Page 9 of A Layperry's Heart
“Oh, I see. Yes, I have some tea to spill,” he says slowly, testing out the phrase.
I feel my heart swell within my chest. Just that one sentence has my belly erupting with butterflies. I really shouldn’t find that so adorable but add in the fact that Gendry is built like a brick house yet speaks with such softness, I am a goner.
“Let’s hear it.”
“I think that Christian fell for myToralleh. Our leader. The two of them always had an antagonizing relationship, but beneath that I believe there were feelings. Something happened that put an even bigger wedge between them and that is when Christian decided to come back here.”
“Oh,” I breathe out, crossing my arm across my middle and leaning back in my seat. “They’re quite literally star-crossed lovers. But this can’t be how their story ends, right? Surely Christian will go back for yourToralleh,” I ask, testing out the word.
“I think he will,” Gendry says, full of confidence. “Christian will follow his heart.”
“Following your heart sounds like such a fairytale trope.”
“What do you mean?”
“It’s like in movies or story books. When everything is said and done, the main characters learn to follow their heart and somehow, that’s always the perfect choice for the situation. I’m not sure real life is quite that straightforward but it’s a lovely notion.”
“I think I understand,” Gendry says slowly. “You are, what is the word, a cynic?”
My mouth drops open in a gasp. “Gendry!” He smirks at me and oh boy, there goes those flutters again. “How dare you! I will have you know that I am the furthest thing to a cynic! I am capable of whimsy and wonder! I just choose not to at the moment.”
“And why not?”
“If you must know,” I say, letting my voice trail off.
“Yes, Aldo, spill the tea.”
I can’t help but giggle. I’m creating a monster and I love it. “I’ve given up following my heart for a little while. I’ve been burned too many times by men.” Gendry’s eyes widen and I can’t help myself. Before going on, I add, “humanmen. I’ve had the most rotten luck and I’m ready to give up on human men all together.”
Gendry looks down at the plate in front of him, the tiniest smile playing at his lips. Very softly he says, “that is good to know. About the human men, that is.”
“Yes, well. Don’t let it go to your head. Just because I’m open to an alien suitor doesn’t mean you’ll win me over so easily.”
“That sounds like a challenge.”
I give Gendry a wink. “Maybe it is.”
Chapter Four
Gendry
“Whyareweouthere?” Christian asks with a whine. He picks up another piece of trash, placing it into the giant garbage bag he’s holding.
“We are volunteering. We are helping the environment. Should you not be happy we are cleaning the Earth you so desperately wish to stay at?”
Christian narrows his eyes in my direction but doesn’t argue further. His movements are more exaggerated and irritated as he picks up a can from the ground and shoves it into his garbage bag.
“Aldo visited me yesterday.”
That catches Christian’s attention. His movements slow down. I pick up another piece of trash as he processes this information.
“Okay,” he says slowly. “Did he want something?”
“He welcomed me to the area with a sweet treat.”
“Is that what the kids are calling it these days?”
I tilt my head to the side. “What do you mean? There were no kids involved.”
