Chapter 18

Chapter

Eighteen

Ruune

I watched Olivia walk back inside, feeling a mixture of frustration and relief at the interruption. What had I been about to say? That yes, sometimes I did get lonely? That maybe, just maybe, I was tired of running?

Before I could follow her, I felt a hand on my arm. Carl stood just inside the door and fixed me with a stern look. "Not so fast, buddy. We need to have a chat."

I raised an eyebrow. "Oh?"

Carl's expression was serious, a stark contrast to his festive attire, as he motioned for us to go back onto the steel stairs attached to the back of the building. "I know about this little fake dating plan you two have cooked up."

My heart sank. Had Olivia told him? Or was our act not as convincing as we'd thought?

But Carl wasn't finished. “Caroline has become one of my best friends. She told me about your scheme to help Olivia with her mother’s party. While I find your offer to help her commendable, I’m also not blind. I can see what's really going on here."

I tried to interject, to explain that we were just good actors, but Carl cut off my comment with a snap of his fingers, the bell on his hat jingling.

"Honey, I'm a drag queen. I know acting when I see it, and what's between you two? That's not acting."

I shifted uncomfortably, not sure how to respond. Carl's gaze softened slightly. "Look, I know Olivia seems tough as nails. All sass, confidence, and fabulous bone structure. But underneath all that? She's more fragile than she lets on." His deep voice became even more husky. “All girls who’ve had to tough it out on their own are.”

“I am only here to—”

He snapped his fingers to silence me, his gaze like lasers. "That girl is kind, loyal to a fault. She'd do anything for her friends—new or old. And if you hurt her..." He trailed off, his expression hardening again. The implication was clear, and despite the fact that the big guy was in a dress and curly wig, I did not take his threat lightly.

I swallowed hard, disliking the idea of facing Carl’s wrath.

"If you hurt her," Carl continued, "I will charter a spaceship, fill it with angry drag queens, and hunt you down across the galaxy if I have to. Are we clear?"

I nodded, unable to find my voice for a moment. The idea of having all the queens in his apartment coming for me was not a comforting one. When I finally spoke, my words were little more than a croak. “We are.”

Carl's face split into a bright smile, the transformation so sudden it was almost dizzying. "Wonderful! Now, let's get back to the party. We're about to start dirty charades!"

He slipped back inside, leaving me to collect myself and wonder if I’d heard correctly.

Dirty charades?

I gave my head a shake. I’d been to many alien worlds, and this wasn’t the first time I’d been threatened. It wasn’t even the first time I’d been threatened over a female. But it was the first time I truly cared about not leaving behind a path of emotional havoc.

Was that what I was doing with Olivia? Was I playing with her heart? Was I thinking about what would happen when I inevitably left the planet and left her behind?

“What are you doing?” I muttered to myself.

I'd come to Earth for some fun, for a distraction. I’d come to see my cousin and because he’d found love with a beautiful human, I’d thought availing myself of the willing females would be easy. But I hadn’t expected this. I hadn’t expected Olivia.

I inhaled deeply, dragging in as much cold air as possible to my three lungs. It didn’t matter what I felt. Despite what Carl thought, Olivia did not want this to be real. She’d made that very clear with her rules.

Although she also broke them.

I pushed aside that thought. I'd made a promise to Olivia. The New Year's Eve party was still coming up. I just had to get through that, and then…

And then what?

I didn’t let myself dwell on that as I swiveled to the door and opened it. Inside, Ida and Robyn were refilling glasses of cider, while Carl was explaining the rules of dirty charades.

As I rejoined the group, my eyes found Olivia across the room. She gave me a small smile, and my heart did that strange flip again.

Then I caught Carl’s stern look and Griff’s questioning one. Why did I have the feeling that I was going to have a lot of explaining to do?