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Sinath grimaces and rubs his ear. “Uh, you probably don’t want to know.”
“Is it creepy?”
“I mean, define creepy?” He smiles, but it doesn’t go to his eyes.
Liesje flicks one of the crocheted tassels on the end of his horn. “Just tell her so she stops worrying. I’m sure it’s fine.”
“Well…” He glances at Liesje and then back to me. “I bribed the male that runs the general store to let me search his security feeds for your bio-signatures. If you paused over something, I bought it. It seemed like the best way to get you things that you wanted as gifts.” His big, silly grin fades as he watches me. “Did I do badly?”
I just keep clutching the yarn. In another world, in another life, that could be intrusive. But it’s also really…thoughtful? Like he was so determined to get us the right sorts of gifts that he spent far too much and went to an excessive amount of effort. He could have just jerked off to the footage if he truly wanted to be creepy, I suppose.
Instead, he’s showering both of us with gifts we wanted.
“You are a lovely boy, Sin. No matter what anyone else says.” Liesje puts her arms around his and rests her cheek on his shoulder.
And strangely enough, I wish it was me that was getting all snuggly with his arm. Me that he beams at and pulls in for a bear-hug. I’m happy for Liesje, because I like seeing her smile…
But I still wish it was me.
“You’re both staying for lunch, right?” Liesje asks. “I can put on some food.”
I couldn’t possibly eat. I’m already brimming with cookies and stollen. Before I can answer, though, Sinath replies. “We would love to. This is part of the tradition, yes?”
“Yes it is,” Liesje says, and that answers that.
* * *
Lunch turns into dinner.It really is a lovely day to spend with friends, even if it’s blustery outside. The snow keeps pouring down upon the house and after lunch, we decide to wait until dinner to see if the skies clear. The visibility is practically nothing, the clouds an angry gray, and so we stay inside and drink tea and eat more cookies and play games.
Liesje has a deck of cards that she made for herself out of some stiff plas, and we teach Sinath how to play gin rummy and go fish.
That’s when I learn a few things.
One is that Sinath is constantly watching me. Whenever I look up from my cards, his gaze is focused on my mouth or my eyes. When I smile, he looks entranced. I’ve never been the target of so much intense scrutiny and it makes me blush, which I suspect only draws his attention even more.
The other thing I learn is that Sinath has zero poker face. None. Whenever he gets a good card, he lights up like he’s won a prize. His tail thumps with excitement. He’s obvious about everything.
And he’s being really, really obvious that he’s into me.
At first I dismissed it as him being nice. That we’re friendly with a common task—making Liesje smile again. But seeing all the gifts he bought me changed things. Or maybe it was when he wrapped me up in a blanket and carried me like I was precious. At some point, he’s stopped being a pain in my ass and started being…fascinating. Exciting. Fun to be around.
No wonder Liesje thinks we’re together. He’s constantly watching me as if I’m the greatest thing he’s ever seen.
It makes me wish I’d done more than knit him a stupid sock and a couple of horn tassels.
It definitely makes me wish I’d kissed him more. Because now Christmas is over, and there’s no reason for him to swing by and talk to me. No reason for us to meet up. He might continue to be friends with Liesje, but unless I constantly show up on her doorstep in the hopes that he’s there, I won’t see him. I could go into town and hunt him down, but that feels…uncomfortably forward. Like I’m putting myself out there when I could be reading him wrong.
After all, I’m not sure I can take a man who calls himself “Sin” too seriously. He might be just goofing around. Being friendly to ease the situation. After all, it’s easier to get along with women that are flattered by you instead of angry ones.
Hmm. I toss down another card, not even paying attention to the game.
“I lose,” Liesje says with a yawn. She gets to her feet and stretches, then heads over to the window and the “Christmas” tree. I watch as she touches the leaves, a little smile on her face. Sinath was so right to suggest getting her a real tree. I’m annoyed I didn’t think of it myself.
A warm, callused finger brushes mine and I gasp, looking up.
“Your turn,” Sinath says, and I could swear his touch lingers on mine for just a fraction longer than it needs to.
My face gets hot again. I have no idea why I’m acting like a nervous virgin. Just because some alien guy paid a bit of attention to me? Sad. I toss down another card and make a face when he immediately trumps mine. Well, whatever. “We should be wrapping up anyhow,” I point out. “We’ve overstayed our welcome.”
