Page 61 of Tis the Season for Tentacles
She laughs. “Sure. Go look in the mirror. You’re sporting that same dopey, smitten look on your face that Khephren always wears around Sasha.” Her expression turns serious. “Be careful, my friend. I don’t want you to end up heartbroken at the end of all of this.”
I swallow thickly at her words, wanting to deny what she’s implying, even though a very small part of me can’t help but acknowledge that what I feel for Felix is more than simple friendship.
But there’s no way what we have can lead to anything more.
Our time together is short, and I don’t want either of us to go down an emotionally murky path that could leave us bitter and full of regret.
Best to keep things simple and light, the way I always have.
I find Felix in the canteen with a notebook and pen as he studiously interviews a disgruntled Howie.
“Tell me more about your species. How do Chumarg trees propagate? Is it similar to the nonsentient trees we have on Earth, or is there a mating process specific to your kind?”
I clear my throat. “What’s going on here?”
Howie rolls his eyes. “Thank the galactic gods. Please take this human with you and let me get my midday shut-eye. I can’t handle much more of his endless nagging questions.”
Howie closes his eyes and Felix pouts.
Dear Thekmis, he’s adorable.
“Come on. We’re going to be landing soon, so we need to head to the bridge.”
Felix studies me with open interest as we walk. “You’ve all been so mysterious about where we’re going next. Can’t you give me a clue?”
I shake my head. “Nope. I want you to be completely surprised. Trust me, you’re going to love it.”
He grins back. “You sound mighty confident.”
“That’s because I am.”
Felix chuckles. “I like that confident side of you, Najar. Your candor is refreshing. I’ve met too many men who lie and pretend to be someone or something that they’re not, but you’re always very distinctly you, and I admire that.”
A warm, sticky-sweet sensation fills my chest, one that I’m becoming all too familiar with whenever I’m around Felix.
“Your words humble me,” I say, giving him a short bow.
His eyes shine with amusement. “You’re an odd mixture of gallant and noble, but also surly and stern.”
“Hey, I resemble that remark,” I reply blandly.
Felix throws his head back and laughs. “And you are surprisingly funny.”
“Thank you. That’s what I’m always trying to tell Luna and Kheph.”
We hold hands as we make our way to the bridge and take our seats with the rest of the crew.
“Beginning our descent,” Kheph announces, and we hold on tight as the Sleigh Belle enters the planet’s atmosphere. Our descent is a lot rockier here than on Glacius Major, but it isn’t long until we complete a smooth landing in a special field set aside for off-world visitors.
Once we’re all ready, I lead Felix down the gangway, keeping his eyes covered with one of my tentacles.
“Is this absolutely necessary?”
“It is. Surprises require a grand reveal.”
I ignore the knowing looks Khephren and Sasha give me and focus instead on Felix. When we set foot on the ground, my hearts are racing with excitement as I remove my tentacle and let Felix take it all in.
We’re surrounded by vast planes of verdant green mixed with vibrant splashes of pink, purple, and orange. Two suns shine brightly in the sky above us, and in the distance are snow-capped mountains.
