Chapter 11

11

M om’s expression went from startled to furious as fast as the touchdown of a tornado. She jabbed a finger at Zhoel’s still-bare chest. “I knew we shouldn’t have trusted you!” Looking over her shoulder, she shouted, “Adam! Adam, get up here!”

“No, Mom, stop!” Lila grabbed her mom’s hand. “I want Zhoel here. I asked him in.”

Her mother yanked her into the hallway, attempting to wedge herself between Zhoel and Lila. “He’s obviously using his alien powers to coerce you.”

Lila dug in her heels, refusing to budge. “He’s not coercing me and he’s not here to do anything nefarious. Just because he’s an alien is no reason to suspect him of bad intentions.”

Mom gave up tugging and crossed her arms. “I’d have a problem with this situation even if he was human. You barely know each other.” Her gaze on Zhoel could’ve shot laser beams. “We don’t know his customs, or... or anything. How can you trust him?”

Dad’s voice floated up from downstairs. “Are you calling me, Diane?”

“It’s fine, Dad!” Lila called back.

Zhoel had shrugged into his shirt and now raised both hands as if in surrender. “I understand your concern, Mrs. Carson. My arrival has not gone how I planned. I came here looking for a business partner. I didn’t expect to find something more. Please believe my intentions are genuine. I care for Lila more than anything and would never do anything to harm her or her loved ones.”

“I need you to trust my judgment on this,” Lila interjected softly, then glanced shyly at Zhoel and added, “He means a lot to me.” Her mind wasn’t yet ready to accept the whole fated mates thing, but her heart already felt bound.

Mom took a deep breath and let it out shakily. “You’re my baby girl and I only want what’s best for you. I don’t want to see you make mistakes like your sister did.”

Down the hall, the squeak of door hinges drew Lila’s attention just before Sara hissed, “Mom, I told you not to say anything!”

Lila frowned. “What did she do?”

Her mother’s features crumpled on the verge of tears. “Your sister is getting a divorce.”

Sara huffed and shut the door with a heavy thud.

“But they just had a baby!” Lila knew her sister had been struggling, but hadn’t realized things had gotten so bad.

“Yes, and the divorce papers insist she has to stay in Illinois because of the kids. She can’t even come back home.” Mom’s voice cracked. “Sara is far enough away. I don’t want you to end up trapped on another planet.”

The thrill of possibly traveling to another planet made Lila’s breath catch, but the sadness in her mother’s eyes dulled that excitement. Clearly, Mom didn’t want both her daughters’ lives changing so quickly. “We’re nowhere near making choices like that, but Zhoel and I are moving forward on a business deal regardless of our... personal interactions.” Lila reached out and took her mom’s hands, holding them tight. “I promise this won’t stress you or Dad. Let us handle things. You know I’ve always wanted to travel, and this may just give me that chance.”

Mom searched Lila’s face for a long, quiet moment, then, as if finding something she needed, pulled her daughter into a hug. “I suppose it is probably time we started handing things over to you kids.” Squeezing as if she never intended to let go, Mom glared at Zhoel over Lila’s shoulder. “If you hurt her, I promise I’ll make you regret it.”

“You don’t need to worry, Mrs. Carson.” Zhoel’s voice warmed the air with reassurance.

Mom kissed Lila’s cheek and released her, turning and walking back down the hallway.

Lila let out a slow breath, shoulders sagging with relief. She glanced at her sister’s closed door, and briefly considered knocking, but Josh’s muffled voice on the other side stopped her. Sara wouldn’t want to talk with the kids around.

Heart aching, Lila mumbled, “Poor Sara,” as she led Zhoel down the stairs.

Zhoel paused on the bottom step, looking up. “Why would anyone want to leave his mate, especially when they have produced offspring together?”

“People divorce for lots of reasons. Sara’s husband is gone a lot for work, and she’s wondered if he’s been cheating for a long time now.” Lila scowled. Her mom’s concern about Zhoel abandoning her lingered in the back of her mind, and she gave him a sideways look. “You say Kirenai mate for life, but does that mean couples are happy forever? Or just stuck with each other?”

Zhoel nodded thoughtfully. “Even mated couples can experience hardship, but I trust we can work through whatever challenges we face together and come out stronger in the end.”

Lila laughed uncomfortably. “Slow down, Zhoel. I’m not quite ready for wedding vows.”

He smiled, eyes dancing with an undeniable affection that made her heart flutter. “As you wish. Are you ready to go?”

He helped her shrug into her coat before putting on his own. She grabbed her purse and stepped out into the crisp morning air. Despite the recent tense interaction with her mother, the pale blue sky felt light with promise and the thrill of something new. She took Zhoel’s hand and walked down the snowy path, heading toward the cafe.

They walked in comfortable silence, boots crunching on the icy sidewalk. Being with Zhoel felt nice, like they were on the same page in a way that didn’t require words. Lila felt more optimistic than she’d felt in a very long time. They had faced her mother—together—and they had made it through. Now they were going to save the trucking company and get his business started, assuming Ann was as willing to join Zhoel’s app as she hoped.

The bell above the cafe door chimed as they entered, and the warm, bitter scent of coffee enveloped them. Lila’s stomach rumbled, and she glanced at Zhoel with embarrassment.

He gave her a knowing smile. “We worked up quite an appetite. Allow me to order this time,” he said, striding toward the counter where the barista was helping another customer.

The cafe patrons watched Zhoel curiously, but with fewer open-mouthed stares than yesterday. Lila spotted Ann sitting with two of her friends, all eyes on Zhoel. Their appreciative stares made Lila’s chest burn with jealousy, but she quickly reminded herself of her bedroom last night. Zhoel is mine .

Standing taller, she smiled and wove her way between the tables toward Ann. “Hey, Ann.” She nodded at the other women. “Kylie, Steph. Mind if I join you?”

“Ooh, should we make room for your alien friend, too?” Ann scooted over and slid a vacant chair from a nearby table into place beside her.

Lila pulled a fifth chair up to the table, then pointedly took the chair next to Ann. “Yes. In fact, we want to talk to you about something.” She looked toward Zhoel, who was speaking animatedly with the barista. “It’s about a dating app he’s been working on.”

“Dating app? For aliens?” Kylie asked, one manicured brow arched in curiosity.

Ann tapped a polished nail against the tabletop. “He turned me down with the mistletoe. Now he’s into dating?”

“Not Zhoel himself,” Lila clarified. “He has some beta testers who are interested in coming to Earth.”

“If they’re as hot as he is, sign me up!” Steph said, gaze riveted on Zhoel’s backside.

Lila tried not to scowl. “I haven’t seen the candidates yet, but probably. Every Kirenai I’ve ever seen on the Internet is gorgeous.” She thought about the pale alien from the permit office and added, “And there are other aliens to choose from, too. They’re all really interesting.”

Zhoel arrived with two steaming cups and set one in front of Lila, filling the air with the scent of warm mocha. “I also ordered something called bagels which will be ready when they come out of the toaster.”

He pulled the empty chair close to Lila’s and sat, making the other women at the table grin and give each other knowing looks. Steph mumbled, “Go Lila.”

Face heating, Lila cleared her throat. “Thanks, Zhoel. I was just telling them about your app. Is there a way they can get a glimpse of the dating pool?”

“Of course.” Zhoel pulled his holographic device from his pocket and set it on the table.

Once the women got over their curiosity about the device, he scrolled through several holograms, mostly ubiquitously handsome Kirenai. Lila also recognized the permitting official in one and a gray alien with a craggy face and horns in another. “My app will allow you to talk with them prior to agreeing to a date. Once you pick someone, we can arrange travel, accommodations, and locations for dates. As beta users, you may not find your perfect match right away, but you will be helping me refine the interface.”

Ann traced a finger through the hologram of a Kirenai with thick eyebrows and broody eyes. “Sign me up. I’m an expert at first dates.”

Not so expert at second dates, Lila thought, though maybe this app would help change that.

Glad to have Ann’s attention on someone other than Zhoel, Lila said, “Thank you, Ann.”

Kylie nodded. “I’m up for meeting handsome aliens. Count me in.”

“Me, too,” added Steph.

“Wonderful!” Zhoel said.

As he showed the women how to access the app via their phones, Lila’s spirits lifted. For the first time in a long while, she felt like things were falling into place. They spent the next hour brainstorming ideas, sharing laughs, and talking about how to make the app successful. Ann and the others had advice for everything from lodging to meals, surprising Lila with the thoughtful ways they suggested sharing human culture with extraterrestrial men. I guess not everything Ann does is lewd or self-serving .

But as the conversation continued, Lila felt more and more out of place. Kylie asked about possibly taking her date to a play in the city, and Steph took the idea and expanded it into international travel.

“Humans have different cultures all over the world,” said Steph, mirroring Lila’s own desire to travel. “Wouldn’t it be fun if the couple got to experience a new culture together?”

Zhoel was excited about the prospect and started taking notes on his holographic device. “A shared experience like that could help create strong bonds.”

Lila sat back in her chair, slowly growing more and more despondent. She’d wondered how her family’s trucking business could fit into Zhoel’s business model before, but now it was becoming clear that it didn’t. What did trucking have to do with picking the best lodging or choosing a venue for a romantic dinner? Transportation wasn’t the troublesome part of dating. What Zhoel needed was a vacation planner. Not a bookkeeper for a failing company. Not me .

A lump formed in her throat as the truth settled in her mind. She looked at Zhoel, his eyes flashing with excitement as Steph talked about having a date at a salsa dancing class in Puerto Rico. She never would’ve thought of that. Or a stroll through London’s botanical gardens like Kylie suggested. I’ve barely ventured past a traditional dinner and a movie date . Who was she to think she could help get Zhoel’s app off the ground?

Zhoel squeezed her hand, saying something about going on a food tour. Lila nodded, forcing a smile. But deep down, the seed of a difficult decision had taken root. I can’t partner with Zhoel . He deserved the best chance at success, and she couldn’t let anything—not even her need to save her family’s business—hold him back.