Page 58 of Space for More

“And you stop snapping at Paul!” Fina interrupts. “He’s trying to help, even if he’s too blunt. You, of all people, should understand that.”

“Fine,” Paul and I grumble in unison.

“Good, now let’s go finish setting things up and see if Maerlon needs any help.”

We stand, and as Paul moves to go past me, I reach out. Heinstinctively flinches, and I suppress a scoff. You slap someoneonetime and they act like you’ll strike at any moment.

“Stop it, I’m giving you a hug,” I say, wrapping my arms around him.

“Oh. Okay.” Paul’s warm, solid body feels nice against mine, but it’s nothing compared to Eden or Phelix. He sighs and squeezes me back, making me wonder when the last time someone hugged him was.

That settles it. I have two missions tonight. One, figure out shit with Phelix and Eden. And two, help Paul impress Ulena so he can finally get some alien action.

30

Phelix and I spend the rest of the afternoon at the conference attending lectures. I was so excited to learn when I applied for the sponsorship to the conference, but sitting next to him, it’s hard to care about the latest dermal regeneration advances or symbiotic organism implants. If he notices me glancing at him almost as much as I’m looking at the panel of lecturers during the talk on the impact of artificial wombs on natural fertility rates among nexxit, he doesn’t say anything. Though, he glances over at me with a devilish gleam in his eyes when a bookish aespian in the audience asks a question about insemination during nexxit copulation. I almost melt into a puddle, remembering just how much I learned about thattopic last night.

I’m overheated as we leave the conference hall and find our way through the crowded transit system to Sagittarius district, where we’re headed for dinner. He cages me against the window of the transport with his body to protect me from the stares and touches of overly curious aliens, and my skin buzzes with the need for him to touch me more. By the time we make it to the multistory building next to a glowing synthetic garden, I know I’m flushed a bright red. I only hope he attributes it to getting overheated from the bustling walkways and not because I’m turned on by his mere presence.

The heat inside me cranks up even more when Mezli comes skipping out of the front of the building and tugs me into a hug, her lips brushing against my cheek as we part.

“Glad you found it alright!” she says, squeezing me before letting me go and turning to look at Phelix. Both nexxit tense, but Phelix acts first. He tugs her against his chest, and Mezli’s eyes go wide in surprise. I smile at her as she looks at me over his shoulder, silently urging her to accept his gesture. Her face softens, and she lets her body loosen, her eyes eventually closing as she burrows her face against his neck and squeezes him back.

The intimacy and vulnerability of this moment between them takes my breath away. She fits against his body like a missing puzzle piece, her arms slotting perfectly between his and her petite body melding into his bulky frame. Truly, they’re made for each other.

I rub at the bittersweet ache in my chest, forcing myself to stop staring and let them have their moment. I’m so happy for them, and so damn sad that I can’t claim a space in their beautiful mosaic.

The moment seems to stretch on forever, though I know it only lasts for a few seconds. Mezli reluctantly moves back, looking dizzy and flushed. “I…uh, nice to see you, Phelix.”

“You look beautiful,” he says, his voice thick. He’d said the samething to me earlier today, but I know it means so much more when he says it to Mezli.

She gives him a lopsided smile. “You look pretty damn good, too.” She turns and beams at me, grabbing my hand. “And you look as delectable as always.”

Phelix looks me up and down, and the buzz that waned while I was feeling sorry for myself comes back in full force. “She does. Good enough to eat.”

“Hah! If you two are that hungry, we should head inside for dinner,” I joke, trying to dispel some of the tension.

“Right! Follow me.” Mezli leads us inside and up an elevator to an upper floor of the building, pausing outside a door near the end of a narrow hall. “I can’t wait for Fina to meet you. Well, Fina and Maerlon. And Paul!”

“Paul?” Phelix asks.

I raise a brow, nerves rising. “The guy that works at the human embassy? I thought he was really angry at you.”

“Yep! He’s not mad at me anymore, don’t worry. I apologized for standing him up the other night.”

Phelix tenses. “We’re having dinner with someone you’ve dated?”

“No! I was going to go on a date with him, but then I didn’t. It’s fine. He’s great.”

Jealousy trickles down my spine, and the sharp exhale Phelix lets out indicates he’s not pleased about this development either.

I’ve never had a problem with meeting new people before, but faced with Mezli’s best friend and a guy she’s apparently into makes the urge to flee rise. I push down my nerves, and plaster a smile onto my face as Mezli tugs the door open and leads us inside.

“You didn’t knowwhat he looked like? Like nothing at all?” I ask between bites of a delicious, tangy salad of unfamiliar vegetables.

Fina laughs, her smile lighting up her face as she nods. “Nope! Nothing.” She’s sweet and shy and warm and I understand now why Mezli adores her. I don’t think it would be possible to dislike her, unless you’re a total asshole. Even Phelix seems charmed by her goofy wit and banter with Mezli.

“If she’d known what he looked like, I doubt she’d have developed an infatuation,” Maerlon’s sister Ulena deadpans. I can’t tell if she’s joking or not, but I hope it’s the former because the two share a lot of similarities in their appearance. Long, glossy silver-white hair, strange glowing eyes, and sharp smiles that indicate their predator ancestry. They’re a little frightening at first glance, but there’s beauty once you get past the initial shock.

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