“As I said, it makes life much more interesting.”
Nick snorted. “My life gets any more interesting, it’ll probably kill me.”
Caleb sucked his breath through his teeth. “Kid has a point. I’d like to try a little boredom for a minute.”
“Back on track?” Kody motioned over her shoulder. “We need to get to someone’s lair. Remember?”
“Sorry.” Nick rubbed at his ears. “Demon entrails always distract me. Where are we going, exactly?”
Kody didn’t say a word as she led them several blocks over.
Nick winced as the passed his old school where they’d all spent some good and bad times. Even though he’d just been there in his time, it seemed as long ago as the thousands of years that separated his time from this one.
Like his home, there was nothing left. Not even a single brick.
Well, there was one old post left from where the fence used to be. A single, solitary post.
Some reason, it seemed like that should be poignant or meaningful. Maybe he was just looking for some reason for this anarchy.
Not wanting to think about it, he followed her a little further. To a shop that looked oddly familiar.
No. Really familiar.
It couldn’t be …
Kody opened the door and held it for him to enter. Stunned, Nick stepped inside and took in the zombie posters and bows, along with ads for cyber-implants.
All that would be shocking enough. But the grumbling voice of Bubba Burdette as he came out of the back of the shop to greet them riveted Nick’s feet to the floor.
Was this for real?
“Bubba?”
“Nick?”
They spoke simultaneously.
His mind whirling, Nick staggered forward to hug the huge beast of a man. Like his Dark-Hunter boss Kyrian, Bubba had been a father figure to Nick. Always there. Always caring, teaching him life lessons and helping him watch over his mom.
Or in Bubba’s case, he’d actually dated her.
Though they stood even in height, Bubba had the kind of muscular build Nick would kill for. With black hair and blue eyes, Bubba Burdette was the man Nick had wanted to be. Caring. Kind. Funny.
Kickass.
Granted, Bubba had a crazy streak, but the zombie-hunting thing aside, he was classic.
Nick just couldn’t believe it. “You’re still alive?”
Stepping back, Bubba grinned. “Hard to kill.” He swept his gaze over Nick’s body. “How are you here? As a kid?”
“Time travel. How are you still alive? Aren’t you, like, nine million years old?”
Bubba rolled his eyes. “Not Fred Flintstone, buddy.” He screwed his face up. “Then again, I am over a thousand years old at this point. Maybe I am Cro-mag.”
“Troglodyte.” Nick had to use Bubba’s favorite insult for people.
He laughed at the reference. “I’ve missed you, Nick.” He cupped Nick on the back of the neck and drew him in to kiss the top of his head.
