Page 36 of So I Married an Alien
We’re interrupted by the waiter, who delivers our water and asks for drink orders.Roth’kar has no idea what the menu means, so I order for both of us, gambling on what I think he might like.He’s not big into sweets but also doesn’t enjoy bitter flavors.So I got him a Pisco Sour, thinking he would enjoy the texture of the foam.
We talk over the menu options, and I explain them as best I can, but Roth’kar has no idea aboutpork loin in cherry sauce—or what a cherry even is—which leaves it up to me.I order a few small plates so we can share and try out as many foods as possible, trying not to think too hard on the bill.
Tonight is about us, and enjoying ourselves, and hopefully… other things.Later.
Sexy lighting sounds nice right now.
ChapterFourteen
Roth’kar
I am irrationally pleasedat our encounter with the woman at the restaurant.I’ve never seen Amara go so stiff before, her full lips pressed together in a line, her dark eyes like knives.She has shown me mostly the happy, pleasant sides of herself, but not this side.
Not until tonight.
It excites me to see even more of her.She has claws hidden under her smiles, and I’m glad that she does so I don’t have to worry about her when I’m not around.I like to know that she can protect herself.That she wants to protectme.
The drink that Amara ordered for me is lovely, far better than thegin and tonicI had when we went out to the club.It’s refined, full of depth, and I spend a long time simply picking out each flavor and reading the ingredients off the menu.We can see out the windows from our table and gaze out over the vast city with its many twinkling lights.The Hole was a dark and decrepit place, with lighting to mark walkways—not bright neons and flashing shapes like this.
The human world is soalive.
And then the food arrives.Amara claps her hands together the way she always does, which I’m coming to enjoy about her, as it’s spread out on the table.We serve ourselves, and Amara explains what each food item is as I add it to my plate.She sips her wine as I sip my cocktail, and we discuss each plate as we try it.There are so many wild and exotic flavors, all carefully built and layered.It’s astounding, and nearly overwhelming, when there are four different dishes to choose from.
“Better than insects?”Amara asks, a playful glint in her eye.
“Far better.”I taste another one of the little soft balls that Amara callednyo-kee.It’s squishy in my mouth and utterly delicious.“Kathhas one taste, and it is not a good one.Nothing compared to this.”
When Amara is finished eating, I devour the rest.I’m not sure I’ll be able to walk back to the bus stop.
“I hope they bring the check soon,” Amara says, fiddling with her dress.Her wine is empty for the second time, and she keeps licking her lips, her eyes darting to mine and then away again.“I’d like to go.”
I think I might know what’s on her mind, and it’s a problem I’m invested in solving so we can return home and be alone together.I glance around the restaurant for our waiter, then call out, “Hello, over here?”
Amara covers her face.“Oh my god, Roth’kar, you didn’t.”
The waiter comes over urgently.“What is it?Is your food all right?”
“Yes, we just need the…” I glance at Amara.“What was it, again?So we can leave?”
She spreads her fingers so she can look apologetically at the waiter.“The check, please.”
He gives me an odd look that I can’t decipher, then nods and leaves.When he’s gone, Amara laughs.
“Next time, you wait patiently,” Amara says.“You don’t call them over.”
“Why not?”That’s a perplexing rule.“Then how do you tell them you want to go?”
“You don’t.You wait.”
“But…” I’m still confused.“Why?”
“I don’t know!”Amara throws her hands into the air.“It’s just how we do things.You know what, though, you’re right.It’s stupid.”She laughs again, smiling at me so broadly it shows off her perfect white teeth.It’s as if all the light in this room is focused on her.
Thankfully, the waiter returns with thecheck, and then we’re off.
Amara leans on me while we wait with a few other humans for the bus.
“That was really nice,” she says in a milky voice.I think she’s feeling her wine.“Even when you yelled at the waiter.”
