Page 65 of Cosmic Castaway

Stars, how did I say no? And if I did, would he forgive me? The poor animal was suffering, though. Was it right to leave it in pain? “I don’t know how.”

Bartholomew crept closer to the creature, and it opened its eyes once again With a single finger, he stroked its snout, and its tiny tail wiggled. He smiled—a full smile—and petted it again. The creature tried to move closer, but it couldn’t. A pained whine sounded, and my mate frowned, scooting closer to the injured animal.

“I think its leg is broken,” he said. “We can help it, right?”

“We can try.” I might not know how, but I’d do everything possible to save this small animal for my mate.

He smiled again softly, petting the creature. “It’s so cute.”

Cute? It was cross-eyed and had floppy-ears and snaggle teeth. What was cute? I was cute. This was… odd… ugly… not cute.

Teddy started to take off his blanket, but I stalled him. My mate was far too thin to manage in the cold. I whipped mine off and helped bundle the rather docile creature. I carried it in the crook of my arm and tugged Bartholomew along as I tried to puzzle through how Bartholomew found this creature cute. It seemed impossible. If he thought the animal was cute, then did he think I was? I fought a frown. I refused to be jealous over an animal. I snagged my mate close and stepped into our current home.

I made a nest for the creature I’d christened Pookie. She was the ugliest thing I’d ever seen, but she was so ugly it was cute. She looked like a rabbit in size and shape, with beady eyes and long ears, but she had long legs like a spider that crowded her body, though each one had small paws—complete with pink toe beans. Her front teeth stuck out and were jagged and her tongue was long and forked. Her piggy nose and tail completed the ugly-cute picture.

Pookie was an odd thing, but I liked her.

Every time I petted her, Pookie’s small tail wiggled, and she pressed closer. I kissed the space between her floppy ears, and Mindy frowned. I rolled my eyes. He was so easy to read. He wanted to be the center of attention. Whether that was with everyone or me alone, I didn’t know. Selfishly, I hoped it was the latter.

Pookie whined, her one crooked leg trembling.

“I’m going to hold her, and you can straighten her leg,” I said.

“She might bite you. Let me hold her.”

“No,” I replied. “Trust me. Please.”

“Flower…”

“Mindy, come on. I can do this.”

Worry drove his eyebrows together, but he said, “Fine.”

I gathered Pookie to me, making soothing noises while she whimpered. Mindy gently grabbed her leg and pulled. A sickening snap sounded, and Pookie screeched but didn’t attack. Mindy quickly wrapped her leg with a couple of pieces of metal he’d salvaged to keep it straight, and I kept petting her in an attempt to calm her.

“Are you well?” he asked me.

“Perfectly fine.”

He brushed his strong fingers over Pookie’s long ears, and she thumped her tail. His lips quirked. “It seems we have acquired a pet.”

I booped her snout. “I’ve always wanted one.”

“I love pets,” Mindy said loudly, shifting to my side to hug me. “We’ll take good care of her.”

“We will.”

Mindy kissed my cheek before bounding off. He got water for her and more blankets, shoving a couple of our shirts in her nest so she got used to our smell. He kept talking and talking about Pookie and what we should do and how we’d be like a small family. She’d fallen asleep almost instantly after we set her leg, but I leaned against the cold metal to watch him.

My heart pounded as warmth filled my stomach. Serlotminden was so adorable. He put his whole heart into everything he did. Giving everything. I hugged myself, watching him dart around to provide Pookie whatever she might need. Was this why? No one had ever touched my heart like this, and was it because I needed someone like Mindy? Someone who loved so fully? I wasn’t sure, but I liked him now and I didn’t ever want to stop.

When my eyes started to flutter close, Mindy gathered me into his arms. I made a grunt of protest, but he kissed me and put me into the tent.

“What about Pookie?” I asked, already half asleep.

“She’s fine. I promise.” He settled beside me and drew me close. I shifted on top of him, sprawling, cheek on his chest. Mindy covered us with some blankets, but I pulled it over my head, burrowing against him. I preferred to be completely covered. I felt safer. Hidden. I didn’t know.

“Am I too heavy?”

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