Page 8 of A Layperry's Heart
I have to keep remembering to cover up my other ear while Gendry is talking but otherwise, I can understand him perfectly. His voice is incredibly soothing, the kind I wouldn’t mind falling asleep to. Or hearing huskily in my ear while we’re fuc--
“Christian calls it a bucket list? Things I wish to do before I leave. So far I have too many things and I just keep adding more.”
“Like what? Give me an example.”
“Like soccer! Have you ever played before? I found a match on the TV and it looks amazing. I want to try it.”
“I’ve played soccer before,” I tell him with a grin. “I play all the time with my cousins! We try to get together weekly to play. My family is from Mexico and there we call it football.”
“That’s what I told Christian! It makes more sense because you’re kicking it with your feet.”
My grin stretches so wide my face hurts. It’s been so long since I’ve felt like this, so connected to someone so quickly. Talking with Gendry is easy. He’s so laid back and excited about life in a way a lot of people take for granted.
“My cousins and I take our games pretty seriously,” I tell him with a smile. “Sometimes we bring new people to join but they can only come a second time if we all voted to keep them around. I’ve had past boyfriends kicked out before because of how they acted on the field.”
“Will you teach me?”
“It would be my honor to teach you,” I say. “What else is on your list?”
“I wish to pet a cat. I hear they’re the perfect pet and I haven’t met one yet.”
“There’s a shelter not far from here. We can go volunteer sometime.”
“Together?”
For some reason, my heart skips a beat at the question. Am I really volunteering myself to help Gendry with his Earth bucket list? I’ve sworn off dating, but that was before I knew an alien had moved in next door. It would be fun to mess around with Gendry and find out if all his appendages are size appropriate to the rest of him, but I’m also terrified of growing attached only to have him fly back to his home planet, leaving me heartbroken and alone all over again.
“Yeah,” I say, ignoring all the what ifs and worries. “We can do it together.”
“I would like that. I would like that a lot, Aldo. You are very kind.”
“Oh umm, it’s no big deal. Just being a friendly neighbor,” I say, ignoring the way my cheeks heat at the soft words. Is this an alien thing, to be so forward with one's feelings? Doesn’t he know, here on Earth, we hide shit like that from each other?
“These brownies, they are just a welcome gift?”
“Yeah, something like that. I just wanted to say hello and give you a treat.”
“A human welcome custom,” Gendry says, nodding his head. “Thank you for including me in this gesture. I will remember it for the future.”
Oh great, now I’m accidentally teaching him fake customs. Not that this is fake, because it really is a thing for some neighbors to give each other baked goods when they move in, but also, depending on the area, it’s not the norm. It’s fine. Christian is his friend and will make sure to explain it better for him. Hopefully.
“Your friend, from across the hall.”
“Christian?”
“Yes. How do you know him?”
“He came toDeltourahduring the HLE. He was there for three years before deciding to come back to Earth. When he declared he would come here, I offered to come as well. Instead of staying for three years, I signed up to stay for only one.”
“Interesting,” I say, reaching out and taking a brownie for myself. “Did he not like being there? No offence of course. I’m sure your planet is lovely.”
Gendry tilts his head to the side, thinking. “I cannot say for certain, but I have a guess.”
“Is this some sort of tea? I love tea.”
“Tea? This is not a drink.”
“No, sorry. Umm, there’s a phrase here that means like sharing gossip. You’re spilling the tea.”
