Page 69 of Loka

“We need to get you fixed up first,” Ivy said. “You need to look your best for the next time you see him. After all, aren’t you going to tell him how badly you want to jump his alien bones? Or should I say boner? I must have missed the study session on Picar anatomy. Is he packing fun down below?”

Heather felt lightheaded as they hurried along. She needed Loka to know she wanted to be with him. But she had little experience declaring her love to anyone. She’d only ever told Ernie she loved him.

What she felt for Loka was real, serious, and scary. If he rejected her, she wasn’t sure what she’d do.

“Everything okay in there?” Ivy tapped the side of Heather’s head. “Don’t flake out on me, nerd girl.”

“I won’t. And I’m not a nerd.”

“You like the A-Team.”

“How do you know that?”

“You’re always talking about them. Score one for being a nerd.”

“It’s classic, retro TV. I bet you secretly love the A-Team.”

“Nope.”

“Air Wolf?”

“No idea what that is.”

“Street Hawk?”

“Now you’re making up dumb sounding programs.”

“All real and not geeky. Maybe you can watch the re-runs some time.”

“Nope.”

Heather shook her head. Ivy was too cool for her. “I was thinking about what to say to Loka. How can I convince him to be with me?”

“He won’t need any convincing. He’ll drop to his knees and thank the stars you finally noticed him.”

“I notice him.”

“In the way he wants you to. That alien is so lovesick it’s pathetic.”

“Why hasn’t he done anything about it if he’s so into me?”

“He has. I’ve kicked several bits of coal when I’ve been to the office. I’ve got a mark on my favorite designer boots from a piece of Loka’s stupid coal.”

“It’s friendship coal.”

“Wow! Dumb and nerdy. How do the guys resist you?”

Heather glared at Ivy. “I’m not dumb. I’ve been busy with work. Loka is a distraction.”

“That’s a pathetic excuse. It’s only taken a near death experience and an invasion by an alien race to make you realize what you could miss out on.” Ivy stopped by Heather’s quarters. “For a little thing, you weigh a ton. Let’s hole up in here. I can’t keep up with the group, and we need to sort out your leg.”

Heather nodded. As the door slid open, she saw the mess she’d left behind when fighting the cyborgs alongside Loka.

Ivy looked around. “Maid’s year off?”

“No. Just a little encounter with our unfriendly cyborgs.” Heather let out a relieved sigh as she sank down on the couch, her throbbing leg feeling like it was on fire.

“Where do you keep your medical kit?”