Page 157 of Bride of Choice

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.

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