Page 6 of The Alien's Runaway Bride

“You’ve really done it now, Rae,” she muttered, checking the rearview mirror for the hundredth time. No sign of pursuit yet, but she couldn’t shake the feeling of eyes on her back.

The weight of her decision pressed down on her chest. She’d left everything behind—her family, her duty, her entire life. For what? Freedom? Adventure? Or simply the chance to make her own choices for once?

A flickering neon sign caught her attention, drawing her eyes to a small diner on the outskirts of town. Perfect. Inconspicuous, probably filled with truckers and night owls who wouldn’t look twice at a girl trying to disappear.

Raelee pulled into the gravel parking lot, choosing a spot away from the entrance. She killed the engine and sat for a moment, collecting herself. The quiet felt oppressive after the constant hum of the road.

“Okay, game face on,” she whispered, pulling up her hoodie and stepping out of the car.

The bell above the door jingled as she entered, the sound jarringly cheerful in the somber atmosphere. A handful of patrons were scattered around the diner, most hunched over steaming mugs of coffee. Raelee scanned the room, looking for an empty booth where she could hunker down and?—

Her breath caught in her throat.

In the far corner sat a man who seemed to command the entire room without even trying. Tall, broad-shouldered, with a serious expression that spoke of authority and purpose. He was dressed simply in dark clothes, but something about the way he held himself screamed ‘military’ to Raelee’s trained eye.

Their gazes met, and Raelee felt a jolt of... something. Attraction? Danger? Both? She couldn’t tell, but it was enough to make her pause mid-step.

The man’s deep voice cut through her thoughts. “Need a seat? There’s plenty of room here.”

Raelee hesitated. Every instinct screamed at her to politely decline and find a quiet corner. But something about this stranger pulled at her, a gravitational force she couldn’t explain.

“I... sure, thanks,” she found herself saying, sliding into the booth across the table from him.

Up close, the man was even more impressive. His eyes, dark and intense, seemed to look right through her. Raelee fought the urge to squirm under his gaze.

“I’m Vex,” he said, his voice a low rumble that sent an unexpected shiver down her spine.

“Emily,” Raelee lied smoothly, the fake name rolling off her tongue with practiced ease. “Nice to meet you.”

An awkward silence fell between them. Raelee fidgeted with the menu, hyper-aware of Vex’s presence across the table. Washe Secret Service? Someone sent to take her back? She studied him from the corner of her eye, trying to gauge his intentions.

Vex broke the silence. “So, Emily, what brings you to this fine establishment at this hour?”

Raelee’s guard went up instantly. “Oh, you know, just passing through. Late-night road trip and all that. You?”

“Same,” Vex replied, a hint of amusement in his tone. “Though I have to say, the company’s better than I expected.”

Despite herself, Raelee smiled. “Flirting already? We’ve barely met.”

“Who said anything about flirting?” Vex’s expression remained serious, but there was a glint in his eye that made Raelee’s heart skip a beat. “I was talking about the lovely waitress over there.”

A surprised laugh escaped Raelee before she could stop it. “Well, aren’t you full of surprises?”

The tension between them eased slightly, and Raelee found herself relaxing into the conversation. They chatted about inconsequential things—the quality of diner coffee, the eclectic decor on the walls, the merits of late-night drives.

Then Vex mentioned skydiving, and Raelee’s interest was piqued.

“Wait, you’re into extreme sports?” she asked, leaning forward.

Vex nodded, a rare smile crossing his face. “There’s nothing quite like the rush of a free fall. You ever tried it?”

“Are you kidding? I live for that stuff,” Raelee grinned, her enthusiasm breaking through her cautious facade. “Skydiving, bungee jumping, race car driving—if it gets the adrenaline pumping, I’m there.”

For the next hour, they swapped stories of their wildest adventures. Raelee found herself gesticulating wildly as she recounted a particularly harrowing cliff dive while Vex listenedwith rapt attention. His own tales of daring escapades matched hers beat for beat, and Raelee couldn’t help but be impressed.

As they talked, Raelee noticed herself inching closer across the table. Her hand rested mere inches from Vex’s, and she was very aware of every small movement he made. Their eyes locked during moments of shared laughter, and Raelee felt a warmth spreading through her chest that had nothing to do with the mediocre coffee.

“The past few days have been so shitty, and I can’t believe I’m saying this,” Raelee said, shaking her head with a rueful smile, “but I’m actually glad I stopped here tonight.”

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