Page 57 of How My Fake Alien Boyfriend Learned to Cook and Saved the Family Business

“It’s not that,” I whispered. I paused, trying to think of how to explain the sudden surge of emotions. How could I possibly explain how welcomed and accepted her family made me feel? How everyone I’d met made me feel like I was part of something bigger, not apart from it.

I landed on, “I was just thinking about Xaerea, my home planet.”

Lola’s embrace loosened just a fraction, and my tentacles tightened to make up for it.

“Are you homesick?” she asked.

I didn’t know this word, so I wasn’t sure how to answer. “What’s ‘homesick’?”

It took a moment for Lola to respond. I could feel her chest move against me as she breathed.

“It’s when you’re not home, but you long for it,” Lola said finally. “Like you know where you’re supposed to be, but you haven’t found your way back yet.”

I thought about that. I didn’t long for Xaerea, a place I never truly loved and that didn’t love me back. I didn’t think I felt homesick in that case.

But then I thought of the forest where my pod crash-landed, and the meadow just outside of it. The mountains in the distance, woven through with mist. Flowers with butterflies and a stretch of road lined with manicured buildings and sidewalks and people—actual humans—laughing and smiling and spreading joy. The smell of good food, warm cinnamon rolls. And Lola, of course.

And I said, “Yes. I think I might be homesick.”

For a home that was never mine to begin with, in a place that I haven’t left. But I know I will, sooner rather than later.

Lola’s breath hitched, and she pressed her forehead into my chest before gently wriggling out of our embrace.

I missed her immediately. Homesick.

Ending up on Earth wasn’t planned, and arriving in Roswell Falls was nothing more than a pure accident. Yet some part of myself had come to believe it was destined to happen. But it wasn’t, was it?

I needed to stop lying to myself and to Lola.

“I wasn’t supposed to come here,” I said into the quiet room. “To Earth, I mean. It was an accident.”

Lola cocked her head. “How do you accidentally travel to another planet?”

“It’s a long story.”

Lola’s hands came to rest on my shoulders. She looked up at me, considering.

“Actually, it’s not long at all,” I said. “But I don’t want you to think of me any differently after you hear it.”

“It can’t be that bad, Kal,” she insisted, shoving lightly at my shoulder.

But it was. How could I tell Lola that the entire reason I stepped on that travel pod in the first place was a fluke? That I had failed up into a position where no one even wanted me, and immediately proved them right for not wanting me?

The entire story of me ending up on Earth was one big comedy of errors. Nothing more, nothing less.

I wanted to explain my story to Lola the best way I knew how. From the beginning. I wanted Lola to understand all of me—to know all of me. To accept all of me for who I was. Lola had shown me parts of the world I never would have learned about without her as a guide.

Food, obviously. And friendship. How humans live their day-to-day lives. How they think, feel, love. It was this last one that I knew I would always treasure most, even after going back to my planet. I had gotten to learn about love, about friendship and belonging—and I saw it in action.

These things were so natural for humans that you could almost forget they were extraordinary. Something worth paying attention to.

“I’m not very popular where I come from,” I said slowly, avoiding her eyes. “I’m kind of…an outcast, I think you would call it. A loser.”

“Oh, come on.” Lola’s small hands ghosted down my arms and stayed there. “I don’t believe that for one second.”

“It’s true, though. My people, Xaereans, they’re very serious. Very rigid and exacting. And I’m…not. I don’t know how to be one of them, I guess. And that gets me in a lot of trouble.” I motioned around us. “Like stranded on Earth.”

Lola’s face scrunched into a scowl. “But that doesn’t make any sense,” she said. “You’re kind. Thoughtful. Compassionate. I lo—” Lola’s voice cracked, and she swallowed. “I love those things about you.”