Page 35 of Hale Yes
Then I take a deep breath and enter.
CHAPTER TEN
Sir PooPoo the Terminator
Nicolette
When I arrive home later that evening, I collect a couple packages that arrived for me today. I’d ordered some sheets and a comforter for the downstairs guest room, so I rip open the boxes and toss the linens into the washer. Lehra and Cruz said they would come for a visit once I got settled, and I want to have a room ready for them.
As I’m about to head upstairs, I hear a knock on my front door and backtrack. Swinging open the door, I find two men and…
“Is that a goose?” I ask, craning my head to inspect what the tall man is holding.
The snowy white bird honks and sways its head from side to side in response.Guess that answers that question.
“Yes, this is Pookie,” the tall man answers.
“Tell her his real name,” the shorter one scolds.
Tall guy rolls his eyes and sighs. “This is Sir PooPoo the Terminator.”
I snort, and the bird emits a loud WAHNK in my direction, almost startling me out of my skin.
“Excuse me, Sir PooPoo. I didn’t mean to offend,” I tell him, feeling a bit silly to be apologizing to a goose, but I’m nothing if not hospitable.
The shorter man tuts. “Don’t worry about it. He’s quite the drama queen.” He holds out a soft, pudgy hand, and I shake it. “I’m Lukas, one of your neighbors.”
“And I’m Stefan,” the other one says, shifting Sir PooPoo to one arm so he can also shake. He has slightly rougher hands with long, well-manicured fingers. “I’m the sweet one.”
“Like hell you are,” Lukas argues before focusing on me again. “Don’t let him fool you. He gets all precious and up in his feelings sometimes. Then he likes to pretend he has a personality. I assume you’re Nicolette?”
“Oh, yes, sorry,” I say, feeling equal parts flustered and amused. “I was a little distracted by your feathered friend.”
“Understandable,” Stefan says, his voice a bit more formal than his friend’s. “Not every day two well-dressed men show up on your doorstep with a goose.” They are dressed nicely, their trousers and dress shirts of obvious fine quality. Stefan is also sporting a paisley ascot.
“And we brought treats,” Lukas adds, handing over a blue polka-dotted box.
“That is so sweet. Thank you,” I say, accepting the box and peeking through the top window to see a selection of colorful and intricately decorated cake pops. I’m going to turn into a lardass if all these Texans keep bringing me sweets as welcome gifts. “These are beautiful.”
“They’re store-bought,” Stefan informs me.
Lukas huffs. “You didn’t have to tell her that. Maybe our new neighbor thinks I look talented enough to make these masterpieces.”
Stefan’s tone is dry as the Sahara. “Lukas, you couldn’t run an Easy-Bake oven.”
These two are freaking hilarious, and I instantly want to know more about them. “Would you like to come in? I’ll make some coffee, and we can share the cake pops.” I glance at the goose, who seems to be wearing a diaper of some sort. “Pookie is welcome as well.”
“We’d love to,” Lukas accepts for all three of them, and I guide them into the living room.
A few minutes later, we’re all seated around the coffee table enjoying our food and drinks. Lukas pulls out something from his pocket and holds it up to the animal’s beak.
“Are you feeding the goose a cake pop?” I ask in shock, though I really shouldn’t be surprised at anything these three do.
“No, too much sugar,” he answers as Pookie takes surprisingly delicate nibbles. “I wad up a piece of bread and put it on a stick so he feels like he’s part of the family.”
“And do you mind if I ask how Pookie got such an… original name?”
Both men share a look and a chuckle. The affection between them is obvious, but I’m still not sure if they’re partners, just friends, or relatives. The latter seems unlikely because they look vastly different. Stefan is long and lean with blue eyes and blond hair, gray peppering through at the temples. Lukas, on the other hand, is squatty with raven hair and warm chocolate eyes. He appears to be at least a decade younger than Stefan. Then I remember Bonnie referred to them as a couple, so I’m guessing they’re partners.
