Page 49 of All You Need is Alien Love
“It’s not kryptonite. It’s just a luminescent crystal that happens to be green,” I explain.
River pouts. “Aww, nuts.” Then he leans closer and loudly whispers, “I still think it’s super cool. We need to bring all of them home with us, and if your grandparents won’t let us, we can hide them in our clothes before we leave.”
That doesn’t seem like a very well-thought-out plan, but who cares? I nod along. “Whatever you want, babycakes.”
His eyes widen. “Is that a new pet name for me? I thought you didn’t like using them.”
I blink. I don’t quite know where that came from.
“I don’t hate pet names. I just find using them embarrassing, my sugar plum.”
I put a hand over my mouth.
What am I saying right now?
My mother covers her laugh with a loud cough. “I think we’re ready to begin this part of the ceremony. It is time to share the deepest and darkest of your secrets with one another. River and Kai, what is something you’re afraid of that you haven’t told the other?”
River’s bottom lip trembles. “I’m afraid of the threat coming our way. That Layne Madison could ruin our newfound happiness together. That you or any of the people I care about could get hurt… or worse…” His voice trails off in a pained whisper.
My tentacles writhe with frustration inside me, and I grip River’s hand tighter. “That’s not going to happen. We’re the good guys, and we’re not going to let evil win. Trust me. Layne Madison and his minions chose the wrong Alliance outpost to mess with. We’re going to kick their asses.”
River’s eyes grow shiny with unshed tears. “Fuck yeah. Team ANAL’s totally gonna kick their asses all the way to Uranus!”
I can’t stop the dopey grin I wear around River far too often.
He squeezes my hand. “What are you afraid of, boo?”
Before I can stop myself, I blurt out my biggest worry. “That I might not be enough for you.”
He gawks at me like I’ve suddenly grown a second head.
I pour my hearts out in a needy, insecure rush. “River, you just don’t get it. You’re the funniest, sweetest, smartest, most vibrant man I know. Everyone who meets you loves you. Many want you for their own.”
He scoffs. “That’s not even remotely true.”
I raise a challenging eyebrow. “It is so true, my intergalactic celebrity who regularly gets erotic fan mail at the office.”
His answering grin is dopey and ridiculously cute. “Okay, maybe I am kind of awesome.”
I wish I could take a picture to remember this moment. “You are. Whereas I, on the other hand, am a bit of a grumpy hard-ass. I’m good at what I do, but I lack the kind of charisma you have that draws people to you. Even I am blinded by your light. You’re so amazing and special that I worry I’m not interesting or exciting enough to keep you by my side forever.” I swallow thickly. “And when we start to travel the universe together, I know you’ll meet all kinds of beings who will be drawn to you and will want to lure you away from me. I worry that I might lose you.”
Tears start to roll down River’s cheeks. “Oh, babe. You’re radically devaluing yourself. In my eyes, you’re just as amazing to me as I am to you. That’s what makes us soulmates. Nothing and no one can ever tear us apart.” He pulls my hands to him and kisses my knuckles. “Kai Genaro, you will always be enough for me. You’re my perfect partner. You’re strong, reliable, and levelheaded. You help keep me grounded and make me feel safe in all the ways I need. There’s no one I trust more than you, and there’s no one who inspires in me the kind of intense love and desire that you do. You’re it for me, Kai, and never think otherwise. Got it?”
To my surprise, tears start rolling down my cheeks too.
River’s words obliterate that tiny kernel of uncertainty deep inside me.
My confidence rebounds even stronger than before we started all of this, and I want nothing more than to show him just how much he means to me. Preferably while we’re both naked and have a whole weekend or longer to ourselves.
The ceremonial music changes, and my mother returns to refill our cups with the sacred elixir. It goes down smoother the second time around, and I barely notice the burn in my throat.
In fact, right now I’m rather floaty.
“This is niiice.” I slur a little on the last word. “Relaxing even.”
River nearly tips over but manages to right himself where he sits. “No shit. This stuff’s even better than Benji’s brownies. Sorry, Benji.”
From behind River, I hear Benji say, “Wicked, man! Igottatry some of that alien booze. Seriously, you guys got any extra bottles on hand?”
