Page 61 of The Alien in the Archive

“Uh…Page?”

I look up and realize Lyn and Thalara are both staring.

“Sorry,” I say quickly. “Just…remembering something funny.”

Thalara tilts her head, her mouth twisting in a sly smile. “It’s them, isn’t it?”

I freeze. Does she know? I swallow hard. “Uh…who?”

“Whoever’s got you smiling like that,” Thalara says, leaning forward.

Lyn scoffs. “Damn, Page, you’re seeing someone? Where do you even find the time?”

“I’m not…”

“Riley told me,” Thalara cuts in. “He said you were seeing someone but wouldn’t give details. Is it another scholar? Or…” she gasps, “is it a professor?”

Damn it, Riley.

“No, it’s not a professor,” I mutter. “Just…another researcher. And we’re not really seeing each other either.”

“Then what is it?” Thalara says.

I hesitate, glancing between them. The words “it’s complicated” hover on the tip of my tongue—an easy dismissal, but I get the feeling they’re not going to let this go.

“Is he human or are you getting it on with an alien?” Lyn asks, interested piqued. “I’ve been like…dyingto know what it’s like to get with a Nyeri’i?—”

“Isn’t your supervisor Nyeri’i?” Thalara squeaks, scandalized.

“Yes, but that’s not the point,” Lyn says. “Tell us about your alien boyfriend.”

I cough, choking on my drink as I start to laugh. “I don’t want to tell you too much because it’s still new,” I say. “He’s…reclusive. Shy, I guess. Likes his privacy. But he’s…God, he’s amazing.”

Thalara’s grinning like a fool, Lyn clearly wants to know more. She raises her eyebrow. “Reclusive, huh? What flavor? ‘Brooding poet in the mountains’ or ‘mad scientist in the basement’?”

“Definitely more mad scientist in the basement,” I snicker.

Lyn lets out a loud laugh. “Not gonna judge, not gonna judge. Everyone has a type, I guess.”

“Like I said, he doesn’t really get out much,” I tell them. “I mean…we haven’t even gone out on a proper date.”

“Oh!” Thalara says. “I have the perfect spot.”

“Thalara, I’m sure you do, but…”

“No, no, if he’s shy, you could bring him to the belfry above the Turitella,” she says. “People go up there to watch the sunset, but there’s never anyone there at night, and it has a beautiful view of the Nautilum.”

“She’s right,” Lyn adds. “And there’s even a really sturdy railing to hang onto during…activities.”

I wiggle my eyebrows. “Are you speaking from personal experience?”

She looks away in feigned bashfulness. “Maybe…”

Thalara lets out a horrified gasp, covering her mouth. “Lyn!”

“What?” Lyn says, completely unrepentant. “I’m just being practical. Sturdy railings are important.”

I can’t stop laughing, the image of Thorne—of all people—standing in a romantic belfry or bending me over a “sturdy railing”...well, that’s a little more appealing.

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