grief, why on Earth would they be intimidated by me?” Gabrielle tried to laugh convincingly. “I’ve never played football. They’ll all be way better than I am.”
I wonder if I’ll be any good at human sports? Acting like I’m human , that is.
Playing ball and running around for fun weren’t exactly things her kind did in their spare time. Really, they didn’t ever have spare time. There was always something to be done. Even here on Earth, Gabrielle still had her job. Luckily, time worked a little differently for her.
Nonie laughed, and her smile was absolutely contagious. Though if she were straight-faced, Gabrielle thought she’d smile back at her just from sheer enjoyment of how strong her accent became when she got animated.
“Gabrielle, you don’t have any idea how gorgeous you are, do you?”
Before Gabrielle could answer, a tall, blond male ran up behind them, grabbed Nonie in a big bear hug, and kissed her on the cheek before he sat her down.
“ Ugh! Nate! Did you have to slobber all over me? Gabrielle, could you grab me a stack of napkins? Like, ten !” Gabrielle could tell she was kidding. She was already chasing the guy. When they made it back around, they were laughing and breathing hard.
Nonie playfully slapped him on the back of the head. And, though he may have wanted to retaliate, he looked up at Gabrielle and immediately stopped.
“ Wow! ” He paused a moment. A smile played on one side of his lips as he stared at Gabrielle. “Who’s your friend, Nee?”
“ Oh jeez! ” Nonie rolled her eyes. “ Heeere we go.” She got a light thump on the head in return from the guy. “Nate, Gabrielle. Gabrielle, Nate, my annoying, but loveable, brother. Twin brother, actually.” Nonie smiled and pushed her brother toward the line for pizza. “Let’s get our food before my brother starts drooling over you and I lose my appetite.”
Nate and Nonie did look similar. His hair was darker, more like honey than Nonie’s wheat color. Their eyes were the same shade of amber, though, and his smile seemed to come just as easily.
Gabrielle fell in step with Nonie and Nate, feeling Nate’s eyes on her, then stopped abruptly.
It’s him …
She looked up and saw Lucas walking toward them. The flutters in her stomach woke again, and a smile spread across both of their faces as their eyes met.
Chapter Six
Gabrielle ~ A Human Date
Lucas took forever to reach them.
At least, it seemed that way to Gabrielle. She liked his confident gait and the way he carried himself, tall and proud—his athletic body all muscles and broad shoulders. She wanted to know what it would feel like to have his arms wrap around her and hold her tightly.
If he did, I don’t know if I’d ever want him to let me go.
Gabrielle scoffed to herself. Even if her daydream ever became a reality somehow, he’d have to let her go, one day.
Forever .
She let the dismal intrusion be pushed aside by more pleasant thoughts because, finally, he was there. Standing in front of her—so close.
So very close.
He smelled wonderful, earthy and sweet; she had an almost irresistible urge to move toward his neck and inhale deeply.
Stop! It!
“Hey, Lucas,” Nonie greeted him cheerfully. “Lucas, this is Gabrielle. Gabrielle, this is—”
“We’ve met,” Lucas interrupted.
Gabrielle may have thought it was rude if she hadn’t been distracted by the silkiness of his voice. It reminded her a little of her own kind.
Nonie seemed a bit taken aback. Gabrielle could see her in her periphery as she shifted her weight. After several seconds, she finally spoke.
“When did ya’ll meet?” Nonie asked.
“Just this morning. I tried to maim him with my car door in the parking lot,” Gabrielle laughed slightly. “Then he tried to molest me, and—”
“ I tried to molest you!” Lucas’s smile grew and his eyes widened “That’s not the way I recall things! You got the attempt on my life correct, but the other was more like me
I wonder if I’ll be any good at human sports? Acting like I’m human , that is.
Playing ball and running around for fun weren’t exactly things her kind did in their spare time. Really, they didn’t ever have spare time. There was always something to be done. Even here on Earth, Gabrielle still had her job. Luckily, time worked a little differently for her.
Nonie laughed, and her smile was absolutely contagious. Though if she were straight-faced, Gabrielle thought she’d smile back at her just from sheer enjoyment of how strong her accent became when she got animated.
“Gabrielle, you don’t have any idea how gorgeous you are, do you?”
Before Gabrielle could answer, a tall, blond male ran up behind them, grabbed Nonie in a big bear hug, and kissed her on the cheek before he sat her down.
“ Ugh! Nate! Did you have to slobber all over me? Gabrielle, could you grab me a stack of napkins? Like, ten !” Gabrielle could tell she was kidding. She was already chasing the guy. When they made it back around, they were laughing and breathing hard.
Nonie playfully slapped him on the back of the head. And, though he may have wanted to retaliate, he looked up at Gabrielle and immediately stopped.
“ Wow! ” He paused a moment. A smile played on one side of his lips as he stared at Gabrielle. “Who’s your friend, Nee?”
“ Oh jeez! ” Nonie rolled her eyes. “ Heeere we go.” She got a light thump on the head in return from the guy. “Nate, Gabrielle. Gabrielle, Nate, my annoying, but loveable, brother. Twin brother, actually.” Nonie smiled and pushed her brother toward the line for pizza. “Let’s get our food before my brother starts drooling over you and I lose my appetite.”
Nate and Nonie did look similar. His hair was darker, more like honey than Nonie’s wheat color. Their eyes were the same shade of amber, though, and his smile seemed to come just as easily.
Gabrielle fell in step with Nonie and Nate, feeling Nate’s eyes on her, then stopped abruptly.
It’s him …
She looked up and saw Lucas walking toward them. The flutters in her stomach woke again, and a smile spread across both of their faces as their eyes met.
Chapter Six
Gabrielle ~ A Human Date
Lucas took forever to reach them.
At least, it seemed that way to Gabrielle. She liked his confident gait and the way he carried himself, tall and proud—his athletic body all muscles and broad shoulders. She wanted to know what it would feel like to have his arms wrap around her and hold her tightly.
If he did, I don’t know if I’d ever want him to let me go.
Gabrielle scoffed to herself. Even if her daydream ever became a reality somehow, he’d have to let her go, one day.
Forever .
She let the dismal intrusion be pushed aside by more pleasant thoughts because, finally, he was there. Standing in front of her—so close.
So very close.
He smelled wonderful, earthy and sweet; she had an almost irresistible urge to move toward his neck and inhale deeply.
Stop! It!
“Hey, Lucas,” Nonie greeted him cheerfully. “Lucas, this is Gabrielle. Gabrielle, this is—”
“We’ve met,” Lucas interrupted.
Gabrielle may have thought it was rude if she hadn’t been distracted by the silkiness of his voice. It reminded her a little of her own kind.
Nonie seemed a bit taken aback. Gabrielle could see her in her periphery as she shifted her weight. After several seconds, she finally spoke.
“When did ya’ll meet?” Nonie asked.
“Just this morning. I tried to maim him with my car door in the parking lot,” Gabrielle laughed slightly. “Then he tried to molest me, and—”
“ I tried to molest you!” Lucas’s smile grew and his eyes widened “That’s not the way I recall things! You got the attempt on my life correct, but the other was more like me
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