Page 4 of All You Need is Alien Love
Iris narrows her shrewd eyes at me. “The Sanctioning Ceremony is a sacred, ancient tradition among our people. I hope you will do the Genaro family proud.”
Despite her words, Iris has actually been a huge help to me too. She spent several sessions with me going over the details of the three-day ceremony and explaining what is expected from Kai and me during the events.
Let’s be real. I know I’ve never exactly won any popularity contests among humans, but I have a good feeling that I can winover the alien crowd that will be in attendance at this event—and I plan to pull out all the epic stops.
I grin at Iris. “Yes, sensei. I’ve taken all your education to heart, I promise.”
Kai immediately jumps in to further defend me, even though he doesn’t need to. Knowing her, I suspect Iris is just trying to get a rise out of both of us. She’s a bit cheeky like that.
“River will always make me proud and I don’t care what anyone else thinks. I don’t need a ceremony to validate what we have together.”
My chest gets all warm and tight as I gaze deep into Kai’s earnest eyes.Fucking hell, I love this man so goddamn much!
“Lighten up, Iris,” Ellie says, sprawled half across Maddox’s lap and rubbing up against him like a contented cat. “River’s the most amazing grandson-in-law you’ll ever have. Don’t doubt him and his total fucking epicness.”
I’m getting teary-eyed now, for reals.
I seriously lucked out in the in-laws department.
Sitting up straighter in my chair, I look directly into Iris’s slightly intimidating eyes and grin. “Don’t worry, Grams. I’ve got this.”
Her nostrils flare and her lips twitch in a faint grimace. “Grams…?”
I flash her my biggest, brightest smile. “As Ellie noted, you’re going to be my grandma-in-law soon. I figured I should give you a loving nickname, especially since you’ll be my only living grandparent. Well, the only one I have contact with anyway.”
My Quintharian grandparents can get fucked. After all, they tried to have me and my parents killed. To say they suck would be an understatement.
I bat my eyelashes at Iris. “Don’t you think that’s an awfully sweet gesture from your future grandson-in-law?”
She stares me down for a long moment and then throws her head back and laughs. “I like your moxie, River Sullivan. I haven’t known you for long, but I’m beginning to see why my grandson chose you for his mate.”
I glance at Kai, who flushes with obvious pride and puffs out his chest. “River is simply the best.” He speaks those words with so much conviction, and a hint of Tina Turner-inspired sass, that my heart starts to gush with feelings even more sticky-sweet than the caramel coating on a bite of cheesecake I feed him lovingly.
While he munches contentedly, I lean my head on his shoulder and sigh contentedly. “I love you too, hubby-boo.”
Iris crosses her arms and gives me a mock glare. “That said, while I appreciate the offer, a lady doesn’t care to be reminded of her age, and your nickname violates that sacred boundary.” Her eyes narrow. “You’ll call me Iris or get your ass whooped, you cheeky brat.”
I snort and lean down the table to pinky swear. “Okay, deal. But in exchange, you must tell me more about Kai when he was little. I want to knoweverything.” I waggle my eyebrows. “And I’d especially love to see any and all adorable photographic evidence.”
Iris returns my pinky-shake with enthusiasm. “You strike a hard bargain. Done!”
We grin at each other in perfect accord.
Kai makes a strangled noise and buries his face in his hands. “Save me now.”
Iris ignores him. “You’ll have to come over to Maddox and Ellie’s house sometime soon and I can show you all my holographic photo albums. I just so happened to bring them with me.” She winks at me conspiratorially. “There are some pictures of Kai’s first swim time that are my personal favorites. He was too cute with his little tentacles splashing about.”
Kai moans, and it isn’t the happy kind from earlier.
I rub my hands together gleefully. “Heck, yeah. I will definitely take you up on that.”
Mal sniggers as he sips his coffee. “Good luck with that, big brother.”
Kai narrows his eyes at him. “Your time will come. I’ll be more than happy to share childhood photos of you with your mate someday.”
Mal darts an automatic glance at Benji, who’s enjoying a donut and getting powdered sugar in his beard.
When he realizes Mal’s gawking at him, Benji blinks and gives him a dopey smile, his eyes still a little glassy from whatever edibles he indulged in earlier. “I bet you were real cute as a little kid.”
