“I know, Xavier, but there are a few things I can’t do without, things I only want specifically from Earth.”
“Like?” he asks, sitting down on the couch next to me. He appears genuinely interested, but it’s weird to see him in his glamour, and it takes me a moment to reply.
“Well, chocolate for one, and then there’s wine and margarita mix, and I wouldn’t mind picking up a kindle and loading all my favorite books onto it.”
“Oh, and what is it you like to read?”
Well, fuck, that was an epic backfire. Now I have to explain about my love of monster alien porn and paranormal romance. I clear my throat and pray that my cheeks aren’t flushing from his innocent question.
“Oh, would you look at the view out of that window!” I get up, taking my glass with me, and go over to it. “Susie and I always talked about coming to Vegas, but we never got a chance to.” I turn back to face him. “Cas said I should call her and invite her to come see the show. Would you be able to get my phone from my room in the pod for me? Oh, and the charger. I’m sure it’s dead by now.”
Hopefully my word vomit has done enough to distract him, but I can tell by the quirk of his eyebrow and devious grin that I don’t have this sexy warlock fooled.
“Don’t think I didn’t notice you avoiding my question about reading. I look forward to seeing this kindle. I too very much like reading. Maybe we can read together.”
Hmm, not sure how much reading we’d actually get done if he was sitting next to me while I was doing it.
Xavier waves his hand, and an unfamiliar phone and charger lands on the table.
Frowning, I pick it up and look it over. “This isn’t mine.”
“No, it’s a burner. I can’t teleport yours from the mothership, and I don’t want to leave you to go back and get it. I’m hoping you know Susie’s number, but you’ll have to charge it first.”
Aww, isn’t he the sweetest?
Sure enough, when I pick it up, it’s dead, so I find a socket and plug in the cord before grabbing the room service menu off the same table.
“Are you hungry?” I ask him before doing a double take. “Wait. Do you eat real food?” I question, because I really don’t know if he does or not.
“Yes, of course, it just doesn’t fuel my power like emotions do. Order me something, and we will have a nice meal together while I get to know you a little better. You can tell me about growing up in those foster homes and how you met Susie.”
I sit down next to him and drop the menu into my lap, biting my lip before I ask Xavier my next question. l feel a little guilty because I will be doing to Susie what his parents did to me, but I really need to get everything that has happened off my chest.
“Xavier, can you take memories away like your parents?” I inquire, playing with the menu in my lap and not looking at him. A finger slides under my chin and lifts it so I am looking at the gorgeous man. It’s so weird seeing him look human, and although he looks hot, I miss his true form. “Do you need to hold your glamour while we are alone?” I ask before he can answer my first question.
He shakes his head, wearing a smug grin on his face as he lets his glamour fade, and I breathe a sigh of relief. It was really bothering me that he had to hide himself. I guess Cas will have to do the same if he comes and stays here with me. Maybe it would be better if they all stayed on the ship. I wouldn’t want them to feel uncomfortable just because I needed some girl time with Susie.
“As for your question, I can. Whose memories do you want to take away?”
I startle at his question since I didn’t specifically ask him to take them away. He clearly saw through my bullshit.
I sigh, feeling a little uncomfortable about asking him for this favor. “Susie’s. I want to tell her all about this, but of course I want to protect you all too. I don’t think she’d talk, but it is fairly out of this world—no pun intended—and I don’t even know if she would believe me.”
“You would need to ask your grandpas first, but if it is okay with them, I can remove her memories of your talk once you’re done. There is another option though. I can make it so that she remembers but can’t actually talk about it to anyone but you.”
“I don’t know what would be worse, to be honest—to know all those things and not be able to talk about them, or have the memory removed.”
“Okay, I’ll let you think about it, and you can tell me what you decide. Your grandpas may have an opinion too. They may not approve of you talking about the circus or aliens.”
I quickly agree and go back to perusing the menu. I just hope my phone doesn’t take too long to charge, because as much as I’m enjoying spending time with Xavier. I need my girl.
“Well, well, well. Look who has finally remembered she had a life before the circus,” Susie answers, sounding pissed, and I cringe at the verbal bitch slap I just received through the line.
“Fuck. I know, Susie. I’ve been a shitty friend. Let me have it.”
“A bad friend? Oh no, Lila, you have been a rotten friend. Actually, rotten is even too nice of a word! I got one call two weeks ago to tell me you had arrived, and then nothing. Poof. Gone. No longer to be heard from again. I thought you had fallen off the face of the Earth. I’ve been calling the police because I’ve been worried about you! I wanted them to storm that fucking circus and search for you. I thought that maybe you’d been kidnapped and sold into sex slavery or something. They told me I was crazy when I explained what happened.” She takes a deep breath before continuing. “You didn’t even respond to me via social media. It was like you’d been abducted by aliens.” I hear Susie breathing heavily as her rant winds down. She’s eerily close to the truth, and it takes everything in me not to snort.
I pause to give her a second to calm down. “Are you done?” I ask just to make sure she wasn’t taking a breather before fully unloading.
