Page 11 of Secret Twins for the Alien Dad

I hit his hand away from the pad. I want to keep my wits about me today if I’m going to impress Myra. “I am not drinking Strike today, thank you very much,” I tell him. I remember the last time we had a day on Strike. It was seriously messed up.

“Going lightweight?” asks Skalt with just enough condescension to get under my skin.

“Nope. I met my fated mate last night,” I casually reply. “And I want to be able to stand when I see her later.”

“Fuck off!” says Skalt. “You really did?”

“She’s amazing,” I say, leaning back in the chair with my hands behind my head.

“Is she really your fated mate?” asks Danton. “That human woman you went off with last night?”

“That’s the one,” I tell him. “Her name’s Myra.” I can’t help but feel a warmth in my chest as I talk about her.

“This isn’t going to be like that Kaldeshi woman with six arms you met on Thargg, is it?” asks Fin. “I’m pretty sure you’d have brought that one back in your luggage if you could have.”

I laugh at the memory. “Yeah, she was hot,” I reply, recalling the nights of passion. But that was it, just hot sex. There was no deep connection. We had both known it was a vacation romance from the start. “But this is different. Myra’s my Jalshagar for sure,” I inform them.

“How do you know?” asks Danton.

“I just knew as soon as she touched me,” I say. “It was like every particle of my being exploded, and when it came back together again, she was wound into it.”

“Awesome,” he replies, sounding like he doesn’t quite believe it.

“Are you sure it wasn’t yourheadexploding?” asks Skalt crudely.

His words make Danton’s neck flush violet. “Shit, you’re so sensitive, Danton,” I say. “Don’t worry, you’ll get laid one day.”

“I’ve been laid,” Danton mumbles, the flush going all the way up to his cheeks. I don’t know any other Vakutans who color-change when they’re nervous like that. It’s normally a thing certain species of aliens control if they want to hunt or hide. I’m pretty sure he has some human blood in him somewhere that makes his responses different.

“Yeah, been laid by your right hand,” chimes in Fin, never one to let an opportunity go.

Skalt pantomimes it and makes silly sucking noises in his throat as he does. I watch Danton color even more.

“Okay, leave it out,” I say. “We all know you’ve had a lot of practice with your right hand, Skalt.” Danton smiles his thanks at me as Skalt scoffs.

“So have you told her she’s your jalshagar?” Fin wants to know.

“No, don’t be a moron,” I reply. “I don’t want to scare her off, but she felt it for sure.”

Skalt laughs. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen you sweet on anyone,” he says. “You’re normally the one the girls have to chase.”

“Nah, this one’ll come to me, too,” I assure him boldly. But inside my heart does a start. What if she doesn’t? I’ve never had to win a girl over. Normally they follow me around like a rather annoying pet zinda, fawning all over me and trying to trap me. The ones that don’t, I don’t bother with. I mean, what’s the point?

“Are you sure about that?” Skalt jabs at me. “Surely your jalshagar is meant to be your equal? Maybe she won’t like you if you’re a dick.”

“They all love him anyway, Skalt. You know that,” comments Fin.

“Yeah,” he replies. “He really ought to learn to share a bit more!”

I punch him hard on the arm. “Get your own girls,” I tell him. “Or have you run out of cash?”

Danton laughs at Skalt’s discomfort, and they start bickering and trading insults. I tune them out as I think about Myra.

Skalt is a total dick, but he’s made me think. For the first time in my life, I want to impress a girl. But how?

I glance around at my friends. They’ve fallen into their usual role of trying to get a rise out of Danton. His cheeks have actually gone pink. Somehow I don’t think they’ll be able to help me.

“Okay,” I say, standing up. “I’m going to find Myra. My destiny is not going to write itself.”

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