Chapter 39
39
P ari heard Uncle Leo say something but couldn’t make it out before Uncle Al started talking. “Use the big pot, Pariwink,” he suggested. “They look like they can put the popcorn away, if ya know what I mean.”
Pari smiled. “They’re not that bad.”
“Oh yeah? You did notice there were no leftovers, didn’t you? That Kwaku has a healthy appetite.” He eyed her and grabbed the butter out of the fridge. “So, you and this Melvale, huh?”
She shrugged. “I don’t know.”
“What do you mean, you don’t know? I thought he was your boyfriend?”
“I never really said…”
“I distinctly heard the word, boyfriend,” he put in. He set the butter on the counter. “Well, is he?”
“Melvale… asked me out.” She let go a breath. Had she been holding it? “We’re not officially dating yet.” She gave him a sheepish look. “So how could he be my boyfriend?”
“Maybe someone should explain to him how this works. Judging from the way he looks at you, he’s halfway to proposing.”
“Oh, Uncle Al,” she said with a dismissive wave. She poured a little vegetable oil into a pot and got the burner going.
“What do you think of him?”
Her cheeks heated. “Well, he’s… different.”
“You can say that again.” He put some butter into a tiny microwaveable bowl. “Okay, this is ready to melt when you need it.” He turned and leaned against the kitchen counter. “So, you two met when you were abducted?”
Pari tried not to gape. She couldn’t very well say they were held prisoner by a mad doctor or that Melvale was an alien. For one, she wasn’t sure how much he already knew. “He... that is we…”
Uncle Al put a hand on her shoulder. “When you’re ready to tell us what happened, you will. Leo and I won’t judge you, Pariwink. Just… be honest with us, that’s all we ask.”
Pari blew out a breath. She couldn’t believe she was getting off this easy. “I believe that coming from you. But Uncle Leo? To him I’m perpetually sixteen years old and can’t do anything right.”
“Nah, that ain’t true. Leo, he’s protective, just in a different way. I know he nags but…”
“It’s more than nagging, Uncle Al. He thinks if he complains enough about something, I’ll stop whatever it is, or things will change. It makes me not want to be around him.”
He heaved a sigh. “I know, I’ve spoken to him. He’ll try to be better.” Uncle Al glanced at the pot on the stove. “Your oil is probably hot.”
She tossed in a few test kernels and waited for them to pop. As soon as they did, she poured in her measured amount, covered the top of the pot with foil, and then grabbed some hot pads. Thankfully the loud popping kept Uncle Al from asking her any more questions. There was a lot her uncles didn’t know, and she hadn’t had a chance to ask Kwaku and Zara, or Hal and Raina what they’d been told. Did they know Melvale and Zara were aliens? So much had happened over the last few days, she didn’t know which way was up.
When the popcorn was done, she melted the butter while Uncle Al put the popcorn into a big bowl. After pouring the butter over the top, she realized she was looking forward to continuing the game, and that she was having a good time. Pari just wished her uncles would stop reading so much into the situation. She liked Melvale but didn’t dare get too attached to him. A broken heart was the last thing she needed, and she had to face it. He didn’t know her well. Once he did, he’d change his tune, turn tail and run the other way.
Pari was, by her own admission, an odd duck. She always had been. She never fit in anywhere, and that had always been part of her problem. It was hard for her to make friends because eventually they wouldn’t want to hang out with her. She asked deep questions of people, and after a while, none were inclined to answer. Could she help it if she got philosophical at times?
Hmm, could she ask Melvale things? But… hadn’t she started to right before she dozed off? Wow, what did he think of that? Did she fall asleep in the middle of their conversation? How humiliating! And if she did, why hadn’t he said anything? Was he just being polite?
They carried the popcorn into the dining room, and everyone helped themselves. The game continued, and as soon as Kwaku took another turn, he landed in jail again. Uncle Leo and Uncle Al laughed their heads off, and Pari began to worry when he glowered at them.
“Don’t fret, Kitten,” Melvale whispered beside her. “He won’t hurt them.”
“Good to know,” she whispered back.
Kwaku grinned when Uncle Al landed on Park Place. He did manage to buy a few more houses to put on it before he took his last turn.
“Ah shucks!” Uncle Al said.
Kwaku gave him an evil smile. “Pay up.”
“Yeah, yeah.” Uncle Al counted out the money, which was most of what he had. “There, you mobster!”
Kwaku laughed heartily then greedily eyed Uncle Leo’s piles of fake cash.
Uncle Leo’s eyes widened as he reached for the dice. “Don’t think for a minute I’m going to land on one of your properties!”
Kwaku laughed harder.
“Confound it, that laugh of yours is unnerving!”
“Leo, stop fussing and take your turn!” Uncle Al groused.
Her uncle rolled, moved his piece, then took a card. “Go to jail!”
Pari couldn’t believe it. Kwaku laughed harder! Good grief, the people on the subway shuttle could probably hear him. The thought made her laugh and soon everyone joined in.
“Kawahnee,” Zara said through her giggles. “You should not find it so amusing. You were in jail for several turns.”
“Yes, Pretty One, and may well be again. Leo and I will be cell mates. Dat is, if he survives.” He made to flick his piece off the board.
“Don’t you dare!” Leo cried. He moved his piece to the corner of the board where the jail square was. “There, happy?”
Kwaku laughed some more then reached for the popcorn.
“Don’t eat it all,” Uncle Al advised.
Everyone turned to Kwaku as one hand hovered over the bowl. “What?”
Pari giggled. “I can get you a small bowl. In fact, why don’t I bring everyone a little bowl?” She left the table before anyone could protest and giggled all the way into the kitchen.
Before she knew it, Melvale was behind her. “I’ll help you.”
She turned around and almost bumped into him, he was so close. “Oh, um, thanks.” She glanced up and took in the happy look on his face. “Are you having a good time?”
“Yes, very. You?” He gazed at her, eyes bright. They were a light blue and getting bluer by the second, and yet, there was no sign of the other side of him, not really.
“Your eyes…” she said. “What will my uncles say?”
“Mood contacts.” Melvale smiled. “Because, why not?”
She laughed. “Oh, that’s rich. I’m not sure they’ll go for it.”
“They’ll have to. It’s all I can come up with.”
She smiled at him, then opened a cupboard to get some bowls. “Fine.” She thought of Uncle Al’s questions earlier. She wasn’t going to get her hopes up. Tonight was fun, but would end soon, and then what? “Um, where are you three going to sleep?”
He closed the distance between them until he was right behind her. “Your apartment. Is that a problem?”
“My uncles…”
“I am your protection.”
“Oh, right.” She turned around. He was so close her hands and the stack of bowls touched him. “Kwaku and Zara can have my room. You can take the room Raina used…”
“I’ll sleep on the floor beside your bed.”
She looked up at him. “I can’t let you do that.”
“I insist. I will not leave you.”
She noted how blue his eyes had become. “I see. You’ll keep the monsters away then?” Okay, she had to admit that having a handsome alien sleeping near her to protect her was kinda hot. But really, what were the chances of someone breaking into her apartment and grabbing her?
She shook her head. All right, so they were pretty good. Pari sobered at the thought and tried to move past him.
“Pari…” He blocked her path. “You do understand why I must stay close?”
She nodded but didn’t look at him. Part of her was embarrassed by this. The other enthralled. She should be able to take care of herself. But when she thought of that horrid steel table she’d been strapped to. Dr. Charles hovering over her, the cell, the poking and prodding, all of it. Well, she shook.
“Pari,” he said with a hint of urgency. “I will keep you safe.” He tucked a finger under her chin and brought her face up to look at him. “You do believe me, don’t you?”
She nodded. But who was going to keep her safe once he was gone? And when he did leave (which he eventually would) did she even need protection? Would her uncles? “Why… why are you here?”
He sighed, and before she knew it, he was lifting her onto the kitchen counter. She let out a little squeak as he sat her down, then placed his hands on either side of her boxing her in. “To protect you. To keep you safe.”
“And our date? What’s that about?”
“To get to know you better.” He drew closer. “And you can get to know me.”
Pari closed her eyes. If she asked “why” again she was going to sound stupid. What did they want with her? It had to be more than just getting to know her. Were Kwaku and Zara here to make sure he got whatever “it” was?
“You’re over thinking this,” he said gently.
She sucked in a breath. “Will you stop doing that?”
He gave her a little smile. “I can’t help it. It just happens.”
“How can you know my every mood and what I’m feeling?”
He put a finger to his nose.
Pari rolled her eyes. “You can smell it? Wow, just wow!”
Melvale straightened. “You are not out of danger! Neither am I. We both must take precautions.” He looked at the bowls in her hands. “We will speak of this later. We’re holding up the game.” He put his hands to her waist and lifted her off the counter. As soon as her feet touched the floor, she hurried into the dining room and passed out the bowls. She wasn’t surprised to see that half the popcorn was gone; or her uncles giving Kwaku the death glare.
He munched happily and beamed at them.
Everyone filled their bowls with what was left, and they resumed their game. Kwaku, despite landing in jail several more times, won. Much to her uncles’ dismay, and it was now time to retire.
“This was a fun evening, folks,” Uncle Al said. “Are you staying at a hotel?”
“No, uncle,” Pari said. “They’re staying with me.”
“What?!” Uncle Leo huffed. He narrowed his eyes at Melvale. “I’m watching you.” He pointed at him for good measure. “Remember what I said.”
Melvale held up his hands as if Uncle Leo had a gun pointed at him. “I’ll treasure every threat.”
“Hold them close to your heart,” Uncle Leo growled.
Pari’s jaw went slack. Oh no! What did her uncle say to him?
Melvale smiled at her. “Nothing to worry about. Come on, let’s go upstairs.”
“You’re staying too, right?” Uncle Leo asked Kwaku and Zara.
“We are,” Zara said.
“Well,” Leo huffed. “I suppose it’s something.”
Kwaku laughed, turned to Zara, and smiled. “Hungry, beloved?”
Melvale snorted, took Pari by the hand, and headed for the front door.
“What was that about?” she asked as he pulled her along.
“I’ll tell you one day,” he said with a chuckle. “But today is not the day.”