mad at you, and there’s a very real possibility that you will never learn.”

“No want Jo keep Odix… Gopher, you Kooky,” he grumbled. “Odix say him first.” Glaring at the floor, trembling with anger, he growled, “Odix not first. Rek first.”

“I said he could be first. He actually asked me.” I kept my voice cool, calm. Rek was in a mood and I really didn’t want to fight with him. There was no point in reminding him Kooky and I weren’t really an item, as I’d previously told him. He was beyond reasoning with.

Rek’s fist slammed down on my table so hard a chunk of the wood on the corner broke off. “Say be Rek’s. Do Rek say,” he demanded of me.

Clapping the monster dick into my hand, I dared him to stomp closer to me, just fucking try me. “I think you need to leave.”

“Rek leave! Rek no come back! Joansie see! Want Rek, come back to Rek, say she miss Rek! Rek say no!” Storming out of my place, he let out an ungodly sound somewhere between a howl and a roar.

I suppose we’d just officially-officially-for-real-for-real broken up. Clearing my throat, wiping my eyes on my sleeve, I walked outside, toting that big blue swirling monstrosity to the river’s edge, and dumped it right inside.

Dusting my hands off, I calmly walked back.

My face screwed up as I put one foot in front of the other but I forced it to straighten out.

Rek wasn’t going to change. I had to accept that.

I had something a little closer to normal with Gopher and Odix. They weren’t as pushy, and didn’t seem to mind my quirks.

I had my friendship with Rosa and Mal, and Doogie and Kooky.

It wasn’t perfect but it was enough, I told myself. I didn’t need Rek. Nope. I didn’t.

That stupid lump in my chest thought it did, but time, I was sure, would eventually prove it wrong.

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