“Hi, Ava. What brings you around?”
“Why are you smiling?” I ask bluntly.
She bursts out laughing. “Sorry. Nothing personal.” She winks and then leans closer. “I can’t stop smiling today. My boyfriend just proposed, and I said yes, of course.”
“Oh. Ah, congratulations.”
“Thanks. Do you need something?”
“I don’t want to bother you.”
"You aren't bothering me, but you do know you aren't really supposed to walk onto the base. If you need something, I'll walk you in."
“I was wondering… An alien’s here.”
"Yes. Rix is his name, I think. He just arrived a few hours ago."
“Why is he here?”
“He brought over some machines.” She bursts out laughing.
“What’s so funny?” I feel like a fool because I’m confused all over again. I’ve been told before that I’m rough around the edges, and there are times when I’m just flat-out uncomfortable around people. That’s the case today. That’s for sure.
“Your smile. I never saw you smile before. It was so wide. You want to see what he brought, don’t you?”
“I doubt I’ll be allowed to,” I say slowly.
“I don’t have the authority to show you the machines myself, but I can bring you closer so you can ask someone in charge. It’s the best I can do.”
“Why?”
“Why what?”
“Why are you willing to help me?”
“Why are you acting like it’s so strange for someone to want to help you?”
I just blink at her.
“All I want is for everyone to be happy, to share my happiness.” Jenny beams. “Branden and I are so—”
“You’re marrying Branden?” I ask.
She nods. “Yes. I know you two are friends—”
“Is that the only reason why you’re helping me now?” I grumble, feeling a bit used.
“No,” Jenny says simply. “I’m happy. I want you to be happy and Darryl there.” She points to a guy walking swiftly by. “And Bob. Not Harry, though. He’s a bit of an ass, but you didn’t hear that from me.”
I almost grin. “Okay. Sorry. I’m a bit out of sorts today.”
“That’s all right.”
Jenny chatters about this and that as we walk along, and the deeper we head into the base, the more excited I become.
Until a sergeant marches over.
“What seems to be going on here?” he asks in a no-nonsense tone.
“I was just—”
“This civilian can’t be here,” he says firmly. “She doesn’t have a visitor badge and—”
“I would if you would give me one,” I point out.
He glowers at me before blatantly ignoring me and focusing on Jenny. “Get her out of here.”
“Yes, sir.”
"This isn't a social hour. This is no bring your friend to work day. Do I make myself clear?"
“Yes, sir.” Jenny salutes, and I wait until the sergeant turns around to give him my kind of salute, the middle finger kind.
Jenny heaves a sigh. “I’m not thinking clearly. We can sign you in and get you a badge and—”
“No. Better not risk it today. He looks like he’s on the warpath, and if he comes back around and sees me, he’s liable to pick me up and throw me out like the garbage.”
“He does seem to be in a bad mood.” Jenny grimaces. “I really am sorry. My mind’s in a fog—”
“You don’t have to apologize. I get it. You’re in the clouds. Ready to walk on the moon. I wish you and Branden the best.”
I start to rush away when I notice the alien’s walking about as if he belongs on the base, as if he fits in. No one is giving him a hard time about being here, of course, and I don’t see a visitor badge on him either. Figures. It doesn’t matter what planet you come from. If you’re on Earth and you have a cock, and you do whatever the fuck you want.
He glances at me and does a double-take. His lips twitch like he doesn’t know if he wants to smile or smirk, and he ends up settling on the smirk. Of course. Because he thinks that just because he’s an alien, that makes him God’s gift to women.
I cross my arms and pointedly ignore him, but I have to walk right by him. To my shock, he slides out of my way as I near. I almost figured he would try to block my path.
“Ava.”
Hearing my name on his lips infuriates me. I stiffen but do my best to ignore him and keep on marching along. Who told him my name? Why did he ask around about me? I’m sure that he couldn’t have heard anything good about me.
What the hell? Why should I care what he thinks about me? That’s absurd!
“Rix,” I spit out with a curt nod, still not looking at him. A part of me hopes that Jenny had misheard the alien’s name. Rix. What kind of a name is that?
“You know my name.” He sounds so pleased, almost like a puppy dog wagging his tail.
I stop and glance over at him. Yep, he’s smiling.
“You need to stop,” I inform him.
“Stop what?”
“Stop following me. Harassing me.”
“I’m not harassing you, and I’m not following you.” He tilts his head to the side. “Why are you here?”
“What’s it matter to you?” I narrow my eyes and cross my arms.
To his credit, his gaze doesn't drop. Most guys would've. I might hate it, but I know how to play guys, how to distract them.
“It doesn’t, but you seem upset. More upset than just because an alien’s talking to you. You don’t seem to like my kind.”
“I have no issues with Novans per se,” I start.
“First of all, I’m not Novan. Well, half-Novan. I’m a Kurian.”
“No difference. My issue is more with males in general.”
“Why is that?”
“Do you always ask personal questions to strange women?”
“You aren’t strange, and I’m just making pleasant conversation.”
“I am a
