On Tour with An Alien Rock Star by Sierra Storm

Author:Sierra Storm [Storm, Sierra]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: anonymous
Published: 2024-01-08T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 11

Sly

Jean couldn’t take her eyes off me. A stab of guilt hit me for the effect I wielded over her, even if none of it was intentional. Jean couldn’t help it. No one could after being exposed to telepathy by Chromians. Some of our race liked our ability to be blindingly charismatic, but sometimes I wondered how much more genuine life would be without it. I always wanted sincere approval from others, not approval I manufactured and forced. Every relationship broke if I was the one pulling all the strings, manipulating thoughts and shaping perceptions despite my intent. Even though I hadn’t gone far with Jean, I sensed her mind groping for mine, and it bothered me. The proximity was present, but the intimacy was missing.

At least for now.

I distracted myself by thinking about food. My stomach was so empty it felt like a bottomless pit begging to be filled. A place like this had a lot of options, besides. Jean and I could find something we both liked.

Jean stayed at my side as we navigated the food court, but the restaurant that caught my attention wasn’t in the food court at all. I spotted an exotic getaway restaurant near the food court offering a more conventional sit-down experience out of the public eye. Better yet, I smelled the meat coming out of it—red and gamey, the way I liked it. Jean grabbed onto my arm as we approached. She clung closer than I liked, but I didn’t withdraw.

“A table for two please,” I said to the server when we entered.

The server was a tall woman in black with a sparkling silver scarf wrapped around her neck. “Would you like the lovers’ package?” she asked, glancing down at a printed seating arrangement.

I paused and studied Jean, and her face reddened at the assumption from the translation I had passed on to her. She released my arm.

“Right up our alley,” I said. “It’s a big anniversary for us. And it’s been a long time since we’ve sneaked around town together.”

“The wind’s been bad with the storm,” the server agreed. “I’ve been considering moving into a hostel adjacent to the mall. The things one does for work. Anyway, our lovers’ package is half off today. It includes a more private booth, fresh flowers, a candle-lit souvenir ahead and a musical serenade. I recommend it.”

I stuffed Jean’s hand in my own and squeezed. “That would be the perfect way to end the day, wouldn’t it, my love?”

She blinked, still untangling my translation and unsure how much of it to trust.

I looked back at the server. “She’s speechless. Let’s explore what you’ve got, shall we?”

She led us over to our table. The walls here were midnight blue, and our booth, fenced off from the others, was made from a heavy dark substance ambiguously either wood or stone. I sat down first, and Jean followed. Over our heads, I saw the chandelier with tiny flames flickering like stars, and I wondered how often the wax drops found their way onto food or the tops of heads.

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