Page 22 of So I Married an Alien
“You’re not herrealhusband yet,” Marguerite corrects.“I know you don’t sign the official paperwork until the thirty days are up.”
Roth’kar’s antennae tense, shrinking down onto his head even though his face betrays nothing.
“I am not thinking of it that way.”He straightens, still keeping his right arms around me.“I am committed to making this work.”
“That sure sounds nice,” Marguerite says, pouncing on him like a cat on a mouse.“But what happens if you and Amara fight about some cultural difference?Surely you’ll have lots of those.”
I stiffen.Like kissing.What if he truly never wants to do that?What if we don’t even like the same things in bed?
“Marguerite,” I hiss under my breath, because I don’t like the doubt her questions are stirring in me.But Marguerite just waits for him to answer.
“I would like to think that we can talk out our differences.”Roth’kar’s tone is calm.“I am eager to learn more about Earth culture, as well as the flora and fauna.Your planet is very beautiful and diverse.”
“He did pet some trees today,” I chime in, and this causes Marguerite to arch an eyebrow.
“He what?”
“The trees are beautiful,” Roth’kar says thoughtfully.“I’ve never seen anything like them.”
“Why?”Marguerite’s question is poised like a dagger.“Are there not trees where you come from?”
“He’s from a spaceship,” I butt in, trying to get her to retract her claws.“He’s never even been on a planet before now.”
This makes her squint with suspicion.“Interesting.How do you know you’ll do all right on Earth, then?”
“I don’t.”Roth’kar connects eyes with hers.“It will be a new lesson every day, I imagine.And I will have to grow and adapt accordingly.”
Marguerite’s lips purse, but she settles back in her chair, arms crossed, as if she’s decided to back off for now.
“Whew, now that the inquisition is over,” Fiona jokes, slinging an arm around Marguerite’s shoulders, “we should get you a drink, Margie, and then it’s time for dancing!”
The two of them sidle off together toward the bar, leaving Roth’kar and me alone.
I exhale a long breath.“Sorry about that.”I clasp the hand that’s around my shoulders.“Marguerite is intense.I didn’t know she’d jump on you like that, but?—”
“It’s all right.”He offers me a smile.“I can handle it, Amara.”
That’s true.He did hold his own pretty well.I have to stop treating him like a child who can’t defend himself.
Roth’kar takes a few more sips of his drink, and his antennae curl forward in what appears to be pleasure.
“I knew I might encounter friends and family of yours who are protective,” he says.“That they may doubt what we have because it’s so new—and our arrangement is rather unusual.”
I relax a little, glad that we got through that introduction without too much bloodshed.Hopefully Marguerite will chill out for the rest of the night so we can have a good time.
I’m nearly finished with my drink by the time my friends get back, and I’m itching to get onto the dance floor.
“Do you want to go out there and dance?”I ask, gesturing to the crowd.Roth’kar’s brows rise on his forehead as he studies the bodies moving chaotically, surging along with the pounding music.
“I don’t know how to dance.This is not something Karthinians do.”
I have trouble imagining anyone in the universe who doesn’t dance.“How do you have fun?”
Roth’kar pauses.“With stories, mostly.About what life was like back on our planet.”He shrugs.“Sometimes my friend Zono and I played betting games, but he’s a schemer and usually won all my chips.”
“Why?”
He gives me a deadpan look.“It is like trying to cheat a cricket of his money.”When I shake my head, not understanding the joke, he adds, “Crickets do not have money, Amara.”
