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“You’re making lots of sense. Please, continue.”

And she did. Once she started on the subject of stories, she couldn’t stop.

I loved hearing about her culture. She even shared some of her favorite stories and histories.

She didn’t stop talking. And I didn’t stop listening.

Each time she tore her eyes from mine, I secretly ran my eyes over her, memorizing every line and curve.

She grew more relaxed the more she spoke and I got the sense she missed talking with someone since she got here.

I was glad it turned out to be me.

I began to see why my instinct told me to choose her. I owed it a debt of gratitude. For the first time in many years, I had a conversation partner I looked forward to spending time with.

I only felt sad that our time would run out at seven o’clock the following morning.

3

IVY

I slept like a baby. The bed was as comfortable as the one back home.

Back home…

Not a day went by when I didn’t think about my friends and family, my old job (okay, less about that), and the local barista I had a crush on.

He smiled at me every morning as he handed me my cappuccino, but then again, he probably smiled at everyone that way.

I could feel his arms on me now, stroking my skin and making the hairs stand on end. The electricity made a crackling sound.

Could Pablo be the one? I thought. I’d never thought of him as someone I might actually fall in love with but maybe…

I opened my eyes and for a moment, I thought my dream had come true.

An arm was draped around me and I used his broad chest as a pillow, my body was curled up alongside his and—

But his skin was as grey as granite.

Pablo didn’t have grey skin!

I bolted upright and immediately recalled my surroundings.

I lay in an alien bed with alien sheets… and with an alien!

Kren lay sound asleep.

I thumbed through my memories from the previous night.

Had we… done anything?

I pressed my head into my palms and massaged my temples, a sudden headache striking hard.

No. We didn’t do anything.

We stayed up all night talking. We must have fallen asleep during the night and automatically curled in each other’s arms.

I peered at the thick protrusion poking at the blankets around his groin area.