Page 65
Story: It's A Little Bit Bunny
We got stuck in traffic though, turning the normally five-hour journey into an odyssey.
It was past three in the afternoon when we finally reached the rink. As soon as we pulled up, we found an agitated Vee, who was worried sick and wouldn’t stop fussing over Nate.
“We’ll call it a day, men,” Jerke called over the commotion. “I think we all need to go home and relax. I’ll see you all on Monday morning.”
Bo, Max, Arne, and I shouldered our bags and set off together. Veitsreuth was so tiny, we all lived more or less near each other.
None of us spoke; you could tell that we were collectively exhausted.
“Have a good weekend,” I said to Max and the Viking when we reached their house.
“You too,” Max yawned and bumped fists with me.
“See you on Monday.” Arne repeated the gesture, and they trudged off in the direction of their front door.
Bo waited until they had gone.
“Tell your boyfriend I say ‘hi’.” He bumped his meaty fist to mine and hoisted his bag higher up his shoulder.
“Say ‘hi’ to Ollie.”
“Will do.”
I watched Bo cross the street and turn onto a side street. After he left, I made my way to my apartment.
It had never felt more empty and depressing than it did in that moment.
Without much conscious thought, I took a quick shower, threw some clothes, food, and my laptop with the two power banks I’d gotten for it into my weekender, and headed for my car.
“The forest will tell me,” that’s what Jules had said. I hope he is listening.
Forty-three
Jules
ThemomentNikolaisteppedthrough the veil, a low thrumming went through my forest like an earthquake.
He’d said Saturday.
Why is he already here? Has something happened?
In seconds, I had given my mask for the occasion a last minute check in the floor length mirror behind my bedroom door, then I turned around and left to meet him.
“I will be back in a bit, Barnabas. Withhim,”I told my Wolpertinger as I left the room. I heard a satisfied little grunt back.
“Bunny!” I called when I spotted him near the pathway to the labyrinth. “You’re early. Are you alright?”
“I am,” he said, rasping a hand over his neck. “Sorry, I know I’m early, but I wanted to see you.”
I stepped forward until I was within his reach. Immediately, he slid his strong arms around me.
This is my favourite height.
I nuzzled my nose into his neck, inhaling the scents of shaving soap and his cologne. They were unable to mask his own, the one I would recognise anywhere these days.
“My home is your home, Bunny. You know that.”
Nikolai buried his hands in my hair and let out a needy little gasp as he tilted my face up and kissed me.
Table of Contents
- Page 1
- Page 2
- Page 3
- Page 4
- Page 5
- Page 6
- Page 7
- Page 8
- Page 9
- Page 10
- Page 11
- Page 12
- Page 13
- Page 14
- Page 15
- Page 16
- Page 17
- Page 18
- Page 19
- Page 20
- Page 21
- Page 22
- Page 23
- Page 24
- Page 25
- Page 26
- Page 27
- Page 28
- Page 29
- Page 30
- Page 31
- Page 32
- Page 33
- Page 34
- Page 35
- Page 36
- Page 37
- Page 38
- Page 39
- Page 40
- Page 41
- Page 42
- Page 43
- Page 44
- Page 45
- Page 46
- Page 47
- Page 48
- Page 49
- Page 50
- Page 51
- Page 52
- Page 53
- Page 54
- Page 55
- Page 56
- Page 57
- Page 58
- Page 59
- Page 60
- Page 61
- Page 62
- Page 63
- Page 64
- Page 65
- Page 66
- Page 67
- Page 68
- Page 69
- Page 70
- Page 71
- Page 72
- Page 73
- Page 74
- Page 75
- Page 76
- Page 77
- Page 78
- Page 79
- Page 80
- Page 81
- Page 82
- Page 83
- Page 84
- Page 85
- Page 86
- Page 87
- Page 88
- Page 89
- Page 90
- Page 91
- Page 92
- Page 93