Free How to Date an Alien by Magan Vernon Page B

are your hands always so warm when the rest of you is
freezing? And this time I’ll know if you’re lying.”
    Now it was his turn to get embarrassed. His
fingertips circled each one of my fingers. “Well it’s probably not
something you would believe even if I told you.”
    I squeezed our intertwined hands together.
“Try me.”
    “Well, when humans get excited to see someone
they like…" His eyes darted away before returning back to my face.
I couldn't believe it. The great Ace was actually getting
flustered.
    "…things happen," he continued. "You get weak
in the knees." He inched closer, pushing his legs against mine.
"Your lips tremble." He touched his finger to my lips, making them
quiver even more than they already were. "Or, other things." His
eyes trailed from my toes, back up to my face.
    “But Caltians—” He released his hand from
mine and for the first time slid off his fingerless glove. “—We
usually maintain a cool temperature of forty-five degrees
Fahrenheit, but when we get this excited, this happens."
    He put my hand back into his and it was like
the feeling of static electricity running through my body. The heat
was so intense that it sent a wave of warmth from the tip of my
toes to the top of my head and everywhere in between.
    “It’s all in our hands.”
    His eyes met mine again. I couldn’t tell if
it was the warm feeling running through my body or just how close I
was to Ace, but every part of me wanted him closer, to feel the
cold air from his body. Ace obviously had the same idea as he
leaned in toward me, his breath forming an ice cloud on my
lips.
    “So, I guess the change of clothes
worked?”
    Ace and I jumped back, releasing our hands.
Jen stood there, staring at us with her hands on her hips.
    “Uh, Ace was just telling me," I stammered,
my eyes darting around like my excuse would be somewhere in the
room.
    Ace put his glove back on, not even saying a
word. He just grinned from ear to ear.
    “Yeah, yeah, from what I saw it didn’t look
like talking." She looked from Ace to me, before looping her arm
through mine.
    “So, I guess Alex asked if you and your
friends wanted to stop by the bowling alley near the reservation?"
Jen stared at Ace and he tried everything not to look at us.
    “Well, no, I didn’t actually ask him." I
looked at Ace and felt that same electricity running through me
without even touching him. “But if you’re not doing anything, the
interns are going out to the bowling alley. If you have nothing
better to do tonight. Which I’m sure you do.”
    “Yeah." Ace sat down in his chair, acting
like he was looking up something on the screen. “I might stop by if
I’m not too busy here. Have fun though.”
    His words stung me more than I wanted. I
thought I saw something in his eyes that said he wanted to be with
me as much as I had longed to be with him. But as soon as Jen
walked in the room he acted as if nothing happened, as if nothing
that was said between us was real.
    Following Jen into the hall, I tried to hide
my longing, but I couldn't stop myself from peeking back through
the closing door. The door was like a metaphor for our
relationship, each of us tried to open it, but every time we got
close, it just closed again. I wished that Jen would have just
waited a few moments before interrupting us, because I wasn't even
sure if I would be able to open Ace's door again.

Chapter
11
     
    “Those humans have been here a few weeks and
they get clearance to take out a Jeep, but I’ve been here for
centuries and never once got to take out so much as a riding lawn
mower," a small orange alien with long inky black hair and a face
like a pug whined.
    The bored-looking guy sitting behind the desk
in the hangar rolled his eyes. “Snurf, you know why you don’t have
clearance.”
    “That was the Middle Ages! And come on, you
know everyone agreed Earth needed some sort of a plague!" It
stomped its pig-like feet.
    I leaned over toward Jen and whispered,