Chapter 1 | Justine

Chapter 1

Justine

There are three things I hate more than anything: pirates, scammers, and bad customers. It’s been a while since I’ve had to worry about the first two, but I’ve had my fill of the last.

“Hey, Sweet Cheeks, how about you top me off?” The grizzled human in a trucker hat leers at me and holds up his mug.

It’s a testament to my self-control, or desperation, that I don’t pour hot coffee right in his lap. I’ve got to keep my server job at the End of the Line Cafe, so I plaster on a smile and walk to his booth.

My hands are full so I can’t adjust my uniform dress. Even after a few months, I still feel awkward in the mini dress that shows off my shoulders. Xanxians are wild for human shoulders. Xanxian shoulders have ridges unless they’re about to mate. So, our smooth shoulders look like a constant invitation to fuck. You can only imagine the misunderstanding that happened when our species first met 25 years ago. Shoulders or no, I’m more of a jeans and leather kind of person.

I was born on Earth and can just barely remember life before we knew about the Xanxians. Life was easy, if less exciting, when we earthlings thought we were the only humanoids in the universe. Back then, you could even wear a tank top without causing a crisis. Things have moved fast since then, and now we’re mingling with aliens in a cafe on the edge of the galaxy.

I look across the dining room. As usual, it’s mostly human guests. But there are a handful of Xanxians too. They’re easy to spot with their jagged shoulder ridges and bright pink skin. They also have two hearts—obviously you can’t spot that. Don’t ask me how that all works inside. I was too busy designing nail art in school to focus on Xanxian biology.

I smile at an older human woman and take her order. A burger and fries. That’s not something you see much on Xanx. Xanxians prefer plant-based fare. They love plant-based everything: building, technology, and art. Everything is green and alive there, unlike here on Lemargo.

I miss living in Xanx. I had friends and a career, a fulfilling life. The usual anger bubbles in my belly when I think of how long I’ve been stuck here. Three months marooned at the edge of the galaxy. And I know whose fault it is. Markas. The Xanxian scammer who stole my heart and then all my money. Markas. The scumbag who told me he loved me then ruined my life. Markas. The man who’s waiting in line to pick up his to-go order. Wait, what?

It can’t be. Of all the earth cafes in the galaxy, what are the odds he’d walk into mine? I rush behind the counter and put in the burger order. Then I duck down and scurry closer to the old-fashioned register where we hold the to-go bags.

My Xanxian co-worker, Karita, is busy collecting credits and handing over the bags. She shoots me a look as I crouch by her legs.

“Everything okay Justine?”

“Yeah, doing great.”

“Wanna tell me why you're hiding down there?”

“Not really,” I say, and she gives me a look. “Okay, fine, there’s someone I used to know in line. At least I think it’s him. I’m just making sure.”

“And it’s better if he doesn’t see you?”

“Much better.”

She nods and goes back to handing out the orders. My heart is racing, and I can barely catch my breath as I slide to a seated position. Could it really be Markas, or did I just imagine it because I was thinking about him? I grab the edge of the counter and peer around. My eyes find him instantly. He’s nearly a foot taller than the human customers and pink like other Xanxians, but that’s not what holds my gaze. It’s his face. The face that has haunted my dreams for the past three months.

Warm amber eyes with midnight-dark lashes, and lips that curl when he smiles. He’s chatting casually with a human man in line, and I see that smile again. Stars! It’s even worse than I remember it. Markas isn’t trying to be charming or sexy, but his appeal is so strong it hits me in the gut anyway. Markas turns his head like he’s just heard something in the distance.

I remember Xanxians can scent someone’s desire in the air. It couldn’t be that, could it? My own traitorous body alerting him to my presence? I want to scream into my apron. How utterly humiliating is it that my body still reacts to him like this when I know he’s an utterly worthless thief? It’s awful. I should probably scuttle away so he can’t smell me anymore. But I have something better to do: get my money back and maybe a slice of revenge.

When I’m not dreaming of his ridiculously handsome face, I’ve dreamt of creative ways to torture him. This guy left me stranded at the edge of the galaxy with no money, no identity, and a broken heart. He deserves it. Not only that, he needs to be stopped. He’s a fucking menace of the highest order.

I want to be the one to stop him. I mean, who else will? The authorities on Lemargo are only concerned with the large trade corporations and their precious warehouses. What happens to regular bozos like me doesn’t concern them at all. So, yeah, it has to be me that takes him down and now might be my only chance.

I take another look. Markas is at the front of the line, scanning his credit chip. I’m half wondering if it’s counterfeit. If it is, then Karita and I can call the authorities. The corporate types hate counterfeit because it cuts into their profits. Maybe I can be in charge of detaining Markas until they arrive. I love the idea of tying him to a chair, guilt flickering in his beautiful eyes as I interrogate him.

Curse the stars. Every time I imagine taking my revenge, it turns into a sexy role-play fantasy in my head. Markas tied up and begging me for mercy. Markas offering to repay me in orgasms. Markas revealing it was all a mistake and saying that he loves me. Uggh. That’s even worse than the sex fantasies.

I still can’t believe I fell for his honeyed words and romantic promises. I’m not a na?ve teenager. I work in the entertainment business, for goodness’ sake. The fact that he so effortlessly penetrated my defenses makes me want to punish him harder.

I’m so busy thinking about Markas that I almost miss him grabbing his bag and heading for the door. I want to shout and tackle him to the ground. But that won’t get me anything except maybe losing my job. No. I have to be more strategic in planning my next move. And the most important part of that is not losing sight of him. Before he gets far, I scramble to my feet.

“I need to go. It’s, uh, a family emergency.”

“Sure it is,” Karita says.

I whip off my apron and glance at the storage area under the register. Maybe there’s a weapon there I can grab. I have some personal supplies in my uniform belt, but nothing that could stop a fully grown Xanxian male.

“I’m sorry. I know it seems crazy, but I have to go. Will you cover for me? You can take my tips for a week.”

“Just get him Justine, I’ll cover.”

“You’re the best!”

I pat her on the ankle and swing open the cupboard. No weapons. Just napkins, pens, and rolls of receipt paper. I grab a few handfuls and run out of the building.