by Sherry Soule
“I don’t get the whole ghost attraction,” I say. “Vampires, sure, there’s loads of charm, the forever-young aspect, the inhuman strength, and not to mention those smoldering good looks. But ghosts? They’re just dead people with veiny, translucent skin and rattling chains.”
Hayden shakes his head with a smile. “You’ve given this some thought.”
“Hello!” I point at myself. “Lover of horror, remember?”
We meander in silence along the path woven between the graves. Cemeteries tend to get chilly after sundown, and I’m not talking about the creep factor. Except on this planet, which stays a warm seventy degrees all day long, so there’s no need for a black cape. We stop near a white and red tombstone made of marble.
Hayden gestures to the engraving on the slab of rock. “This is my great-great-great-something Zeta ancestor.”
“That’s wicked cool,” I say, gazing at the other graves.
We walk among the rows reading the headstones before stopping at one monumental burial chamber for a Zeta family.
“I want my tombstone to say, ‘I’m finally thin…but maybe a little too thin.’”
“Good one. I want mine inscribed with, ‘This is not what I had in mind when I said, over my dead body.’”
I giggle. “No, wait! I want mine to say, ‘Does my butt look big in this coffin?’”
“I got one better. How about, ‘Okay, the joke’s over. Let me out now!’”
“I can top that. My headstone will read, ‘Well, this bites the dust.’”
Laughing, we stroll through the rows.
I glance over at his profile. “Dinner was extra yummy.”
“How were the fried legs?”
“Wicked good.”
“What about the dessert? Too heavy?”
“Delish.” I smile. “Everything was perfect. Even the green slug juice tasted good. I don’t know how the Zetas do it, but the sodas on Reticuli are definitely superior to the soft drinks on Earth.”
“Be honest, at what point during dinner did you want to mock me?”
“Mock, Spock.” I say in a singsong voice. “I’d never do that. At least not until tomorrow since you ordered that yummy dessert for me because I forgot it was my birthday.”
“Dining on a new planet should be an adventure of the taste buds.”
I smile. “Just so you know, I’m a huge fan of this birthday celebration.”
“Oh, yeah? Guess I might have to step up my game for the next one.”
“Unquestionably. We should have matching T-shirts and coffee mugs made, too.”
“I’m glad you’re having such a good time. You deserve it, Sloane.” He raises his arm to touch my face, his fingers lingering against my skin, sliding down to my jaw.
The breath snags in my throat. Even my knees wobble. “I can’t believe you planned all this for me.”
“You’re my girl,” he says softly. “You’re different than anyone I’ve ever met, and you’re also different from than any girl I’ll ever meet. Because to me, there are only two types of women in the world—there’s everybody else, and then there’s you.”
I can’t even respond, my heartbeat thumps double-time and I swoon closer to him.
Hayden grips my upper-arms and pulls me into his chest. He lowers his head, his mouth swooping down over mine. He’s aggressively kissing me, his lips scorching. Desire blasts through my body like molten lava, warming me from the inside out. I kiss him back, matching his intensity, my arms clutching his waist. His arms hold me tighter, crushing me against him. The long, slow kisses reverberate through me. My heart pounds and a lightheaded rush of sensations pulse through me, and everywhere our bodies touch, my skin quivers.
Hayden breaks off the kiss, resting his forehead against mine, breathing heavily. “I love you so much it hurts,” he whispers, gazing at me with the same adoration I shower on fresh baked chocolate chip cookies. “So will you come to dinner with my parents?”
“I love you, too.” My voice is breaking, but I don’t even know what’s making me so emotional. It might be the way he’s looking at me, or all the valid reasons my parents had for us not marrying so young that suddenly start pinging around in my head. “But kissing me into submission isn’t going to work.”
“You sure?” Hayden leans in to kiss me again.
“No, now stay!” I place my hands flat on his chest. “I don’t want to ruin our date, but I’m not so sure dinner is a good idea. Especially, after that scene at the restaurant tonight.”
“They can learn to live with my choice, or I’ll cut them out of my life.” He shrugs and reaches for me again. “Can I kiss you now?”
“Not yet.” I back away and bite my lip. “It’s just…I don’t want to get between you and your parents. I think you’ll regret cutting them out of your life because of me. And that’s the last thing I want—”
“You’re confusing the hell outta me.” He crosses his arms over his chest and leans against a crypt. “I get that you don’t want to cause a rift, but now that I’m finally ready to go public, you’ve got all these doubts.”
“I know!” My breath heaves raggedly from my lungs, and my skin feels tight. “I’m just anxious about what this will do to our relationship long-term. All this parental disapproval sucks and makes me edgy.”
Hayden sighs and his mouth twists the smallest bit. “Did you know that when I first met you, I admit that I held back and tried to distance myself because I knew once I stopped, I would fall hard. And now I’m ready to take a leap off a cliff and I want you to join me. Screw my family!”
“You say that now, and might even mean it, but trust me, you’ll regret picking me over them someday.” My fingers curl helplessly around air, then settle at the collar of my dress. “We might even end up divorced or grow apart, and then you won’t have your family to lean on. You’ll blame me…”
His lips purse a moment as he thinks about what I said. “Miss Doom and Gloom is back. But you know what? I’m tired of living by the rules, Sloane. I couldn’t give a rat’s ass what they think anymore. If my parents can’t accept and respect my choice—the hell with them, I mean it. That’s why I want you to come over for dinner. We can let them know we’re serious, and that I’m all in.”
“All in?”
“You heard me. We’re a team, you and I.”
“Yes, yes, we are.”
“I would really like to kiss you now.”
“Yeah, me too.”
His eyes become luminous as Hayden moves closer, backing me up into a headstone. I lean into the cool marble, holding his gaze and licking my lips. That smoldering stare of his alone triggers the already heated blood pounding through my body, ready to explode like fireworks. He takes me into his arms and kisses me senseless. I pour all the angst and worry into our kiss, fusing him to me in a moment of blinding passion. My insides melt and unfurl. My arms reach up and tangle around his neck, the kiss toe-curling perfection.
While we grope, caress, and share steamy R-rated smooches, I tell myself that at dinner with his parents, I’ll be on my best behavior and win them over!
Because true love conquers all…
TWENTY-TWO
A loud knock echoes throughout the house. Who the hell is pounding so hard on the front door?
I peek out from beneath the comforter. A warm, morning glow slips through the blinds on the windows. It’s too early to get out of bed. Leaving my room before noon and going into the sunlight might turn me to ash.
The knocking continues.
Turning over, I hesitate until curiosity gets the better of me. I stand and stretch in an old T-shirt and boxer shorts with yellow smiley faces, then tread along the hall into the living room.
“I’ve got it.” My dad pushes past me and opens the door.
Mrs. Voorhees, Neela’s mother, stands on the porch in a crimson dress and heels, with an oversized Chanel purse dangling from one arm and big owlish sunglasses hiding her eyes.
Outside it’s blazing
hot, the heat bursting through the opening and hitting us like a blast from a furnace, with little red-winged flies almost as thick as pollen, swarming the front yard. The double suns are raging today, which reminds me why I never wanna be a camp counselor. Sunshiny days and I do not agree on a whole lot.
“How can I help you, Mrs. Voorhees?” my dad asks.
The woman pushes her designer sunglasses to the top of her head. “I hate to intrude, David, but my daughter is missing.”
My dad waves her inside. “Are you sure?”
Mrs. Voorhees follows my dad into the living room. When she spots me near the archway, her lips turn downward, as if she’s sucking on a sour lemon. I move closer and lift my chin.
From behind me, Viola saunters into the room, wearing a long black nightgown. “Who was at the door so damn early?” she asks sleepily, her gaze finding Mrs. Voorhees, my dad, and me awkwardly standing there.
“What do you mean by missing?” I ask.
“I checked Neela’s room this morning, and her bed was still made as if she hadn’t slept in it. No one has seen her since she left a restaurant that your daughter was at last night,” Mrs. Voorhees says, her tone dripping with accusation. “None of her friends have talked to her, either.”
“What happened?” My dad turns his head to spear me with a hard stare.
I shrug. “I went out with Hayden last night and Neela showed up being all surly. He recently broke off their engagement and she made a scene.”
“I’m getting concerned.” Mrs. Voorhees hitches the purse higher on her shoulder. “We were supposed to get brunch together, but she never came home. On my way here, I ran into one of her friends who said they saw Neela’s shoe left near the cliff, and there was blood on the ground.” She sniffles. “I’m not sure what to do.”
My dad pats her shoulder, and Viola rushes into the nearest bathroom for a tissue to hand her.
My hands feel slick with sweat. A shoe left near the cliff? Blood? No way she’d jump into the ocean, would she? I inwardly groan. I’d come to Reticuli to avoid drama like this. Now Neela’s harsh words echo in my head: Cyclone Sloane…shattered relationships…broken hearts…families torn apart…
And now a girl is missing. My heart thuds hard. Maybe Neela’s right about me and I do bring mass destruction wherever I go.
Viola clears her throat. “Is it possible she jumped?”
“I don’t think so.” Tears pool in Mrs. Voorhees’s eyes, smearing her mascara. “What if someone pushed her?”
“Now, Mrs. Voorhees. You don’t know that something bad has happened to her,” my dad says in a comforting tone.
“Neela doesn’t seem like the type who’d harm herself or be coerced into anything,” Viola says.
“What about the blood?” Mrs. Voorhees wipes her eyes with the tissue. “How can that be explained?”
“Neela must’ve stumbled in those absurdly high-heels she’s always wearing,” Viola suggests. “Then she fell and scraped her leg or something.”
It’s astonishing how quickly Viola’s explanation calms my pounding heart. All the dark, ugly images of me as a trigger for disaster somewhat dissolve.
“It’s too soon to panic and assume the worst,” my dad says.
Someone raps on the door, and my dad moves past Mrs. Voorhees to open it. Hayden stands on the doorstep in skinny jeans and a white T-shirt, looking like he’s just stepped out of a GQ magazine ad.
Crappity crap. He has the worst timing.
And I must look awful! My hands lift to pat down the tangled mess atop my bedhead. Smoothing the strands, I cross my arms over my bra-free chest.
“Hayden Lancaster.” Mrs. Voorhees yanks the sunglasses back down over her face to cover her bloodshot eyes. “I was coming to see you next.”
“Good morning.” Hayden steps inside, frowning at the four of us. “What’s wrong?”
“Evidently, Neela is missing,” Viola says. “There is a lost heel, blood, and Mrs. Voorhees claims she never came home last night. I think it was the maid in the parlor with the candlestick!”
Hayden shakes his head. “I doubt she’s not missing. Neela likes attention, and she’s probably off somewhere licking her wounds.”
Mrs. Voorhees throws her hands out. “Am I the only person concerned about my daughter’s whereabouts?”
Hayden puts his hand on Mrs. Voorhees’s shoulder. “I bet Neela has gone off to sulk on a private beach and she’ll be back any minute.”
“You broke her heart.” Mrs. Voorhees shakes off his touch. “Who knows what she might’ve done to herself! If anything happens to my daughter, Hayden Lancaster, it’s all your fault.” She stomps out the door.
My dad shakes his head. “That was odd.” He gives me a quick hug. “I almost forgot, happy birthday, sweetheart. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to contact the Galactic Brotherhood and have them organize a search for Neela. Although, I’m sure Hayden’s right and she just went off to be alone.” My dad goes into his bedroom, where I assume my mom is sleeping.
“Happy belated birthday, Sloane.” Viola yawns and looks at Hayden. “What’re you doing here so early?”
Hayden takes a deep breath and lets it out, as if shaking off Mrs. Voorhees’s verbal attack. “I’ve come to take Sloane equestroxian riding today.”
“Sounds fun.” I turn to my best friend. “Do you have anything planned?”
“Going back to sleep.” Viola yawns. “All this drama is exhausting, and you know I don’t like to leave the house before nightfall.” She trudges back to her bedroom.
“Give me ten minutes,” I say.
“I’ll give you twenty.”
“Coffee, Hayden?” my dad calls, leaving the bedroom and going into the kitchen.
“Yes, thank you.”
I dash to my room and I stand in front of the closet, scratching my head. What does a girl on a distant planet wear to go equestroxian riding? And what is an equestroxian?
After a quick shower, I style my hair into two high ponytails, throw on ragged jeans and a black off-the-shoulder tee, and slip on my lace-up boots. Although I’m hastily dressed, I can’t leave the house without makeup, so I apply thick eyeliner, lots of mascara, and red lip-gloss.
I find Hayden in the kitchen with my dad, discussing the integration program.
“You’re going to enjoy this.” Hayden sets his coffee mug in the sink. “Phase three of your birthday celebration.”
We say goodbye to my dad and Hayden takes my hand.
“I’ll take care of the transportation since you’ve never been there before,” Hayden says.
I squeeze his fingers. “Teleport away.”
Hayden pulls me close and we dissolve into particles within a blast of blue light. We reappear alongside an oblong, stone building similar to a huge stable within a verdant meadow. The view is incredible and every plant has a bioluminescence, the world radiant in a myriad of neon colors. The mountains soar and the structure must contain the animals making strange noises from inside.
We enter through the open doors and tread a lengthy corridor with stalls on each side, housing the equestroxians, which are these wicked cool horse-like creatures with four strong legs, coral-colored fur, slender necks, large heads, and long cat-like tails.
Hayden hoists a heavy leather saddle on an equestroxian with blue eyes. Watching him prepare the creature for our ride, all confident and happy, makes my skin tingly and warm.
“I’ve known the owner of these creatures for years. He’s an old family friend and he lets me ride the equestroxians whenever I want.” Hayden reaches under the creature’s belly for a thick strap. He fastens it, then pats the animal on the backside. “This one’s a docile female and her name’s Seneka. She’ll behave for your first ride.”
“Unlike the other women in your life,” I tease, petting the creature’s silky fur.
“Well, that’s true, but at least you don’t have to worry about this one,” Hayden says, handing me a batch of flora. “Feed her these flowe
rs, and you’ll become fast friends.”
While I hold out the bouquet for the equestroxian, he moves on to another muscular animal, and saddles him. The nameplate on his stall door reads: Xiao.
My equestroxian chews on my flowery offering. “Hello there, beautiful,” I say, holding out more flowers that I take from a bucket outside the stall. Seneka snorts and nuzzles my hand, so I grab another handful, and the creature chomps into it. “Do you think Neela’s okay?”
“I do, and since the breakup, she’s probably mortified and needs some alone time.”
I shake my head. “Neela just bails on her family while we’re here, and makes her mom worry like this? So uncool.”
“I’m sure she’ll show up eventually.”
Hayden buckles the saddle on his equestroxian, Xiao. The muscles in his arms bulge as he works, and I’m transfixed by the movement of his strong biceps.
I stroke Seneka’s furry head while she finishes eating. “Since you’re like a Meleah prince, I get the feeling that every girl on this trip is in love with you.”
“Not Viola or Tanisha,” he replies, giving Xiao a pat on the head.
I climb onto the saddle and Seneka shifts her weight. “Except the other Meleah girls, Neela included, all act like obsessed groupies.”
“Suppose that makes you president of my fan club.” Hayden hoists a leg over Xiao’s saddle and sits astride the animal. “You ready?”
“Yup,” I say, holding Seneka’s reins in a death grip. “I’m kinda nervous. Obviously, I’ve never ridden one of these before.”
“You’ll do fine.” Hayden gives me one of those crooked grins that all but stops my heartbeat.
We trot out of the stables under the bright sunlight. I spot other Meleah riding in the pasture and a Zeta couple walking their equestroxians along a well-worn path winding through the lush meadow. Our own animals leisurely stroll along the same trail.
After riding for about ten minutes, my thighs finally loosen their tight hold on the creature. Seneka ambles along the path through the field as if she’s traveled this route a million times. We ride in silence for a mile or two just soaking in the surrounding beauty. The skies are a cobalt blue without many clouds. Twisted, dense trees with huge fronds covered in incandescent violet blossoms lazily sway in the tropical breeze. Between the multicolored, fluorescent foliage, I glimpse a flash of dark green. Then it’s gone. Must be more weird creatures like the cat I saw on the beach.
