Purple Haze (Aliens in New York Book 2)
Page 21
Whichever worked.
Another figure appeared at the top of the staircase, her tall, slender shape slightly unfamiliar—Arayu garbed in something other than her robes of office. The elder wore a pantsuit in a bright eggplant color, and, surprisingly, it suited her. Robes might have been less constricting, but she looked relaxed in twenty-first century human clothing and definitely more approachable.
“There you are!” Dillon’s mom said, walking over to give the elder a hug and kiss.
It was the oddest friendship in the history of friendship.
Arayu had embarked on a new mission. As the highest-placed officer in relation to Earth, she had decided to immerse herself in the culture of humanity. Lang’s mission had changed as a result. When he’d first told the Office of Skitt (the clan’s equivalent of a department of human affairs) that he planned to retire from both Skovgaard Enterprises and his mission, they’d suggested a compromise, which had pretty much stunned everyone involved. It had been Arayu’s doing.
After listing the positive results of Lang’s mission, regardless of the current outcome—the Skov’s war with the Nay—Arayu had urged Lang to consider altering the parameters. Without him, she’d explained, the station in Antarctica would not exist. A waystation to the galaxy at large and an enterprise the clan hoped could offer some benefit to the host planet, should their assistance ever be required.
The research conducted by Lang’s team had made that possible, from legal architecture to construction. He’d done exactly what he’d been sent here to do: gain a foothold and prepare for his people. Now they wanted him to take the next step, and while Arayu had designed this one, she had given Lang credit for the idea. The clan could learn from humanity, and give back. Because if they did send settlers here, they would need to adopt human traits in order to fit comfortably in their new home. They needed to learn how to be more human—and how not to regard that as a bad thing.
So Lang was teaching Arayu how to pass in New York.
Dillon’s mom was helping.
“Dillon, you got a moment?” Josh asked quietly.
“Yeah, what’s up?” Dillon glanced at his smartwatch, a twin to Lang’s with access to Upero and all the automated functions of their apartment. Lang would be here soon, and they could go to lunch and listen to his mom plan the rest of their lives. “I’ve got a few minutes.”
Lang would probably be late. Since retiring, he was always late. Listening to Upero hound him about the time was as funny as it should be, though.
Josh tilted his head toward the desk at the back of the classroom, and Dillon followed him over there, trepidation bubbling in his gut. Things had been great since he got back. The school continued to flourish and Josh along with it. After years of corporate law, he was finally doing what he really wanted to do, and his happiness showed in the less strained set of his mouth and the sparkle in his eyes.
Josh pulled his phone from a back pocket and tapped the screen. “Remember that conversation we had, shortly before you went to Korea?”
“Um…”
“About kids.”
“Oh, yeah.”
The hint of a blush stained Josh’s cheeks as he turned the phone toward Dillon. On screen was the picture of a baby, all brown and wrinkly.
“Ah…”
“Micah and I have been talking about it ever since, and we were thinking of doing surrogacy. But he’s been surfing OCFS, ah, that’s the New York adoption website, and… we’re going to do that.”
“That’s great!” Dillon put a hand on Josh’s shoulder and squeezed. Warmth radiated through his palm and the sturdy presence of his friend—who would make a great parent. “So is that going to be your baby?”
Josh grinned. “Not likely. We’ve got a lot of hoops to jump through, but isn’t he cute? Look how fat his legs are. I love fat babies.” He really did, if his wide smile was anything to go by.
“So what’s the next step? Can I do anything to help? Lang probably knows someone or someone who knows someone.”
Josh waved a hand. “We’ve got it mostly covered. I still have a lot of contacts. I… just. I wanted you to know, man. When we talked about it before? I dunno. There’re times when I feel as though talking to you makes sense of things. It’s why we work so well together. This school and our classes. But that day, you listened, and you made me feel as if I could do this. Micah is totally on board. He’d support anything I wanted, but I guess I needed someone else to tell me this was a good idea.”
Dillon remembered that day, then, with sharp focus. How touching Josh had started to make him feel. Josh’s warmth and optimism and the happiness he brought to everything. How he’d essentially turned that around and given it back to Josh. A twinge of sadness clutched at the back of his head—a faint, perhaps remembered ache. That had been the best part of being able to feel the emotions of others. Being able to share joy and sometimes give it back.
Pulling Josh into a spontaneous hug, Dillon held him close. “I’m glad I helped. Really. I’m so happy for you and Micah.”
Josh mumbled something, squeezing Dillon’s ribs the way Dillon’s mom would, and for a second, Dillon imagined the spark. Josh’s certainty of self and the fathomless happiness this decision brought to his life.
“Hey!” Lang’s voice held a note of concern. “Is everything okay?”
Dillon let Josh go and leaned over to kiss his man. “Josh was sharing some good news.” He nodded for Josh to make the announcement.
“Micah and I are going to adopt.”
“That’s fantastic news!” Lang held out a hand, and Josh knocked it aside so he could hug Lang, who gave a good startled puppy impression before he patted Josh’s back.
Josh was grinning and bobbing his chin as he straightened.
“Our reservation is for twelve!” Dillon’s mom said.
“But arriving ten minutes late is acceptable, is it not?” Arayu was checking her own watch.
“Supposedly, but I’ve never thought of being late as particularly fashionable. Are we ready?” Dillon’s mom hit everyone with her smile. “Come on! We have a wedding to plan.”
And, man, she was happy as well. Her happiness fairly radiated off the seams of her lightweight jacket (because spring in the northeast is unpredictable, Dillon). She was happy enough to light up the room.
Lang caught Dillon’s hand, and Dillon’s happiness doubled and tripled until it bounced from the bright yellow walls of the upper classroom. It rang from every surface, as clearly as the tinkle of glass beads and the warm, round energy of steel drums. It smelled of sunshine. Love might be all shades of brown, rich and fertile, but happiness was definitely yellow.
Happiness was bright and wonderful.
Did it really matter if he could feel more than his own?
Thank you for reading Purple Haze! Can you spare a minute to share your thoughts with other readers? Reviews help boost visibility, which is super important for independent authors!
About the Author
If aliens ever do land on Earth, Kelly will not be prepared, despite having read over a hundred stories of the apocalypse. Still, she will pack her precious books into a box and carry them with her as she strives to survive. It’s what bibliophiles do.
Kelly is the author of twelve novels—including the Chaos Station series, co-written with Jenn Burke—and several novellas and short stories. Some of what she writes is speculative in nature, but mostly it’s just about a guy losing his socks and/or burning dinner. Because life isn’t all conquering aliens and mountain peaks. Sometimes finding a happy ever after is all the adventure we need.
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Acknowledgements
All my thanks to Felice Stevens for allowing me to continue Dillon and Lang’s story with two of her original characters still in place (Josh and Micah). When Amazon closed Kindle Worlds, I was more than halfway done with the first draft of Purple Haze, and had actually incorporated more of her world elements than in the first book, Uncommon Ground. This left me a bit stuck, and I thought I might have to go back and edit out all of Felice’s characters and world elements from the first book before redrafting this one. I drew up a new outline and began rewriting. But as I considered new names for Josh and Micah, I decided that, no, I wanted to keep them. To honor them. Memories of the Heart was the first book by Felice Stevens that I’d read and it has a special place on my shelf. Their story prompted mine.
My version of Josh and Micah have been affected by my world, though, so they’re doing something a little different in Purple Haze.
Thank you to my wonderful beta readers EJ, Jenna, and Lennan! Your comments and suggestions helped me tell a tighter story. Extra thanks to Susan for last minute feedback!
Thanks to my editor, Elizabetta, for finding all of my missed commas, deleting the extras, and for adding several new words to my crutch list, all while helping me deliver the best possible version of this story.
Thank you to my family for their support.
And, finally, thank you to my readers for taking yet another journey with me!
Other Titles by Kelly Jensen
Out in the Blue
Wrong Direction
When Was the Last Time
Best in Show
Block and Strike
To See the Sun
The This Time Forever series
Building Forever
Renewing Forever
Chasing Forever
The Aliens in New York series
Uncommon Ground
Purple Haze
The Counting series
Counting Fence Posts
Counting Down
Counting on You
The Chaos Station series
(with Jenn Burke)
Chaos Station
Lonely Shore
Skip Trace
Inversion Point
Phase Shift
Table of Contents
About the Book
Foreword
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two
Epilogue
About the Author
Acknowledgements
Other Titles by Kelly Jensen