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“Exactly like us. I’ve helped to curb his darker side.”

“And what’s he done to you?”

Ivy pursed her lips. “Perhaps he’s helped shave off a sharp edge or two.”

“You have sharp edges?” Kendra had never heard Ivy say a negative thing about herself. Ivy was all about super confidence. She envied her for that. But this was a new side to Ivy, a side she didn’t dislike.

Ivy lifted her chin. “Don’t let anybody else know I said that. It’s not a bad thing. Some differences complement others. It sounds like you’ve brought out new feelings in your guy. He’ll be having a hard time dealing with them. We all know how uptight some aliens can be. They spend years ignoring emotional lures, like hot, single women looking for everlasting love. They follow the sensible path, whether that’s what to eat for dinner or how many children to have. Faron will be feeling things he’s not felt since he was a kid. That will be screwing with his head.”

“It doesn’t matter now.” The fight faded from Kendra. “I’ve made his decision for him. I told him to choose his family and the mate they’d found for him.”

Ivy snorted softly. “I bet you feel amazing about that.”

Kendra could barely swallow; her throat felt so tight. “It feels like somebody’s ripped my heart out and burned it in front of me.”

Ivy whistled out air. “You’ve got it bad for this guy.”

She shrugged. “It felt good to be wanted.”

Ivy nodded. “Especially by somebody who understands you. Listen, I get it. You’re into each other. For all your differences, you want him. So, what are you going to do about that?”

Kendra didn’t want Faron. She needed him. She couldn’t imagine not seeing him around the station, striding about with that scowl on his face. She wanted to sit in his lap whenever she liked and let him feed her. She wanted to know there was a future where they had a family together. He’d be a great father. But she’d let it all go. She’d told him she didn’t want him. She was too late.

“For stars’ sake,” Ivy said. “Even I’m feeling sorry for you watching that conflict go on inside your head. Go tell Faron you’ve changed your mind.”

Kendra swiped a hand across her cheek. “The deal will be done by now. He’ll be joined with this other female.”

“Even Tolongs don’t move that fast.”

Kendra tilted her head as she stared at Ivy. “Why are you helping me?” Ivy always looked out for herself and her family first.

Ivy shrugged again. “Call it a sort of apology. I didn’t mean for things to go wrong with the Rolon. I should have checked to make sure you weren’t fertile, but the odds were in my favor, and Diadora wanted things to move quickly. Maybe I pushed you into one or two PR stunts to get the public salivating about our services.”

Kendra blinked in surprise. She’d never expected an actual apology from Ivy. “And that’s coming to an end now? No more dates. No more filming.”

Ivy sighed dramatically. “You’re killing me. The public loves you for some weird reason.”

“I’m done with it. I’ve been messed around too much. This ends now.”

Ivy huffed out a breath. “How about we do a pre-recorded interview with you and Faron so that everybody knows how the story ends?”

“You mean they want to see me with a broken heart and him with another woman? Nobody wants to see that ending.” Kendra definitely didn’t want to see that car crash aired for everyone to stare at and pity her.

“You’re such a loser. You have a real love story. You’re right in the middle of it. You’re the one who has to act to get the ending right. You get a chance to decide how your true love story will end. Will you get the hot, moody alien who is crazy about you, or will you let some misunderstandings end something that could be heart-stoppingly amazing? That’s what the public wants to see. That’s what I want to talk to you and Faron about, but only if you pull your finger out and go get your man.”

Kendra’s heart ached at the possibility of claiming Faron. Would he want her now? She’d rejected him in front of his family, and they were waiting to scoop him up and take him away from her and join him with this other woman.

She should move on and not risk the rejection. That was the right thing to do. Life with Faron would never be easy. Could she really live with someone so stubborn? Someone who fought with his emotions and always tried to find reason when sometimes there was none to be found?

Kendra bit her lip. She didn’t want easy. She needed someone who was loyal and honest in her life. Someone who would always be there for her, standing by her side but also challenging her when old fears took over and made her shrink from her potential.

“So, what’s it going to be, loser?” Ivy asked. “Will you let yourself have a broken heart and play the victim, or will you grab love by the throat and hang on for the best ride of your life?”

Chapter 22

“I need a day off.” Faron stood in front of his boss, Clint.

Clint lifted his mug of coffee to his lips. “What for?”