Page 73 of Bride of Choice

“I’d say I only have one ass, and yet here you are, driving me up a wall, acting like a second set,” I commented dryly.

“Jojo miss Rek,” Rek informed them, to an incredulous look from Booger and an amused stare from Gopher.

“Miss headaches?” Gopher asked me, a spark of his old snarky self resurfacing.

Glancing from Rek to Gopher, knowing if I picked sides it would just incite more squabbling, I looked to Boog, “So, I made these for you,” I told him, pulling another small wooden container from the basket over my arm to hold it out to him in offering. “I’m sorry I’ve missed the last bajillion movie nights. It’s been hectic.”

“What that?” Rek gave a sniff. He tried to lean in closer but Boog bared his teeth at him warningly.

“Koo- Uh. I’ve been working on some recipes, and this one is so close to barbecue flavored jerky, I thought you might like some. I forget what the beast is called that the meat came from, but it’s close, taste wise, to chicken with a hint of beef.” Watching Boog lift the lid and pull a strip free to sniff it, groan happily, and then take a huge bite out of it, making yummy noises as he ate, totally made my day. “There’s a card pinned to the lid with the recipe I came up with for the sauce, the jerky as well, on it. I know how much you miss barbecue sauce.”

“Why give Booger foods? Jojo no likes Boogers,” Rek grumbled. Lower, he gave me a dirty look, thick arms folding over his chest, he pouted, “Where Rek treats?”

“Be good,” I leaned in to mutter through the side of my mouth, “and maybe it’ll be worth my while making you some, you giant puss face.”

Rek huffed, affronted, sounding like an old woman, and jerked back.

“Gofur water Jo’s garden,” Gopher said suddenly, dragging my attention away from the attention hound of Yetidom.

“Thanks,” I replied softly, feeling so awkward and unsure with him. He didn’t seem keen on mentioning anything that had happened in the way of mating me, and it just made it that much harder to be around him. What was he about to tell me? He went to see his parents about what? About his little problem?

He may not think it unkind to pretend the things that happened never occurred, but it was hurtful to me. Pretending we never were, never attempted to be, chatting it up uncomfortably like this like it never fucking happened, there was a hole in my gut that ached just thinking about it.

“I’d better be going. I’m off to my cousin’s. I promised Kehko a play date the next time I was out,” I’d started to say.

“Bauheg go Jojoknee. Bauheg see Zhuii,” Booger replied, motioning for me to wait for him so he could run back to his place real quick and stash his jerky away.

“Goober not good male,” Rek bitched and grumbled, snickering in Gopher’s direction. “No claim Jojoknee. No-”

“Would you stop?!” I burst out, slapping at him until he was growling at me and I was ten seconds away from pummeling him with my basket until it broke, treats inside be damned, and then with my purse if no one stopped me before then, I snarled. “Must you be a dick to every-god-damn-one?” I got out between slap happy taps about his person, wherever I could reach. “He has his own shit going on and doesn’t need any from you! Leave, him, alone!”

“Jojoknee not his!” Rek caterwauled. “Rek never stops! YOW! No hits face!”

“Then back the bibbity boppity fuck up and get your thick head outta the line of pummeling, you dunderheaded dunce!” I snapped right back.

Rek’s eyes flashed and to everyone else he probably looked like he was ready to tackle me like a linebacker. I tensed but not because I thought he was going to ram my ass. I knew better. The fool was ten seconds away from nabbing me up and tossing me over his shoulder caveman style to rush off with me, or scoop me up to him and shut me the fuck up with that talented mouth of his.

Tensing, I shook my head once, a sharp shake nobody else had seemed to pick up on.

Rek was looking like he was about to choose to ignore the warning and do as he pleased, potentially putting us both in a tough spot. I’d poked the bear a wee bit too hard.

A deep, rumbling grumble issued from behind me. Thinking it Gopher, I was more concerned with Rek getting pummeled by him than Gopher trying to break us up.

“It’s fine!” I insisted, throwing my hands out, basket hanging off my forearm, my purse dangling precariously over the opposite shoulder. “We’re just talking… very loudly!”

When I was lifted bodily by fat hands and hauled up into ginormous arms, Gopher jumped in swinging, a roar erupting from him, popping Rek right in the mouth the second I was safely out of the way.

Freezing up for a minute solid, scrambling as my brain stalled, struggling trying to figure out who the fuck was holding me, I knew I had seriously erred as they made off with me, taking advantage of my brain freeze and the fight stealing everyone else’s attention.

“Put me down!” I bellowed the second I snapped out of it, getting snarls from Rek and Gopher in tandem as they beat the tar out of each other, and rolled around in the muddy, snow covered ground.

“Help! I’m being kidnapped!” I caterwauled, channeling my inner Rek as I was hauled off elsewhere. I knew it was Bum-bum holding me as a deep rumble vibrated my back, his heavy grunts, growing louder as he picked up the pace as he moved unmistakable. “He licked me!” I called out over the din, waving at him wildly. “He’s a licker! Lock up your wives! Weirdo on the loose!”

I may have totally screwed myself over with some of my previous antics, I now fully realized this, just how much so. But for a few curious glances, no one paid us any mind.

“I’ll scream!” I warned.

“No scream,” Bum-bum rumbled out quietly, calling my bluff.

---