Page 55 of What Makes an Alien a Dad?

Chapter 19

Maya

“Dear Maya,

I’m afraid I won’t be able to write to you for a while. I don’t wish to stop our correspondence. Writing to you has become a necessity for me. I need to have this connection with you more than I need air. But I must step back and find the strength to speak with you in person before I write another word to you.

Whatever happens, please know you have become a huge part of my life. You’ve warmed my heart and brightened my existence. Nothing and no one would ever change that.

You are and will always be my beautiful flower. The most beautiful in the whole of the Universe.”

I had no idea what to make of this. It didn’t sound at all like his last break-up letter. Yet the hint of sadness in his words felt like he might be saying goodbye.

I re-read the letter at least a dozen times. His sweet words left no doubt he cared about me and appreciated what we had. He wished to talk to me in person. Maybe we could do a video call from the spaceship on my way back to Earth?

It wasn’t long now until I’d be heading back home, with my pregnancy being in its ninth month already.

The letter stayed on my mind, but not as much as it would have had it not been for Kear. The professor proved to be a very persistent distraction, no matter how hard I tried to get him out of my head.

After our last conversation in the hallway in front of the exam room, he gave me space, just like I’d asked. He remained present in the room during all my morning exams that followed, but kept his distance, letting Jazir handle any equipment that came into physical contact with my body.

Kear still met me for lunch daily as it had become a tradition between us. But he no longer ate with me. He’d just have a quick cup of tea, catching up on his usual questions about my wellbeing, then retreat back to his lab. Needless to say, there hadn’t been any outings to the city for us in the past few days, either.

I understood it was what we needed to do. But I missed our conversations and spending time together.

Not being an exceptionally outgoing person, it always took me a long time to build a connection with anyone. Kear wasn’t quick to make friends, either. Despite all of that, we had found so many things that drew us together. And now, we had to let it all go, which proved excruciatingly painful.

Just as I had feared, the physical attraction had ruined our platonic friendship, and now I missed it.

I missed him.

The whole ordeal had dampened my excitement in anticipation of the assembly gala. When the day had finally come, however, I was glad to be going out again.

Stopping at Kear’s door, I adjusted my evening gown over my enormous belly and knocked. His AI screen lit up on the wall.

“Hi, buddy.” I waved at it. “It’s me, Maya.”

The door opened, and Kear was standing behind it. Dressed in a smart black suit with dark-purple swirls, he looked more handsome than ever. Unable to help myself, I swept my gaze up from his polished hooves, to the shiny buttons of his suit coat, the crisp white shirt peeking out above the collar, and to the blue-and-silver stars painted on his horns.

“Wow...” I exhaled. “You clean up nicely, Professor.”

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