Page 55 of Zalis
He desired a love match above all. Gemma’s elevated heart rate, dilated eyes, and the way she physically responded to the kiss told him that she felt attraction, perhaps even a growing fondness for him.
That gave him hope because he was completely and painfully enamored.
There was no going forward without her.
ZALIS
“What’s this?” Gemma asked, waiting for him on a bench in the Night Garden.
When he sent her the message requesting her to meet him in the garden, he convinced himself to cancel. Twice. If he did cancel, Gemma would want an explanation and the mortification of that was certainly worse than whatever this was.
Zalis held out the basket like it was a live bomb. “A picnic.”
“I love a picnic, but I meant the getup—the suit,” she said with a soft smile and wiggled her fingers at his courting costume.
“Do you not approve of traditional human courting garments?” Zalis set the basket on the bench. The jacket fabric strained as he moved his shoulders, threatening to tear.
“Doyouapprove?” she asked. “You look uncomfortable.”
He did not approve. The garments were restrictive. He could not move his arms properly. There were too many layers, the fabric was unforgiving and wrinkled too easily, and a strip of decorative cloth hung like a noose around his neck.
“After viewing several Earth films, I made note of several recurring themes: the courting costume and the date activity,” he said.
“A courting costume,” she repeated.
“You do not approve.” He had spent more time than advisable creating an authentic pattern cut to his measurements and she did not approve. Such a pointless endeavor.
“No, it’s not that. You look good in a suit and tie.”
He remained skeptical.
“Turn around. Let me see.” Gemma twirled a finger as she spoke.
Zalis turned in a slow circle. He felt ridiculous.
“You look good. Really good.”
“Thank you.”
Gemma turned her attention to the basket. “What vittles did you bring?”
“You use an archaic word for comedic effect,” he said.
“Yeah, I guess I did.” She lifted the lid on the basket and made a pleased sound.
“My surprise date is pleasing? I am not seeking praise. I am asking for clarification,” he said while he retrieved the basket. As he bent, the fabric in the jacket tore.
Embarrassed, he struggled to remove the ruined garment.
“Let me help.” Gemma grabbed the sleeve and tugged.
The sleeve tore. She laughed in surprise. He wanted to sink into the ground and vanish.
Finally removed, he flung the cursed thing into the bushes. The garden’s caretaker would scold him, but he did not care at the moment. He needed to take the constricting clothes off.
“I do not understand the function of such useless garments. Especially this.” He grabbed the strip of cloth hanging around his neck, the tie. It was not thick enough to use as a scarf. It was too narrow to protect the shirt from falling food. “It just dangles.”
“I don’t really know the function,” she agreed. She stepped in front of him and smoothed a hand over the tie. “Decorative, I guess. A vestige of a historical item, probably.”
