Page 24 of I Fell for an Alien Popstar

“I did this wrong for you.”

The idea of Zhari Lumis—intergalactic sensation, award hoarder, woman who could sell out any arena—earnestly worrying that she’d kissed me in the wrong cultural order almost made me dizzy.

“No,” I blurted out. “I mean, yes, it was a bit fast for me. However, I did like it.”

“I knew it. I have been told I am a good kisser.” Proud, she straightened up and smiled.

“I just need time to catch up with your… aura.”

“I can give you time.” Her smile tilted.

We fell into a quieter rhythm, the comfortable kind where silence wasn’t a problem that needed fixing. When words failed me completely, my body defaulted to its one reliable coping mechanism.

I reached behind me and pulled my sketchbook from my bag.

“Oh, you draw?” she observed, watching me flip to a blank page. Her voice held a soft wonder that made my chest ache.

“It’s my favorite thing to do,” I said.

“May I watch?”

“Yeah, totally. I was going to ask if you could pose for me real quick. I would love to draw you.”

“Oh, yes. I would love that,” she said as she went to put her Nebs down.

“No—if you could keep eating, I would like to draw you while you eat them.”

“Oh? Yeah, I could do that.” She smiled.

She lifted the noodles from her lap and set them down on the table. She scooted closer and rested one elbow beside the mug. As she ate a clump of noodles, the colorful broth swirled in front of her.

My pink gel pen moved almost on its own. Quick lines for the slope of her nose. The way her mouth softened when she was listening instead of performing. The tension still coiled in her shoulders that no one in the screaming crowd would have noticed.

It wasn’t perfect, but it was her. This version of her—small and tired and somehow more dangerous than the one ten thousand people had just watched onstage.

She leaned in when I turned the sketch around.

For a moment, she didn’t say anything.

“No one draws me like this,” she said finally, her voice quiet. “Without the lights. Without the armor. I get a lot of cool fan art, but this…” She reached over the table and took my sketchbook. “You really captured me. Like, me-me. Just existing.”

She beamed over the drawing and handed it back.

“You are very talented, Vada.”

“Thank you, Zhari,” I whispered.

Her eyes flashed up to mine, quick and bright. The look in them punched all the air straight out of me.

“Vada,” she said. “I am very glad you came tonight.”

She reached over and squeezed my hand.

My throat tightened. “Yeah,” I said. “Me too.”

We didn’t talk much after that. The kind of tiredness that lived behind her eyes finally seemed to catch up with her.

“Bathroom’s yours,” she said, pushing herself to her feet. “I’m not sure what you packed or how long you planned to stay in Lumara, but there are clothes in the drawer if you want something comfortable to sleep in. We seem to be similar in body size.”