Page 121 of Galaxy Circus Act One

I eye his sweat shorts and T-shirt and decide it’s fine for shopping. I’d rather be comfortable than look fancy. Link just looks like a rock star or an A-list actor not trying too hard. His clothes are the last thing people are going to look at.

“You’re perfect. Let’s go!”

Link and I shop for the next few hours, and I have all my purchases sent to the circus to be put into my room there, except for a couple of things I want to wear when I go out for a late dinner with Susie and Mark tonight after the show. I’m hoping we can hang out together with my three guys on the second night, maybe go to a club or something fun.

Link has been such a good sport, but I think he’s also had fun looking at all the human stuff. I caught him picking up things and examining them closely.

“What exactly is this for?” Link holds up a brightly-colored plastic knitting loom while I’m shopping for craft supplies in Hobby Lobby. “Is it a torture device?” He runs his finger over the plastic hooks before cranking the handle and watching with amazement as it all moves.

Snorting in amusement, I take it from him and throw it into my cart. “No, it’s for making garments. If you go over there andpick out what colors you like, I’ll make you a scarf.” I point to the aisle full of wool. “Maybe pick some for Xavier and Caspian too. I’ll leave the colors up to you, but make it ten balls of each color.” He happily walks away, leaving me to the rest of my shopping, and I breathe a sigh of relief. Shopping with him has been exhausting. Next time I’m leaving him behind. Thank goodness the others had been too tired to come.

Finally the text message I’ve been waiting for arrives, and I squeal with delight. “They are here,” I tell Link, grabbing his arm and dragging him out of the shop after paying for our purchases.

I find us a cab, and before long, we arrive back at our hotel. I told Susie to wait in the foyer for us so I could take her up to the suite. I message Cas and Xavier to let them know we are coming up, and I remind them to put their human glamours on if they are still there.

When the cab drops us off, I see a familiar dark head standing next to a shiny pink Cadillac. Susie and Mark are lifting their luggage out of the trunk. Mark’s normally stylish black hair is windswept, and he’s looking a little wrinkled, but he’s beaming at my girl.

“Hey, Link, is there any reason why Mark should make me feel icky?” I ask, remembering how I felt every time we touched in the past despite our awkward as fuck interactions.

He looks over to where my friends are standing. They haven’t noticed us yet, and I’m okay with that because I don’t want them to overhear what we are saying. “Probably because he’s a taken man. Although he and Susie don’t have a connection like Skarrians have, what they do have is obviously solid, and it’s your body warning you that he’s not available. It’s a Skarrian thing.”

A huge sense of relief washes over me. My body was protecting me and Susie without either of us knowing it. Not thatI would have gone there anyway, but I guess not everyone has the same morals.

“Susie!” I shout, and she spins, dropping her bags and running for me. We slam together and hug in the middle of the valet parking area, oblivious to everything around us.

“Oh, girl, I missed you so much,” she murmurs as I breathe in her familiar scent and finally relax for the first time since I got on that plane to London.

“You haven’t got a clue,” I respond, reluctant to pull away, but I know we need to move. Before I can, Susie tightens her arms, nearly squeezing me to death like Silac, although his was a more pleasant feeling.

“Holy fuck, Lila. Who is that tall silver drink of water with you? Please tell me he knows how to use his tongue.”

I snort and then chuckle as we pull apart. Susie’s worth measurement for men is whether or not they give oral and if they can give you an orgasm without needing a road map to your clit. It’s what made her give Mark another chance after they had a quickie in the on-call room one day. That turned into many quickies, and eventually, they decided they liked each other as well.

“You havenoidea. No fucking idea,” I whisper quietly, and she holds her hand up for a high five. Her dark brown corkscrew curls bounce with the movement, and her warm chocolate eyes sparkle with delight.

“Hi, Lila.” Mark joins us, carrying both his and Susie’s luggage, and I see a valet driving away with their car.

“Hey, Mark. How was the drive?” I ask as we head toward Link.

“It was good, thanks.” He smiles awkwardly, and I decide that I am going to find out what the fuck is going on with him. He and Susie are solid, and I need to make sure that we are too, even if I don’t like what he has to say.

“Hey, guys, this is my boyfriend Link. Link, my bestie Susie and her partner Mark.” I introduce them, and they greet one another politely before we head inside to reception.

“Lila, how about you take them to lunch? I know you must be starving, and I’ll arrange for the luggage to go to our room before I grab the other two. We’ve got to get over to the circus for a little while,” Link suggests, letting me have alone time with my friends.

“Other two?” Susie asks as her sculpted eyebrows almost jump into space.

“Sounds great, I’m starving. Let’s try the restaurant here. I’m sure you guys are tired after your trip. We can grab some food, and then you can have a nap, because I have a big night planned. There’s the show and then a late dinner with Link and a few of our friends.” I ignore her question and give Link a kiss on the lips, whispering, “Thank you,” to him.

He just smiles and says goodbye as I drag Mark and Susie to lunch.

A short time later, we’re seated at one of the restaurants inside the hotel and Susie is bombarding me with questions about the circus, the performers, and my grandads. I skillfully answer all of it, but I feel guilty when I dodge the ones that dig deeper into the hows and whys of all of the acts. Luckily she’s too excited to notice.

Mark sits quietly, holding her hand and listening and smiling, but he still won’t look at me. My irritation at the dismissal is bothering me, and I can’t help but feel relieved when I finally get the chance I’ve been waiting for.

“I just need to use the restroom before our food arrives,” she tells us, standing up. “I’ll be back shortly.”

We watch her go, and once she leaves the dining room, I whirl on her boyfriend. “Okay, that’s it. What the fuck is your problem with me? I’ve been nothing but nice to you, and you areawkward and shady, and I’m worried that maybe Susie isn’t with such a good guy after all.”