Page 6 of Alien Wants A Wife

All of those are me.

SkyLander:

Aww. You are going to be the most sought-after Mate in LOVE GALAXY’s history. I know it!

SkyLander:

Be your charming self and the Females will be chasing you!

SkyLander:

!!!

Harlee

“You ladies ready?” Chloe asks, coming to stand in the open doorway.

“Yes.” Lydia and I both scramble to our feet, brushing non-existent wrinkles from our gowns and double-checking our reflections in the makeup mirrors. I snap the last sewing thread with my teeth, wishing I’d had time to add even more sequins, but at least my dress isn’t as plain anymore.

I’m so nervous that my hands are sweating. I fan myself with the alien brochure, trying to get a breath of fresh air so my foundation doesn’t melt straight off my face. But the room is stuffy, the ceiling is too low, and it suddenly feels like the roof is pressing down on my head.

“Where’s Briar?” I ask, mainly to distract myself, and I’m pleased to hear my voice sounds relatively normal.

“She’s scheduled to appear last, so she’s got some extra time to get ready,” Chloe says, beckoning us to follow her into the corridor. “Mr. Smith needs you two ladies over at the house so we can start filming.”

“Jumping straight into the fire,” I joke.

Chloe laughs.

Lydia looks nauseated, clearly well aware of the fact that we’re about to be standing in front of the cameras.

After two years of waiting, finally. This is it.

I shorten my stride, so as not to overtake the much-shorter Chloe. “Do you have any last-minute tips for us?”

“There’s nothing to worry about.” Chloe glances at Lydia and me over her shoulder. “We chose you for a reason. You’re both perfect LOVE GALAXY material. Our audience is going to adore you.” Reaching the end of the corridor, she pauses before the door leading outside.

We’re up higher than I’d realized, and there’s a ramp from the door leading down to the ground. That’s about all I can see from my current position.

“When we get to the house, Lydia, you’ll be the first woman to enter. You’ve got to walk down the stairs that lead into the kitchen, and when you get down there, you’ll meet the first of the male contestants,” Chloe says, looking at Lydia for confirmation that she understands. “The two of you will be free to chat and to get to know each other.”

“Lucky duck.” I might’ve felt jealous of Lydia if I weren’t so nervous. From watching other dating shows, I know it’s always the girls who get to go first or last who make the biggest impression in episode one.

“Exactly,” Chloe agrees, and she’s got to raise her voice because it’s so windy outside. “Use your time alone with thefirst guy to your advantage, Lydia. Remember to flirt and laugh. Have fun. After that, Harlee will join you, followed by the second guy and so on, until everyone is gathered in the kitchen. Doing it this way gives you all a chance to introduce yourselves to the other cast members and, by extension, to the LOVE GALAXY audience. Oh, and remember the golden rule—never look directly at the cameras when you’re in a room with other people. Got it?”

“Yeah, I guess so.” Lydia gives a determined nod.

“Let’s go.” Mr. Smith steps into the corridor, shunting us forward with waving motions.

His attempts to get us moving don’t work because Lydia and I are both staring, transfixed, at his face.

He’s obviously Mr. Smith, the same lawyer who’d gotten me to sign my contract. I easily recognize him, even though he’s currently dressed in an alien costume with professional prosthetics.

He doesn't look nearly so old anymore, like all the makeup he’s got on has taken twenty years off his age. He’s thickset, with a bald head and a long, skinny tail that’s flicking, similar to what a cat’s tail does when it’s annoyed. Oh, and he’s got rolls of leathery skin where his neck should be. It reminds me of those fancy ruffle collars people used to wear in the Elizabethan era. Only his isn’t lace.

I exchange a wounded look with Lydia and then glance at the brochure I’m still using to fan my burning face.

What To Do When You Find Out Aliens Are Real.

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