Once I get myself under control, I push down my feelings as he gulps down the last of the lemonade. I don’t want to worry him.
“We have finally found human food that I do not like, Leelee,” Ravok announces with a wide grin.
“I warned you.”
Ravok chuckles at my admonishment but doesn’t seem bothered by my teasing.
“Wait. You didn’t like the oatmeal either,” I remind him.
“Oatmeal?” At his confused look, I remind him that he gave me his portion the other morning.
“Oh, yes. It was fine. At least oatmeal is edible. But oysters… my people would use oysters in warrior training to test the fortitude of our soldiers, to see if they could withstand torture under the hands of our enemies.”
I cackle at his over-the-top description. I love that I’m starting to see Ravok’s humor emerge.
Thankfully, I saved the chocolate-covered strawberries for last.
“So, these are… what did you call them? Aphrodisiacs? They will make you open to my advances? Then I will need you to eata few more,” Ravok teases me, holding a strawberry by its stem for me to bite.
“I don’t need a strawberry for that.”
Ravok’s eyes blaze so bright at my words that I can see them through his dark sunglasses.
“I believe I am finished eating. Perhaps… you’d like to return to the cabin now?” The look on Ravok’s face says he’s hungry, just not for food.
“Yeah,” I reply, my voice sounding breathless and needy to my own ears. “We should get out of here.”
Ravok helps me gather our trash and throw it out on the way back to the car.
As we head across the park towards where we left the car, I tuck myself under Ravok’s arm, encircling his waist with my own. Under the soft glow of the moon and lampposts, I nestle as close as possible to Ravok. I inhale the night mingled with his scent. He smells like soap and a bit of salt – absolutely delicious.
I feel safe, strange, and wonderfully alive, all at once. A walk through a park has never felt this magical. I spot my car sitting alone in front of Harbor Home Tools when a man passes in front of us. Something about the man puts me on high alert before I even quite realize what I’m seeing. He is clad in a powder-blue polo shirt and jeans. He sorta looks like a young dad but there is something off. For some reason, he seems out of place.
He walks with a measured stride along the sidewalk, not talking to anyone and at a pace that says he has somewhere to be. It’s his demeanor that’s raising alarm bells in my head. He gives off the sensation of a man on a mission, walking ramrod straight in a measured stride, rather than someone enjoying the festivities. He sticks out like a sore thumb against the backdrop of laughter, brightly colored banners, and the townsfolk dressed in cheerful outfits.
“Ravok, wait,” I urgently whisper, nudging my towering alien. He complies immediately and we duck out of sight behind a thick tree.
As I watch him from our hidden spot, I notice that he seems to be scanning the area, his head on a swivel. He almost seems to be scanning the crowd. A chilling sensation washes over me. I am probably overreacting, but I’d rather be wrong and overly cautious than risk Ravok.
“He’s… uh… I don’t know, something’s off,” I murmur to Ravok. “His demeanor doesn’t match his clothes.” I know that sounds ridiculous, but my gut is screaming at me. I dart my gaze at Ravok briefly before returning my anxious attention to the black-haired man now melting into the festival crowd. Ravok has pulled down his sunglasses to give the man an assessing look.
Ravok’s luminous eyes are filled with questions as he turns back to me, his gaze intense but understanding. “No, you’re right, Leelee. Something about his bearing reminds me of some of your military people I have encountered.”
Relief flows out of me in a shaky sigh. I’m pleased that he trusts my judgment without question. We remain hunkered down in our hiding place, watching for several long minutes before quickly making our way to the car and back to the cabin.
I spend the whole drive back to the cabin with one eye on the road behind us, but we are the only car on the road at this time of night.
CHAPTER 45
Ravok
My ship has been fully operational for two days.
And yet, I continue the charade of working on my vessel rather than face the fact that my time with Leelee is coming to an end. I should’ve left days ago, but I linger, wanting to savor every moment with my Leelee.
Each night, with her in my arms as we lay in bed together, I vow to tell her the next day. However, each morning when she wakes, smiling at me so sweetly, I can’t force the words past my lips. I can’t say them knowing that they will wipe that happy look off her face. So, again, I silently vow that I’ll leave the next day. That I just need one more day.
I have a lifetime I need to fill with memories of her, after all.
