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Two decades later.
Earth
Year of 2254, September
Izzy typed on her mobile, while slicing glances at Garix and Ronin, looming, casting shadows, eating all her salami and apples. Listen, Miri, you won’t believe the sugar going down. Aliens, my friend. Sexy, tall-as-hell and bronzed aliens. How’s things with you?
Izzy touched base with Miri, her bestie while growing up, at least once a week. Her days were dull, so daily updates weren’t feasible. What could she say? Sold out on double fudge again today? Spotted the seventeenth seagull rob a poor tourist? Nope, and she’d just sent a message two days ago. Letting Miri know about this latest development was a must.
The ‘how’s things with you’ was sheer curtesy. Miri spent most of her days on hikes. Look, a tree. Oh, and the same boulder she’d seen last week, month, year? Izzy shuddered. Talk about dull.
Miri’s response could take minutes or days, depending on whether she had signal or now. Izzy scored big time when a text buzzed her mobile. “You’ve got to be kidding me, Iz. What kind of a news is that?” The next one pinged as fast. “Have you been kidnapped? Probed? Shit, do you need a rescue?”
Izzy giggled. “Chill. I’m fine. They’re big ol’ teddy bears. Emphasis on big.”
“Good. My hikes are fully booked for the next six weeks, but I’ll take the sat phone with me, just in case. Knowing you, you might need me.”
Izzy huffed. She hadn’t asked for Miri’s help, not since she’d moved to the city. Pinching her lips, she took a moment to admit that Miri might be right. Past experience had taught her dear friend to be prepared when it came to Izzy. When she’d spilled paint on Mom’s couch, Miri had been scrubbing right beside Izzy.
“Thanks, babe. Appreciate it.”
She beamed at Garix and tossed the mobile onto the couch. One moment, no one stood by the door to the enclosed balcony. Next, Caro clung to Malo whose intense expression focused on Caro’s face. Izzy wanted to gawk at that much chemistry, instead, she fell on her trusted overreaction.
“Holy shit,” she squealed. “You can’t go around evaporating, then bam, coming back. Give a girl a warning, please.”
She fanned her flaming cheeks for poor Caro, Izzy’s roommate and bestie, looked smitten and dazed. Her blue gaze was distant, and her fingers trembled when she swept aside her brown hair. She left dark-and-sensual Malo for the safety of her bedroom, abandoning Izzy. Like being around three alien warriors was the norm for Izzy. She snorted and dipped her head when Malo arched a black-winged brow at her. His ice blue eyes seemed to pierce through her, as if everything she’d done, thought, dreamed were on display. She tucked her legs under her and raised her chin, meeting his gaze. Confidence or fearlessness could be feigned.
“Izzy, sweetheart, could you come here for a sec?” Caro called.
Izzy leaped off the couch and bolted for Caro’s bedroom, grateful for the reprieve. “What is it?” She popped her head around the door.
“I need your help.” Her friend beckoned from the bathroom.
Izzy giggled and entered the room, closed the door then tiptoed into the bathroom. Caro snapped the door shut, then ran the basin’s taps at maximum. What was this?
“I need to talk to you,” she whispered.
Izzy smirked, dragging her gaze from the flowing water. “I can see that.”
“They have excellent hearing.” Caro shoved Izzy onto the closed toilet. Like a good girl, Izzy stayed seated and clasped her hands between her thighs. A few minutes passed as Caro paced.
“Firstly, they believe in soulmates. They call them Dar Eths.”
“What?” Izzy squeaked. “For real for real?” She laughed and applauded, delighted by this news. Soulmates were the stuff of dreams, soap operas, and romcoms. Nothing wrong with that delusion. Every girl needed something to hope for, even if it was an impossibility. “That’s awesome.”
“Yes and no.” Caro winced.
Izzy gaped. She squirmed on the seat. “Malo’s yours?”
“According to him.” Caro clasped her cheeks, going from pale to flushed.
From delusion to reality? Hell yes. Izzy mumbled, “Hot jam and buttered toast.”
“He’s given me time to think about it.”
Izzy froze, then fire exploded from her chest outward. “What? Why? What’s there to think about?” She pointed at the door. “Are you insane? You snatch that man up this instant, Caro. He’s the best thing that’s ever happened to you.”
Caro waved her hands, trying to get Izzy to lower her voice. “It’s not that easy.” She snuck glances at the door, as if Malo would burst into the bathroom. Although, Izzy could imagine it with ease. A steel door would be no hinderance.
She grabbed Caro’s hands and squeezed. “Babe, I know you’re scared, I see that, but to not grasp this opportunity for happily-ever-after? Then you take one for the team. You do this for all women on this planet who would snap him up on his offer in a heartbeat.”
Caro paled. “I would love forever with him, Izzy.”
Wait? What was happening here? Caro was deadly serious. “Do you think I could have a soulmate?” Izzy’s breath lodged in her throat. Was it so simple? Could she just choose an Etterian? Claim one?
Caro grinned. “You want one?”
“Hell, yes. To be loved forever, to be treated as if I matter?” Izzy tilted her head to the side on a sigh. Whatever she needed to do, consider it done.
“Malo said he knew the moment he met me. Since Garix and Ronin remain protective and haven’t tried to kiss you, I would say neither of them is your soulmate.”
“Right, so I just have to find my alien.” Izzy rolled her eyes. “Not daunting at all.”
Caro gazed at her reflection in the mirror above the basin. “I can’t believe I’m considering this.”
“If you don’t do this, Caro, I’ll be so furious with you. Even Simmy will be disappointed.”
“Simmy would not,” Caro gasped.
“Then think of your aunt.” Izzy wagged a finger in Caro’s face. “She didn’t raise a fool, Caroline Masterson.”
Caro flinched. “That’s a low blow.”
Izzy hugged Caro, crushing her for a second before releasing her. “Not at all, babe. Your aunt would have dragged you onto the spaceship by your ears.” She grimaced. “She was stronger than she looked.” Izzy rubbed her ear. “Caro, I’ve seen how Malo stares at you. He’s smitten.”
“Smitten?” Caro cupped her mouth which smothered her chuckle.
“He sniffs you, for tart’s sake. He’s always touching and kissing you. And he punched your ex in the face. What more do you need?”
Caro jerked back. “You know about Gary?”
“He was crying like a baby when we went for coffee. He tried to get the E.A.F. to arrest Garix and Ronin, pointing at their uniform and making demands.” Thankfully, Earth Armed Forces, the global police, hadn’t been called.
Caro beamed.
“Now, hurry up.” Izzy switched off the water then left the bathroom and bedroom. When she stepped into the lounge, three men gazed at her. Right. She ran her hands over her hips and offered a small smile. “She’ll be out soon.”
Garix grumbled something to Malo, then glanced at Izzy. “I shall cleanse. Lady Izabelle’s care is yours.”
She squeaked when he vanished. It boggled the mind, it did. Made her distrust her eye sight too. What could she say? Prior to Etterians, something or someone disappearing before her eyes was pure magic—the kind with rabbits and hats.
Realizing she was gawking, she lowered her chin to her chest. Her stomach gurgled, reminding her she hadn’t eaten since a breakfast protein bar.
“Caro, are you ready?” Izzy called. “I’m starving.”
“I’m here,” Caro trudged into the lounge as if she wasn’t happy about having soulmate.
Hell, Izzy would be ecstatic. Foolish woman. No more dating. No more broken hearts, hopes, dreams. Stuck with a man who’d treasure her no matter— She glanced at Malo. Did someone’s weight matter to these aliens.
“I’m running out of shoes,” Caro said. “Where’s Garix?”
“He went to cleanse.” Izzy bit into an apple, and hummed. She savored the crunchy tart flesh for a moment, then leaned across, grabbed another apple and tossed it at Ronin. “He waited for you two to return before evaporating. Said something about ensuring I’m safe.” She paused when Ronin and Malo didn’t respond. Their frowns ramped the tension in the air. Angling her head, she pressed the cool apple to her chin then summoned her false joyfulness. “I almost died. There was bacteria on the counter. Oh, heavens, thank you, my heroes.” She threw a hand over her temple in a melodramatic pose, her sigh exaggerated. Exhaustion dipped her shoulders. A vacation sounded awesome.
Caro snorted.
“You mock our need to protect you, Izzy,” Malo said, his frown thunderous to behold.
Izzy froze and raised a wide-eyed gaze. Shit, had she just pissed off the alien ambassador. A glance confirmed Caro had stiffened too. “We’re in our apartment, Malo,” Izzy said around a bite of the apple. “There are no wild animals, no attackers, just a pain-in-my-ass neighbor.” She peered at him then forced a sweet smile. “I’m sorry if I’ve offended.”
“We may be too overprotective, but your safety matters to us,” he said in a gentle tone.
“It matters more to Garix. He is large for an Etterian male. Your size calls forth his protective instincts,” Ronin said, who tossed an apple core and plucked another apple from the basket.
“Thank you for explaining. I’ll try to be more understanding,” Izzy said. Poor Garix, gentle giant meets sassy her? She winced, admitting she’d need to be careful when teasing the man. Despite deciding that, her mouth ran away with her. “But if he doesn’t get his ass here soon, I’ll need to be rushed to the hospital. My stomach’s swallowing me whole.”
“She’s joking, just Izzy being Izzy.” Caro waved her hands at Ronin and Malo, who looked like they were about to call for medical assistance. “And you, can it. You ate enough yesterday, so much so there should be two of you.”
“Garix and Ronin ate more than their share.” Izzy pouted while licking her thumb. “I had to suck the butter from my fingers to avoid starvation.”
Caro arched a brow. “You would’ve licked your fingers anyway. Now get us two taxis, and allow Malo and Ronin a little peace.”
Finally, action. Izzy tossed the apple and bounced out of the apartment, slamming the door behind her. She skipped down the stairs, content to do that than sit and wait with two men staring at her. What, was she supposed to break into a dance number, jazz hands and all? Just once, she’d like to meet a man who didn’t rely on her to entertain him. Being joyful twenty-four-seven was a soul sucking pain in her ass. Pushing on the front door, she stepped onto the solar-paneled walkway and raised her gaze to the shimmering dome. Behind that was the bright sunlight of a sunny sky. So pretty, and for a moment, she could pretend all was right in her world. That she was normal, that her life had meaning, that she wasn’t a tight bundle of anxiety-driven habits, and that, somehow, she was loved.
Sighing, she dragged her gaze to the cars whizzing by and held up two fingers. As expected, two taxis pulled to a halt. She dipped her head in and commanded each S.A.D.I. to start their meters. Then she faced the façade of her apartment building and folded her arms. Time ticked by, with no Caro appearing.
Gritting her teeth, Izzy dipped her head through the windows and instructed the S.A.D.I.’s to wait. She took the stairs two steps at a time and burst along the parapeted walkway to where Garix guarded the apartment door. She spared him a glance before stepping inside. What the hell? Malo had Caro in his embrace. Her dear friend’s cheeks were the color of ripe peaches. Ronin tapped on the holographic numbers rising from his forearm. That they’d kept Izzy waiting proved the very point that she didn’t matter...to anyone.
“Guys, the taxis won’t wait forever, y’know,” she said from the door. Garix hovered behind her, his great bulk casting her in shadow.
Ronin marched across to her, his flickering forearm forgotten. Assuming Caro and Malo would follow, Izzy squeezed between Garix and the door. With two towering Etterians trailing her, she marched along the walkway. A glance behind showed the gaping apartment door.
“Flaming nipples,” she hissed then screamed, “Caroline.”
When a giggling Caro and a dazed Malo slammed the apartment door behind them, Izzy stomped down the stairs to the taxis. “About damned time,” she huffed when Caro finally exited the building.
Without another word, Izzy ushered Garix and Ronin into a taxi. Squashed between them, she let their grumblings roll over her. Chaotic thoughts pointed to one thing, that change was coming, and the pessimistic part of her expected it to be bad. Regardless, her life would no longer be the same.
“What is it, ensa?” Garix shifted to the right, as close to the door as possible.
She frowned. Did he have a problem with her body touching his?
“I must apologize, Lady Izzy, I did not mean to crush you.” He grimaced and tried to plaster his great bulk to the door again.
She stiffened then slumped, while tears pressed to the backs of her eyes. Here was a man as destroyed as herself due their sizes. She squeezed his arm and plastered on a watery smile. “You’re not, my big ol’ teddy bear.” She took a deep breath. “In fact, I find you presence comforting.”
He blinked then relaxed. “You do?”
“Yup.” She popped the ‘p.’ “Nothing and no one would hurt me with you near.”
He studied her, harrumphed and faced ahead.
“Garix thinks you lie.” Ronin scowled.
She gasped. “I do not. It’s rude to imply—”
“I do not imply,” Ronin snapped.
She held up her scrawny arm. “Look at me. Only someone awfully strong and big can get through Garix to reach me. I doubt such a person exists.” She cupped Garix’s cheek to hold his gaze. “And for that certainty, I’m at peace, content in the knowledge that you can protect me.”
“My size does not bother you?” he asked, a brow arched.
“Does my size bother you?” she asked, arching a brow to mimic his.
He grinned. “No, ensa.”
“Good.” She dropped her hand and squeezed between him and Ronin, pressing her shoulders to the seat. The breakfast place she’d chosen made the biggest stack of protein pancakes. She was sure they’d appreciate the buttery goodness. A future loomed of her feeding Ronin and Garix while Caro and Malo lived a happy life. Izzy would have to find contentment in that, in being the aunt and not the mother, to being the maid of honor but never the bride.
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