Page 55 of Space for More

“What about your happiness, Eden?” I ask, trying not to let hope and fear of rejection bleed into my tone.

My heart sinks as her facade settles more firmly in place and she lets out a soft laugh. “I’m happy. How could I not be when I get to spend the week with two gorgeous aliens?”

This is all just a fun, new experience for her. Nothing more. Goddess, I’m a fool.

“Right. Well, I hope I can help you enjoy yourself again during your time here.” I give her a cocky grin, then take a bite of the pastry that tastes like ash in my mouth as I swallow down my disappointment.

29

Something is burning when Fina’s partner, Maerlon, greets me at the door to their loft. A string of curses ring out from inside and the tall seladin’s glowing white eyes flare.

“Better get inside. Fina’s freaking out.”

“Your fault?” I ask, teasing him.

“No. Paul’s.” His eyes glow brighter in amusement.

“What’s he doing here? I thought this was dinner with your sister and my professional colleagues.”

“Your colleagues? Oh right, I forgot you’re up to somefa-sharnonsense and pretending to be a doctor? Fina tried to explain, but it made no sense.”

“It’s simple. I’m trying to get back together with my estranged mate,who is a doctor attending the conference. I met a human while there and befriended her because I like to collect them like lost flesstras. Your sister—much hotter than you, by the way—saw us at the conference and invited us to dinner after I said I knew you.”

“There’s something you’re leaving out. That plan is nonsensical,” Maerlon says, assessing me with his arms crossed over his chest.

“Speaking from personal experience?” I bite back at him.

He glares at my reminder of his ridiculous behavior when he first met Fina and kept his identity a secret.

I don’t feel bad not telling them about the covert mission I’m on, because it doesn’t matter anymore. Eden commed me earlier letting me know the schematics weren’t in his files. The agents were wrong—unsurprising, given how bizarre this whole arrangement is—and now I’m just waiting for them to get back to us and officially call off the mission. So yeah, tonight’s weird, and I don’t like pretending that I have a different job, but it could’ve been a lot worse. Instead, there’s a bubbling sense of hope and anticipation about seeing Phelix now that I know he’s not a criminal.

I pat Maerlon’s arm. “Look, I know you want to protect Fina from my antics, but I promise, this won’t harm her. At worst, it’ll be an awkward evening. At best, well…that’s probably a moot point considering Paul’s here.”

The handsome human in question appears from the kitchen and scowls at me. I beam back at him with my most saccharine smile. “Paul! What a delight it is to see you again! Did Fina invite you because she felt bad you were spending yet another night alone?”

His brown cheeks darken at my dig. “She invited me because I wanted to meet Eden.”

My joviality vanishes. “Why do you want to meet Eden?” I can’t keep the possessiveness out of my tone.

“After you told me about the attack, I wanted to talk to her and make sure she’s really okay. And, like you said, maybe I’m tired of being alone.”

“You can’t date her!”

He scowls at me. “First, you tell me all the aliens on dating apps aren’t a good match for me. Then you stood me up for our first date. If you want me so bad for yourself, you’re doing a terrible job of wooing me.”

“Fuck off. Did you miss the part where I’m here to seduce my mate?” He’s got a point, but I still don’t like him thinking about Eden.

“Will you two please stop arguing and come help me?!” Fina’s voice rings out from the kitchen.

I rush in to find Fina on her knees in front of the food replicator, smoke billowing from it. “Shit, what happened here?” I ask, dropping down beside her to investigate.

She coughs and turns to give me a sheepish smile. “I tried to program the food synthesizer to make something special for tonight, and it didn’t turn out.”

“Why are you cooking? I thought baking was your thing.” Fina is an amazing baker, but she’s not the best when it comes to using tech to make an actual meal. The last thing she made me was some kind of noodle dish that was somehow dry and soggy at the same time.

She smacks me on the shoulder with a towel. “I was trying to make something nice! It’s not every cycle that I meet my partner’s older sisterandmy best friend’s mate.”

“Don’t forget Eden!” I say cheerily.

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