5. Chapter 5

Chapter 5

Summer

My hands trembled and I had to breathe through my mouth to keep from vomiting from nerves when the bus pulled into the station. I almost tripped going down the stairs. The GPS coordinates of the building blinked on my phone. I double checked the address of the building, expecting a grander place than a nondescript business office painted with neutral colors.

Before going in, I noticed a small ice cream shop with signs proclaiming everything was made with local ingredients. Though it was bitterly cold, I treated myself to a vanilla ice cream cone. I sat by myself at a high top table and watched the doors to the GBA, as if I were a detective on stakeout monitoring for signs of trouble, collecting information and processing it.

A few times, the door opened and smiling women walked out followed by some men in suits carrying briefcases. I caught a glimpse of some aliens. Three appeared to be members of the Klagan Earth Force, with their bronze horns and tell-tale white hair streaked with colors that matched their skin tone. At first, residents of Earth were apprehensive of them, but they had proven themselves true allies in the eradication of the invading Elodians. I wouldn't mind mating with a Klagan or some of the other more humanoid species that had made their presence known to humans after the invasion.

To be honest, my nerves calmed watching people enter and exit the building. Everybody looked like they were dressed professionally as if they worked in a bank or a high-end office building. For all I knew they were lawyers sent there or who worked there to draft up the legal terms of being a mail order bride. Perhaps some were there to claim their brides. My imagination ran wild with possible scenarios. Once I finished my ice cream I gave myself another mental pep talk, then smoothed my blouse over my work khakis and headed across the street.

The plain exterior hid a modern office building with all sleek black and white marble with plush furniture that begged someone to sit. Behind the reception desk welcoming a middle-aged woman with salt and pepper hair, stood when I entered. "Hello, it's nice to meet you." She extended her hand. "I'm Lindsey."

"Summer Hughes," I said.

"Do you have an appointment?"

I flushed. "No. I saw an advertisement. It said walk-ins are welcome, but I do have an account."

"Oh, you're fine." Lindsey's blue eyes gleamed. "Walk-ins are fine. I can help you with anything you need. What brings you to the GBA?"

Something about Lindsey's voice put me at ease and I trusted her immediately. "I need to help my family with money. Can you explain the process of becoming a bride to me, please?"

"Of course." Lindsey fussed with paperwork behind her desk, explaining the process in a simple, straightforward fashion. "Before we continue on you'll have to meet with one of our matchmakers and have a more in-depth interview."

"All right."

Lindsey led me to a back office down a crip white hallway to a waiting room. "Have a seat." She handed me a tablet and a few papers with a pen. "Here is our questionnaire. Please fill it out to the best of your ability."

The first few questions were basic background information, but as I continued filling it in, there were sections about my medical history which I glossed over, and another entitled ‘kinks'. It mentioned wings, tails, horns, forked tongues, scales, teeth and tentacles. I didn't really know what to make of it, but I supposed these people were in the business of making the best matches and making sure their matches were as compatible as possible. I didn't have much experience with anything other than vanilla in the bedroom, but I had read some paranormal and alien science fiction romance books, so I wasn't opposed to most things. I answered as truthfully as I could, even going so far as to say unsure on a few of the weirder-to-me ones.

The last question had my marital status, and it pained me to check the box marked widow. I'd long ago decided David would want me to find happiness; he wouldn't want me to live alone. Maybe it's why I felt the need to leave Earth and find my mate among the stars.

"Congratulations," Lindsay said. "All the paperwork is filled out. It's time to meet the lawyer who will draw up the contract for the GBA. Follow me."

We walked down the hallway where I met my first alien, and he was my lawyer. At first, I recoiled at the sight of a brawny red minotaur with wickedly sharp horns jutting from his skull. "How can I understand you? I presume you're not speaking English or Galactic Standard."

He smiled, an all toothy grin. "No, it's a translator that you'll get if you sign with us. Sit, let me explain and show you the contract." Meticulously, he went over each clause in the contract, asking if I needed clarification multiple times, until he was sure I understood the ramifications of my decision. "Do we have a deal?" He looked me in the eye, his voice oozing confidence.

I had visualized this moment, and my brain knew I was ready for my leap into the uncertain future. Life as I knew it was over. There was no going back now. My family needed my help, and if this was what I had to do to get them that help, then so be it. I made a concerted effort to keep my hand from shaking as I reached out and took the alien's much larger hand in mine. "We have a deal," I replied. Now, all I had to do was walk up onto the auction block and step into my unknown future.