Page 52 of Whisked Away By the Alien

“Don’t go to her, Stenala. Not yet.”

How does she know where I’m going?

“We have something for you.” Mrs. Birnbaum takes a box from the dining room table and hands it to me. She wrapped the box in brown paper and tied a red ribbon around it. The box would fit a pair of shoes, but not boots. I wonder what’s inside.

“Golda says you’re leaving in two days, which means you won’t be here the last night of Hannukah. In our family, we give each other a present on the last night. This is from Mr. Birnbaum and me. But you’re not to open it until the eighth night.”

“Why?”

“Tradition.”

“Thank you, for the gift and for welcoming me into your home. I’ve learned much about humans during my stay.” I accept the gift and set it down for now. I will collect it when I return. “I do not wish to be rude, but I must speak with Golda.”

“She didn’t come for you, Stenala. Golda came for my approval.”

“Approval for what?”

“To leave Earth and be with you.”

My heart soars at this news!

“Gertie?” Mr. Birnbaum asks, his brows hitching upward.

“Hush, David. I have to keep our daughter from making the biggest mistake of her life.”

My horns pitch forward. “You do not wish her to be with me?”

“Of course not! And I told her so. Don’t misunderstand, Stenala, you are a fine man, and I wish you all the happiness, but you and Golda are not suited for one another.”

I thrust my arms into my jacket. I must find Golda immediately and undo the damage her mother has caused. Drekk… I need to undo the damageIcaused. Since Friday, I’ve thought of nothing else except Golda and what led to my sholani sending me away. I should have told her immediately about my reassignment.

“My daughter can be prideful and stubborn, but this is not one of those times. Whatever happened between you two is for the best. Now, let’s sit down and eat.”

My training did not teach me how to be respectful to my host and also tell her to stay out of my business. Golda is her daughter, and while Mrs. Birnbaum loves her, I will not let her or anyone stand between us. I’m leaving in two days, and I must see Golda again. To convince her to come with me.

And if I cannot… Drekk, I have no answer for that possibility. But a warrior never gives up, especially on the female he loves.

CHAPTERSEVENTEEN

GOLDA

When I leave my parents, the thought of returning to my apartment and staring at the bed where Sten and I made love doesn’t sit well with me. I’ll rehash everything that went wrong, instead of focusing on what is right between us.

Despite all her criticism, my mom’s very perceptive, especially when it comes to how stubborn I can be. I take a deep breath. I need to talk with Sten. But I’m not sure what I’ll say. I need more time to think through what I want out of life, but that’s part of the problem. Sten leaves in two days. I want himandmy family.

If Sten still wants me, I’ll have to choose between them. How can I do that?

I enter the warehouse, hoping some routine work will clear my head. Since it’s a Sunday and during Christmas break, the giant building will be empty, allowing me to sulk in private.

When I open my office door, I freeze at the sight inside. My filing cabinet is open with folders and papers scattered across the floor. My desk drawers lay on the floor, overturned, along with my chair and even the plant stand where I kept a small aloe plant. The plant itself has been uprooted, the dirt dumped out of the pot. I left this place immaculate but someone had torn through here like a tornado decimating a house of cards.

Last week I ended up with my files all over the floor because Wilson was being an ass, which is normal for him. This level of destruction seems personal.

I should leave my office as is, to show my boss after the holiday, but I need to keep busy. Every time I think about Sten, I start to cry. I can’t imagine losing him or leaving Earth. I hang my coat on the back of the door and get to work, hoping the answer will come to me in time.

As I pick up the papers and place them on my desk to start sorting them, I realize what’s truly bothering me. Not the mess or the vindictiveness with which someone trashed my office, but the fact that I’m here, avoiding Sten when I should be talking with him. Stubborn and a coward. What does he see in me?

Fuck, I need to get out of here. I leave the mess as is, determined to show it to Mr. Jenkins. That was my mistake last time. Letting Wilson get away with trashing my office. This was probably him again, searching for whatever he didn’t find the first time. Or he’s sending me a message. A warning.

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