Page 11 of Clonely You
“I do, but I am not worthy of you.” The expression on his face is plainly adoring, which weirds me out a little.
I roll my eyes at that. “How about you let me decide, hm? And besides, it was your idea. We don’t have to go out.”
“But you wanted to meet my friends, yes?”
Did I? The only one I’m really interested in meeting is the bounty hunter. But I need to keep him happy, because I needthat contact…and I need him to not rat me out. I shift on my feet. “I’m just…nervous.”
Aithar relaxes. “I assure you, my friends are pleasant and will mean you no harm. If you feel uncomfortable or unsafe, we will leave immediately. You are my priority.”
Over his friends? Doubtful. But there’s a sincerity in Aithar’s face that makes me trust him. The more I look at him, the more he’s so different from the bastard I remember. That man had hard, narrow eyes that seemed dark as coals. Everything about him was hard and mean. Aithar isn’t like that. His eyes are wide and guileless, and unless he’s the best actor I’ve ever met, there’s no faking his nervous enthusiasm for our date. “It’s fine. I’ll relax eventually. What’s the plan?”
He straightens and clasps his hands behind his back, in what might be an almost military pose. “I will escort you into town. We will proceed to the cantina, which is currently under construction. I thought it might be a more comfortable spot for you to visit and get to know my friends instead of heading to our ship with us.”
“Cantina. Okay. That sounds fine.”
He smiles broadly. “You will be able to see how much we a’ani resemble each other, yet we are all very different people. I think you will like them, and I would like for you to have more friends for a support system.”
That’s a little presumptuous of him. I can feel myself stiffening, my expression growing hard. “I don’t need friends.”
“Everyone needs friends.” He smiles sweetly at me, his eyes guileless.
What can I say to that? He seems to genuinely mean what he says, and I can tell there’ll be no changing his mind. I cross my arms over my chest, determined to change the subject. “We’re hanging out with your friends? This doesn’t sound like a very romantic date.”
Aithar goes still, his eyes widening a fraction. “Did…you wish it to be? Romantic?”
Oh. Was he deliberate in choosing a date that would make me comfortable instead of making it romantic? I guess I was expecting him to be pushy about wanting to get into my bed given that he’d immediately demanded a date. Him being thoughtful about it is…unexpected. For the first time, I realize that he’s wearing nice clothes. It’s a uniform, sure, but the pleats are crisp and the fabric looks new. His head seems to be newly shaven and he smells like soap. Did he get dressed up for me?
Because he wanted this to be romantic after all?
“I just…I thought…” I blow out a breath. “I honestly don’t know what I thought.”
“It can be whatever you wish it to be.” His smile grows bashful. “I would not presume that you love me already.”
“I would hope not,” I manage, a laugh bubbling up. “This is our first date.”
Aithar doesn’t laugh with me, but gives me another little smile.
“We are such big fans of your butter,” a woman with multiple facial piercings and a short black mohawk says to me. She shakes my hand vigorously, enthusiasm all over her face. “We want as much of it as we can possibly purchase. I think people at the cantina will love it, but if there’s not enough for them, I want enough for me.”
I manage a smile, trying to extricate my hand from hers. “Thank you. I’m not sure how much butter I can provide. My dairy is small?—”
“Whatever you’ve got, I want it,” she reassures me, still pumping my hand.
Aithar smoothly steps in, putting his hand over our joined ones. “Ruthie, Michaela has not discussed supplying the cantina. We are here on a date. You can speak butter another time.”
“Oh, of course. Right. A date.” She winks exaggeratedly. “I’m Ruthie, like he said. So you’re in love with Aithar, huh?”
She says the words like she doesn’t believe something about our date. Like we’re faking.
“It’s a first date.”
“Well, he’s already in love?—”
Aithar detangles our hands and steps between us, breaking eye contact. “Michaela, how about I introduce you to Dopekh instead?” He puts a hand on my arm and gently steers me away from Ruthie. Leading me across the room, he leans in close. “I apologize. I have told them all that this is not a romantic date, but they do not seem to believe me.”
I get it. Most dates are of a romantic sort, after all. Still, their reactions are a little odd. “Why wouldn’t they believe you?”
“I think they do not feel any female would be interested in me so quickly. I am not…what did Lady Ruth call it…a ball-busting alpha.”