Page 11 of So I Married an Alien
I consider wrapping my four arms around her right then and there to cement the bond between us, but I am getting the sense that Amara needs more courting.It is very different from my past experiences with females.I will have to tread carefully.
“Then we shall hug at an agreed-upon date,” I suggest.
“Oh.Okay.”Amara gives me a shy smile.“Let’s set up a time.”
I press my hands to my chest, then tilt my head up.“Goodnight.”
She waves her hand awkwardly.“Goodnight, then.”As I turn around and head to my room, though, she calls over my shoulder.“Do you need a toothbrush or anything?”
The words make sense taken in parts—a brush for one’s teeth—but it’s a barbaric way to clean the incisors.
I hold up my bag.“I have a cleaning unit.”
“A cleaning… unit?”She cocks her head, so I retrieve it.The unit is inside a container, which I open and then pull the curved cleaner out.I place it in my mouth, around my teeth, and it vibrates for only a few moments.Then I switch it to the lower set, press it again, and I’m finished.I take the unit into her “bathroom” and clean it out in the sink, which she showed me how to operate earlier.
Amara’s mouth is agape when I return.“Wow.Totally jealous.”She straightens.“All right, then.Tomorrow at work, I’ll shop online for some new clothes for you so you’re not always wearing the same thing.”
I give a brief nod of appreciation.I suppose I do need something else to wear on this planet, as unlike Karthinians—who all wear mostly the same clothes—it appears humans all dress differently, in a vast array of colors.
“Thank you,” I finally answer.My antennae quiver with pleasure, because it will be nice to wear something besides the uniform I’ve had for years.Amara’s own clothes are unusual in fashion but clean and new, and I wonder if I might match her.
“No problem.We’ll get you a whole new wardrobe.Maybe people won’t even notice you’re blue!”She snickers.“Though the antennae will probably give you away.”
With that, we each retreat to our respective rooms.The bed Amara called a “futon” is made up prettily, with a soft pillow and many equally soft blankets.I’ve never had anything but my scratchy sleep bag, and the sensation of the plush fabric on my skin is lovely.Although my heels hang off the edge, the cushioning under my back is more than sufficient.
I should go to sleep and be prepared for what tomorrow brings, but I stay awake for some time remembering how just two days ago, I was preparing for this journey in my room in the Hole, saying goodbye to Shar’sak and Zono, who slept in the rooms adjoining mine in our cubicle.Now I am peering through the slatted coverings over the window, where outside I can distinguish the edges of trees, past a bright light over the street.
This is a backward place in many ways, but the future feels open and inviting.I’ve made it offNew Dro’thar II: the place where I was born, where my father died in an engine fire and my mother died of fever, where all the friends I’ve left behind remain.I wish I could have brought them along, but they encouraged me on this journey, wanting the best for me.
For them, I will make the best life I can here, and Amara will help me achieve that.
ChapterFive
Amara
I regret not takingthe day off work after bringing Roth’kar home.It was an oversight on my part, but to be fair, Roth’kar’s arrival had been somewhat of a surprise and I hadn’t been thinking clearly.
He’s still in his room when I wake up to the sound of my alarm and get ready for work.Perhaps he’s sleeping off his long trip.I decide not to wake him before I scurry out.
My work bestie, Kendall, is the first one to ask me about my new alien husband.She’s the only one in the office who knows that I applied for the Matching Program, and of course, I told her when I was approved.I stir the creamer into my coffee, keeping my voice low.
“He has antennae,” I tell her.“Little antennae on his head.And… they’re freakishly cute.”
Her brows rise.“Antennae?Huh.”
“Oh.And four arms.”
This time, her eyes bug out of her head.“What?Four arms?Four hands?How many fingers?”
“Five, thank goodness.I mean, I’d obviously still welcome him if he had four or seven or whatever!But it’s nice that’s familiar when the rest of him is all purply blue.”
Kendall shakes her head in disbelief.“Wild.Amara, hooked up with a purple, four-armed alien.I love this for you.”
I laugh as we make our way back to our desks.“Yeah, but I have to figure out a clothing situation for him.”
“I’ve got someone.”We sit down next to each other in front of our computers, on our matching exercise balls.“You know how short I am.She hems all my pants.”
I grimace at the thought of needing a bunch of custom-made clothes for Roth’kar.That would add up, fast.But I also knew upon applying what was expected.I agreed to provide everything my new husband needed, and clothes were on that list.I just didn’t expect he would have four arms requiring accommodation.
