Page 42 of Catching the Kot'oll Driver

He winks. “Are you looking forward to summer?”

I suck in a breath, rolling my eyes at him. I’m never forgetting that he is just here to annoy me. “Summer, yes. Your naked body, no.”

“What? You aren’t looking forward to my sexy strong body?”

I ignore him and go into the mall instead. He chuckles as he follows me around. “Come on, I’m just joking.”

“I know. You’re just annoying.”

He chuckles. “Maybe that’s the point. You love me that way.”

I halt and he almost bumps into me. He halts right before impact. “Geez, is this also how you drive?”

I stare at him, having no words in my head. Maybe I should be angry at how he insulted my driving skill when I’m a great driver and I caught criminals on a spaceship, chasing them down. Or maybe... I should think about whether I like him, let alone love him that way.

He waves his hand in front of me. “How many fingers are here?”

I smack his hand. “Just shut up... You don’t have to keep annoying me.”

“Well, I’m just trying to make this interesting.”

“I didn’t figure you’d be this talkative.”

He blinks, seemingly thinking about it. “I suppose... Maybe I didn’t get a chance to talk a lot most of the time, so when I could, I got carried away. I can keep quiet if that’s what you prefer. I don’t want to be the kot’oll who embarrasses you in front of others.”

“No, no. I don’t mean that. You are perfect the way you are. No one’s gonna have a word when I have a strong one right by my side.”

He gives a weak smile. Maybe I said something wrong, or not right enough. I reach for his hand and he takes it into his big hand. I give him a squeeze. “Here, let’s get some food. Maybe you’ll want to try some human food.”

“Sure. I’m hungry for actual nice food.”

“The food on your spaceship isn’t that bad.”

“That’s because you were starving. Trust me, that isn’t that good.”

I nudge him to start walking. This mall is one of my favorite places to be in. I hope the restaurant I plan to go to is open. That one is opened by humans and we’re the hardworking bunch. I’d expect them to have reopened the moment the weather alert is over.

The floor is made up of bricks, or at least looks to be bricks. The walls are made of old-fashioned brown and red bricks. It feels like I’m in a fantasy world here.

Near the pillars, there are knight statues with shiny armor. This is the best mall ever when every other mall nearby is just boring silver walls. They may look newer and fancier with technology, but what I like is the older version of things.

Grihul looks around as he walks. His big hand is still holding mine. He seems oblivious to that. I don’t mind holding his hand. Somehow, being with him calms me down.

I don’t need a big guy protecting me, but when he’s the one with me, it feels better than when I’m alone.

“Here.” I point at the restaurant next to us. It smells great already.

“Oh, looking nice.”

I’m not sure whether he will like this type of restaurant though. I hope he does.

We head to the door. No one is at the counter waiting for us. I go straight to a spot for two. A waitress with aprons, who is the same middle-aged woman who has worked here for longer than I can remember, gives us a nod. I wave two fingers at her. She points to where I’m heading to and goes the other side.

Grihul blinks. “Hey, are we in the—”

I pull him along. Maybe he isn’t used to this.

We take a seat at the table by the wall. The waitress is back and gives each of us a glass of water.

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