Page 65 of Victoria's Discovery

Both he and Thorn were smiling down at her proudly, which was great. Really. But, why didn’t they look… affected by what, to her, had been heart-stopping, panty-melting kisses? Why had they stopped? More to the point, why had they started if not to finally have sex with her and put her out of her sexually frustrated misery?

Realization smacked her in the face as the dots suddenly connected. The only other time they’d kissed her was right after she’d tried to block them from the fishes, thinking they were about to be disappeared like Madison and Veronika.

Holy shit. They kiss people for being brave? That’s… such a bizarre custom. And, yeah, okay, that’s actually really good motivation to be brave but…

But, what? Why did her chest feel like it was being squeezed in a vice all of a sudden?

Because I want them to want to kiss me because they like me.

Were they going around kissing other people whentheydid something brave and she just didn’t know about it?

The possibility alone was enough to make her feel like she’d just been gutted.

She tried to tell herself she was being ridiculous. She should just ask them, right? Just put on her big girl panties and ask if they liked her. Ask if they were kissing other people. Ask if they’d fallen in love with her like she’d fallen in love with them. And, yet, she couldn’t do it.

She opened her mouth to try, but nothing came out.

A flashback to being on the playground in fourth grade and telling Henry Cavanaugh she wanted him to be her boyfriend only for him to make gagging noises in front of everybody and run away hit her.

That was followed by an image of her in eighth grade, passing a note to Nick O’Connor telling him she thought he was handsome, only for him to show the whole class. Everybody laughed like it was the funniest thing they’d ever heard while she was left trying to choke back tears of humiliation.

Another of her in the eleventh grade asking Cade Jameson to the junior prom. She’d taken precautions that time and asked when they were alone. Or so she thought. Jessica Walsh, head cheerleader and prettiest girl in school, was standing behind her with her pack of lackeys. Would Cade have said yes if Jessica hadn’t overheard,accidentallydumped her latte all over Victoria’s dress, then asked him herself? Probably not, but at least she’d been brave enough to try, right?

She hadn’t tried again in high school. College would be different, she told herself. She’d be popular and try again there.

Half a dozen more scenarios flashed through her head. Different guys, but they all had something in common: they were way out of her league. It wasn’t even that she went for assholes. Most of those guys were nice. They just weren’t interested in being associated with her. Friends? Maybe. One-night stands? Sure. But boyfriends? No.

There was evidently just something about her, but damned if she could figure out what that was. She was kind, honest, helpful. Maybe a little overly enthusiastic and awkward sometimes, but she was a good person.

So, why the hell was she so unlovable?

No matter how hard she tried, at best, she was friend zoned. At worst, publicly humiliated and ridiculed.

No, college hadn’t been different.

So, why did she think it would be different here?

What, because they were aliens, she might finally have a chance? Because they weren’t from Earth, they wouldn’t sniff out whatever it was about her that elicited such aversion in men?

Jessica’s sneered words came back to her. “Tens don’t go for fives, idiot. That’s just a universal truth. Get used to it.”

With those words echoing in her ears like a vicious whisper, Victoria swallowed the lump in her throat, forced a smile, and murmured, “I’m going to clean up. I’ll see y’all later.”

She felt like a coward as she turned and took the two steps to the lab door, ducking inside as soon as it hissed open, but that didn’t stop her. Slumping back once it closed behind her, she let her head thud against the metal and drew in a slow, shuddering breath.

Despite her best efforts, tears leaked past her closed lids to slide hotly down her cheeks and a choked sob forced its way past her clenched teeth.

That was the exact moment she realized she wasn’t alone in the room.

Gasping at the sound of a deliberately loud scuff, Victoria’s eyes sprang open to find one of the Gaelli people staring at her silently from across the room. She usually found their expressions hard to read, but this one’s discomfort was palpable.

Cringing apologetically and mentally lamenting her abysmal luck, Victoria cleared her throat. “Sorry. I didn’t realize anyone was in here.”

She brushed away her tears and pushed off the door, heading to one of the tubes with her head down, intending to get in, get clean, and get out. Thankfully, at her insistence, the glass of the tubes was now tinted to offer privacy so maybe she could cry in private before she had to get back to work.

Before she made it to a tube, feet appeared in her line of sight. Stopping short, she jerked her head back, blinking in surprise up at the Gaelli.

“Uhh, hi? Did you, uh, need something?” she asked, thinking they might want to speak to her as VP.

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