Page 25 of The Alien's Runaway Bride

She sank onto the couch, the same couch where just last night, she and Vex had... No. She couldn’t think about that now. But the memories came unbidden, vivid, and overwhelming.

“You know,” Vex had said, his voice low and teasing, “for someone who’s supposed to be in hiding, you’re not very stealthy.”

Raelee had snorted, nearly choking on her water. “Oh, I’m sorry,” she’d retorted, “I didn’t realize sneaking was a prerequisite for running away from an arranged marriage. I must have missed that chapter inRebellious Princesses 101.”

Vex’s laugh had been deep and genuine, his eyes crinkling at the corners in a way that made her heart do a little flip. “Rebellious Princesses 101? Is that what they’re teaching at Harvard these days?”

“Oh yeah,” Raelee had grinned, leaning into him. “It’s right afterAdvanced Tiara Wearingand just beforeDiplomatic Smiling: A Comprehensive Guide.”

The memory faded, leaving Raelee feeling hollow. She’d fallen for him. Hard. And now he was gone.

“Stupid, stupid, stupid,” she berated herself, pressing the heels of her hands against her eyes until she saw stars. “You know better than this, Raelee. Youknowbetter.”

But knowing better didn’t stop the ache in her chest, the hollow feeling that seemed to grow with each passing moment. She’d let her guard down, allowed herself to dream of a different life. And now...

Now it was time to wake up.

With a heavy sigh, Raelee began to pack. Each item she tucked away felt like another nail in the coffin of her brief taste of freedom. The reality of her situation pressed down on her, suffocating in its inevitability.

As she zipped up her bag, she paused, her hand hovering over Vex’s sweatshirt. He’d draped it over her shoulders one chilly evening, and she’d never given it back. Now, it was all she had left of him.

“This is pathetic,” Raelee muttered, even as she brought the fabric to her face, inhaling deeply. It still smelled like him—a mix of pine, soap, and something uniquely Vex. “You’re acting like a lovesick teenager in a bad rom-com.”

Still, she couldn’t bring herself to leave it behind. She stuffed the sweatshirt into her bag, ignoring the voice in her head that sounded suspiciously like her mother saying, “An Arison never holds onto the past, darling. We move forward, always.”

The drive back to civilization was a blur of winding roads and conflicting emotions. Raelee’s knuckles were white on the steering wheel, her jaw clenched so tightly, it ached. Thebeautiful scenery mocked her, its serenity a stark contrast to the turmoil inside her.

“Oh, look,” she said sarcastically to no one, “another breathtaking vista. How lovely. I’m sure it’ll look great on the ‘Moments Before My Life Imploded’ highlight reel.”

As the mountains gave way to rolling hills, then to the outskirts of a small town, Raelee felt the first stirrings of panic. She wasn’t ready. She couldn’t face it all yet—her parents, the wedding, the suffocating weight of duty.

On impulse, she pulled into a small café on the edge of town. The cheerful bell above the door felt like an affront to her mood, but she plastered on a neutral expression as she approached the counter.

“What can I get for you, hon?” the middle-aged waitress asked, her smile warm and genuine.

“Coffee, please,” Raelee said, then added, “The strongest you’ve got. And maybe a shot of whiskey if you’ve got it hidden back there.”

The waitress chuckled. “Honey, if I had whiskey back here, I wouldn’t still be working this job. But I can give you our special brew. It’ll put hair on your chest.”

Despite herself, Raelee cracked a small smile. “Sounds perfect.”

She claimed a seat by the window, wrapping her hands around the steaming mug. The coffee was indeed strong enough to wake the dead, but Raelee welcomed the jolt. It made her feel more alive than she had since waking to Vex’s absence.

The normalcy of the scene before her was almost surreal. People going about their day, laughing, talking, living their lives. And here she was, caught between two worlds, belonging to neither.

Raelee’s burner phone buzzed. Maya’s name flashed on the screen, accompanied by a photo of the two of them makingridiculous faces at the camera. The sight of it made Raelee’s throat tight.

“Hey,” Raelee answered, her voice rough.

“Oh thank God,” Maya’s relief was palpable. “Where are you? Are you okay? Do I need to call in the National Guard? Because I totally will. My cousin Dwayne owes me a favor, and he knows a guy who?—“

“May,” Raelee interrupted, a reluctant chuckle escaping her. “Breathe. I’m fine.” Then, with a bitter laugh, “No, actually. I’m not fine at all.”

There was a pause on the other end. “What happened? Where’s Vex? Do I need to kill him? Because I will. I’ve been practicing my right hook, and I’m pretty sure I could take all eight feet of him.”

“He’s six-foot-five.”

“Could’ve fooled me. Next to you, he looks like the Incredible Hulk. I can still kick his ass.”

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