Page 12 of Alien Prince's Claim

She threw back her head and honked a laugh that brought a smile to my face.

I hadn’t met either of them before, and as a friendly person, I was always interested in getting to know new people.

I smiled at them and locked eyes on theirs so they would see me looking at them the moment they experienced a lull in their conversation.

The smaller one with bright red skin was the first to see me.

She perked up and smiled, her eyes shifting to my coffee and cookies — at least, what remained of them — on the table before me.

“Is that coffee?” she asked, incredulous. “Human coffee?”

She’d clearly been looking for a topic to break into a new conversation with and coffee — as well as many other things it could do well — appeared to be it.

“Yes,” I said. “Would you like some?”

I had packed extra beans for just an occasion like this.

“Are you kidding?” Red said. “I love human coffee! It’s super expensive on my home planet.”

I got up and moved to the kitchen counter and began to pour a cup.

I made eye contact with the hippo. “Would you like one?” I asked.

She seemed hesitant and pressed a hand to the bulge of her belly. “I’m not sure… I’m on a diet.”

I shook my head. “It doesn’t have many calories in it. I can leave the milk and cream out if you don’t want the extra fat.”

The hippo blinked in surprise. “Don’t want the extra fat? Why would I want that?”

Off my confusion, Red formed a fist and whispered behind it in what I thought was meant to be a way to speak to me sotto voce. “She’s on a diet to increase her weight.”

“Oh,” I said, marveling at Hippo’s bulging stomach. “You’re, uh, doing great!”

Hippo shrugged her shoulders, making her belly bounce. “Well, a girl can only do her best.”

She seemed pleased by my comment.

I shook my head at myself as I turned back to making the coffees.

The galaxy could be a very strange — but wonderful — place, I thought.

You met all types… if you kept your eyes open.

“You guys are Reserves too?” I asked, already knowing the answer.

“I’m Reserved for my one and only destined mate,” Red said, tucking her blue hair behind her ear.

“Which could be anyone, so she’s expanding her options,” Hippo said.

Red glared at her as Hippo extended her podgy hand to me.

“The name’s Ettod,” she said. “Ettod Tauskatt.”

I liked her already, much more than I did Red, who seemed a little up herself.

But that was only my first impression of her.

Maybe she would grow on me with time… eventually.

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