Page 66 of Alien Wants A Wife

“No.”

“Why not? This is not instant love,” I hasten to remind her. “My feelings are real and not desperate.” Well, maybe a little desperate. But that is only because I truly believe we would make a most excellent match, Harlee and me. “We could be happy together. We could…”have a family together.But I swallow the end of that sentence, my heart pounding in my chest. I do not want to scare her with the force of my wanting.

Harlee

I study Roan, desperately trying to memorize every scale. It’s only been a few days, but already the thought of leaving feels akin to tearing open my chest.

I want to reassure him, but what is there to say?

I can’t tell him I’m going to stay because I don’t know if I am, no matter how hard leaving would be. What if me wanting to stay ruins Lydia’s chances of going home? How could I possibly choose between them?

And Briar. I haven’t spoken to her in days, but when she was exiled I made a promise that I’d keep searching for a way to guarantee our safe return to Earth. She’s relying on me.

“Just don’t sayno,” Roan begs, undisguised hope in his eyes.

“But I can’t sayyes.” My stomach sinks. Abandoning my sewing, I reach across the scuffed table for him. “You know I can’t. There’s Briar and Lydia?—”

“Then say you willconsiderstaying.” He takes my hands in all four of his.

“Consider—”

“Consider staying,” he repeats with force. “If you do not trust instantaneous love, then take your time, considering how you feel. Do not yet decide either way.”

Could I stay?

The question pops into my head. I’m surprised I haven’t given it proper consideration before. I guess I’ve been so fixated on how horrible it was to be abducted and how important it is that we negotiate our travel home that I kind of forgot there’s a third option.

I could stay.

I’d be giving up the business I’ve worked so hard to build. But it’s not like my family would care; they probably haven’t even noticed I’m missing. I imagine people don’t bother going looking for you if you’ve already walked out of their lives.

I close my eyes, forcibly relaxing my neck and shoulders. Forcibly releasing some of the tension I’m holding onto.

Mr. Smith has the only working spaceship on Ril II. He’s also the only person who we know of who has Earth’s coordinates. Both facts make him our only way home. So if I do decide to stay beyond the end of LOVE GALAXY, it’s not a choice I can undo. If I stay, this is what the rest of my life will be like: living with Roan, with nobody for company but him and his two brothers.

It is kind of amazing here, with the connected houses and the underground forest. But there’s little need for my design skills. I can create illustrations in Procreate like a champ. What I know about farming and living a rural lifestyle wouldn’t fill a shallow teaspoon.

I hear Roan shift and open my eyes to see him watching me intently.

“Alright. I’ll consider.” It’s the least I can do for Roan, after everything he’s done for me. I owe him that much.

I owemyselfthat much.

He stands, drawing me up with him.

And that’s when his blasted tablet starts beeping. Again. Third frickin’ time today.

He pokes at the screen, so the alarm stops, and the screen turns from black to displaying the latest LOVE GALAXY message, and I read it aloud, focusing on keeping my voice steady.

Roan and Harlee,

Things have been heating up between you.

Now it is time to heat up the kitchen.

Your task is to have a romantic meal together.

#DateNight #LoveGalaxy

---