Page 29 of Moonstruck Kiss

“BO!” Brax calls out.

“Excuse me?” one of the girls says, smelling her armpits. “It’s not me.”

“Not me, either,” says another, sniffing her underarms.

The third slinks back. “I probably didn’t put enough deodorant this morning. Let’s go.” She pulls her two friends away from Brax.

“Why do we have to go with you?” asks her friend.

“Because we promised to stick together. We’ll see you later, Brax!”

All three leave, one hurriedly and two reluctantly.

I glance at Brax, and suddenly we’re both cackling like hyenas on helium.

“I… did…mean…BO,” I say breathlessly.

“Well…it worked,” he answers, doubling over from laughter.

The back door swings open and out comes my dad, wearing his volunteer firefighter uniform. “Everyone!” he bellows. “We need to conduct an emergency test… Where are they?”

“They’re gone,” I answer as I control my mirth.

“Because my dad said they have BO,” Ollie chirps.

Brax ruffles his son’s hair before grinning at my disappointed-looking father. “Did you put that on to rescue me, Roger?”

“Yeah,” he says with a pout.

“I can’t believe you went to all that trouble. Thank you.”

Dad takes off his jacket. “I’ve always wanted to use this ruse for our celebrity operations. Since we want to find creative ways to help famous Mooners like you without being too rude to pesky visitors, I came up with this idea. I think it’s clever, but I haven’t been able to trial it out in real situations,” he says with a sigh.

I smile. “You’ll get your chance, Dad.”

Mum and Josie come out, carrying the choc-and-fruit baskets. “Did it work?” Mum asks, looking around.

“They didn’t need me,” Dad says dejectedly. “Apparently, they left when Brax yelled out BO.”

Ollie interjects. “They smelled their armpits.”

Mum and Josie burst out laughing.

“I owe you guys a lot,” Brax says, glancing at each of us. “If you ever need anything at all while I’m still here, please don’t hesitate to ask.”

“Aw, don’t mention it,” Mum answers. “But… if you have some free time tomorrow I can think of something you can do.”

“Anything.”

Mum peeks at me. “Roger is supposed to help Joey prepare the Pies’ big barn for Art Fun Day. He can’t make it, so it’ll be good if you can take his place.”

“I can’t? Oh, right, I can’t,” Dad says hastily.

I narrow my eyes. Have my parents picked up something between me and Brax?

Drat. I don’t want them pushing it because I know what will happen. Brax will get scared and run for the hills. Then there goes my opportunity to have a fling with him.

Seriously, Joey?

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