Page 40 of Smitten By the Alien Saloon Owner
Her eyes were heavy-lidded now. Her mouth looked slightly swollen, and I worried that I’d hurt her. But she was not acting hurt. She was opening her mouth to reply to my question. And I thought she might have been about to say yes, but I never got to hear it.
My data tab began to vibrate.
We both jerked, as if unexpectedly woken from sleep.
From a dream.
The best blasted dream of my life.
“What…What is…”
“It is my data tab.”
I could have smashed the thing. I knew where it was – behind the bar, on the counter there.
I blew a harsh breath out between my lips. “It could be my warden,” I said. “When he calls, I have to answer.”
“Of course! Go…Go right ahead.”
Already, Shiloh was adjusting her clothing, checking her hair with her hands, as if recalibrating herself to real life. Real life, where she did not do things like suddenly kiss me in the dining room of the saloon.
I did not want to recalibrate. I did not want to adjust. But I forced myself away from her anyway, feeling woozy with all the blood that had gone to my groin, leaving my brain behind.
“What is it?” she asked when Warden Hallum finished speaking and I put the data tab down.
“They’re nearly done with the snow removal,” I said. “The others will be here tomorrow.”
14
SHILOH
Tasha Wallace added Shiloh Jean-Baptiste to the group chat Cock Tail Hour
Incoming Tablet Communication Tasha Wallace:Hello, everyone! Please welcome Shiloh to Zabria Prinar one and to the chat! Now that she’s recovered from her migraine and she’s gotten a chance to find her footing a bit here, I thought it was time to add her!
Incoming Tablet Communication Magnolia Jones:Hello, Shiloh!
Incoming Tablet Communication Jolene Macdonald:Hey, that rhymed!
Incoming Tablet Communication Darcy Dubois:Hi Shi! Ayyy! Another rhyme!
Incoming Tablet Communication Cherry Dawson:You’re a poet and you didn’t even know it! Welcome, Shiloh!
Incoming Tablet Communication G. Jaya:Hi, Shiloh!
Outgoing Tablet Communication Shiloh Jean-Baptiste:Hi, everybody. Good to be here. Jaya, I recognize your name from the info packet that was downloaded to my tablet!
Incoming Tablet Communication G. Jaya:Wait. You do? Tasha, did you put me in there for something?
Incoming Tablet Communication Tasha Wallace:You know what I put in there.
Incoming Tablet Communication Darcy Dubois:IT WAS YOUR MOST IMPRESSIVE AND ACCURATE RENDERING OF THE ZABRIAN GENITAL SITUATION!
Incoming Tablet Communication G. Jaya:…I completely forgot about that.
Incoming Tablet Communication Darcy Dubois:HOW COULD YOU FORGET ABOUT THAT WORK OF ART????
Outgoing Tablet Communication Shiloh Jean-Baptiste:I certainly won’t forget about it anytime soon…
