Page 2 of Charmed By the Alien Warrior

It’s so dark out that someone could be out there right now, just waiting and watching, ready to pounce on an unsuspecting victim. Like me.

My steps speed up as I cross the dark lot, finally nearing my small silver car. It has nothing to do with the fear that always seems to dog my steps, making me super cautious about everything. No, I’m just eager to get home, finish the script for the axe man of New Orleans episode, eat a late dinner, and go to bed.

Alone. A frown makes my eyebrows draw together.

As I jingle my keys and press the button to unlock the doors, a figure steps out from behind it. I jump, a strangled scream stuck in my throat as my worst fears are about to come true.

Then, recognition makes me exhale in relief.

It’s my little sister, who is not so little anymore.

I rake my eyes over Maddie and concern immediately rises in me, making my voice sharp. “You scared me to death. What are you doing here?”

Her face is pale and her purple hair hangs in tangles around her shoulders. I look closer and notice dark streaks of mascara running down her cheeks.

“Maddie, what’s happened?” I move closer to my sister, ready to wrap my arms around her, but she holds up a hand for me to stop and shakes her head.

Maddie clears her throat. “Can you give me a ride home? It’s been a rough night.”

Her voice is thick with emotion, but she raises her head high, her chin firm with determination. As much as I want to demand that she tell me what’s going on right now, I know mysister and I know that look. She’s not going to tell me until she’s good and ready.

So, I push down my protective instincts and silently nod.

It’s not until about fifteen minutes into our awkwardly quiet car ride that Maddie finally speaks up, her voice soft. “Go ahead and ask.”

“Are you okay?”

She immediately answers, “Yeah.”

I glance over at her, a brow raised in disbelief, and after a moment of silence she responds by shrugging her shoulders. “I mean, not really. But I will be.”

“What happened?”

“Connor and I broke up.”

Her words don’t really shock me. I’ve never really liked my sister’s boyfriend. But it was clear from the very second she brought him home to meet me that Maddie was head over heels in love with him.

So, I bit back any objections that I had about him—his love of partying a little too hard, his outrageously flirtatious manner, his inability to keep the same job for more than a week and the fact that it was always someone else’s fault, the remarks he’d throw out so nonchalantly that seemed designed to make my sister doubt herself, and the smile that always seemed a little forced. Sure, he’s charming, but I learned a long time ago to steer clear of charming men.

The red flags were flying high as soon as Maddie came home gushing about him after their first date, but I knew that nomatter what I said, she was in the glow of a new relationship and wouldn’t listen to me. Because when you’re wearing rose-colored glasses, red flags look like all the other flags.

I had seen it once too often with my mom and the déjà vu was immediate.

So, I gritted my teeth and smiled, deciding to wait out the relationship, and reminding myself with relief that at least Maddie had an IUD implanted a while back and wouldn’t have any surprises.

Maddie looks over at me, her eyes narrowed. “Well, go ahead and say it.”

“What?”

“I told you so. That’s what you’re going to say.” She huffs out a breath. “You never liked Connor.”

Her words shock me. I thought I had done a really good job masking my true feelings of the guy who called himself ‘the ultimate bro’, but maybe I didn’t. Maybe I’m not as good at faking it as I thought.

I take a deep breath and let it out in a sigh. “You’re right, I didn’t. But it doesn’t matter whether I liked Connor or not. You did, and I’ve never wanted you to be hurt by anyone.” My voice is soft in the car, the only other noise the clicking of the turn signal as I pull onto the narrow gravel road that leads to our house. “Will you tell me what happened with him tonight?”

Maddie heaves out a breath. “We were supposed to go out tonight on a date, just us, but he took me to this bar where his friends were hanging out. He kept making eyes at some girlthat was sitting across the room with her friends. Then, when I was coming back from the bathroom, I saw him kissing her.”

Her cheeks flush red and she leans her head back against the headrest and mumbles, “I made a scene, and he broke up with me. He told me good luck replacing him.”

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