Page 31 of Breathless Recruiter

I stiffened. “Ha. That’s funny. IwishI could fly.”

He pulled away but, in the process, took me by the hand. “When I can’t sleep, I like to come out here. It’s peaceful at night.”

I followed by his side, crossing the grass and walking onto the boardwalk. Made of wood planks, they overlooked Vanguard harbor, freight ships passing by slowly as they approached the docks. The distant lights of the city reflected off the water, shimmering.

“I’ve never been here before.”

“Really? Have you been in Vanguard long?”

I found it hard to focus as his fingers twisted and tied with mine. It took us a few steps before we found our rhythm. I had toslow down to match his shorter legs. If this was what happened when we held hands, what would happen if we kissed again?

“Earth to Wyatt.”

I knew that saying. “Oh, sorry. Did you say something?”

He spun around in front of me. “Vanguard. Have you been here long?”

I shook my head. “A couple years.” I tried to think of the entire conversation with Zaster. His only question had been an attempt to incite a fight. He didn’t want to know anything about me. We had barely started walking, and already, this surpassed my date with the scientist.

“Are you okay?” He rested a hand on my neck. “Something seems off.”

I had been alone ever since I came to Earth, but tonight was the first time somebody left me feeling lonely. I stifled a ragged sigh. “My date with Zaster didn’t go well.”

“So itwasa date?”

I didn’t understand the question. “Isn’t that what it’s called when somebody invites you out to drinks?”

Dustin didn’t blink as his head tilted to the side. I recognized the expression. I had said something that didn’t make sense. Navigating humans and their culture shouldn’t be this hard. In the past, I thought it had been me. Now, I realized they were a confusing species.

“I guess that’s a date, but not like adate.”

“Now I’m confused.”

“Trust me…” He squeezed my neck. “It’s confusing for all of us. How can I make it better?”

Did I confess he already had? I leaned against his hand, the scruff of my beard rubbing against his skin. “Tell me a story.”

“About what?”

Anything. I wanted to hear him talk about himself. The topic didn’t matter. I wanted to know more about the man who made my heart race. “A happy story. I want to smile.”

His hand slid down my arm until it reached my wrist. As he let go, I wanted to reach for him. I followed him to the railing overlooking the harbor. I feared I had said something he considered weird. The more time I spent with humans, the more opportunities I had tooutmyself. I hoped?—

“For my sister’s birthday, she asked for a pink dress. You know, one of those dresses with all the ruffles. The bigger, the better.” He chuckled at the memory. “But it had to be pink. She talked about it for weeks. By the time her birthday came around, I couldn’t listen to another word.”

Earth Mom insisted I have a birthday. She celebrated my ‘gotcha date’ each year by making a cake. She’d always ask what flavor I wanted, as if she didn’t know the answer. Chocolate. Always chocolate.

“Imagine her shock when she and my mom got home and I had unwrapped her present. They had gotten her a pretty pink dress.” It sounded more mean than happy. “It fit me perfectly.”

“You were wearing it?”

“I was five, and she turned six. I had put it on and was making a beeline for her birthday cake. It ended with us throwing cake at each other. My parents wanted to be upset, but how can you be mad at a five-year-old in a pink dress? They felt bad for my sister, so they bought her a dress of her own.”

“So you matched?”

“Oh no, this is where it gets funny.” He laughed at the memory, a sound I’m sure I’d never get tired of hearing. “We had a family portrait done later that year, and they made us wear the dresses.” The thought of him and his sister in identical dresses made me smile. “But wait for it… the picture still hangs over the fireplace at their house.”

“I’m sure you made a pretty princess.”

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