Page 25 of Rooting for Kiran (The Mate-Cute #1)
THEA
Wren drops down onto my couch, holding her bowl of popcorn up in the air to lessen the chance of spillage upon impact.
“Okay, you’ve made me wait a whole damn week to get the lowdown on Kiran. Why did you cut things off with him?”
I lie back on the chaise beside Wren, staring up at the random black dot that’s been on the ceiling since I moved in here ten years ago. And then I tell her everything…
A few crunches later, she asks, “So, you are Kiran’s mate, and he knew because you bought that penis plant?”
“Yes, Wren. When you say it like that, you make it sound like a joke, like I’m being overdramatic.”
Silence settles between us for so long that I’m forced to break my stare from the ceiling blemish and focus on her.
She shrugs. “Well, is it so bad to know that a plant quite literally led you to your true love? The same true love that made you laugh and screwed you so good that you actually considered giving him a chance? Do you know how many people would give anything for that sort of luck, Thee? Sometimes, people spend their whole lives looking for love.”
Of course, she would pull out my nickname to try and soften me a bit… “But I don’t need anyone, Wren. I’ve told you this. I wasn’t looking for it.”
“Happenstance, Thea. That’s the best part of all this. You weren’t expecting it. Fate has a way of happening whether you’re looking or not. I’m not understanding what’s so bad about this.”
I drag my hands down my face. “Because he lied to me.”
“And if he told you the second you hooked up, that would’ve been better?”
Why do friends have a way of asking questions you never think of yourself? And why do they always manage to make good fucking points? Ugh…
We stare at each other for a moment, Wren searching my face for answers.
“I mean…no. I guess I don’t know when would’ve been a good time to tell me.”
She nods. “Exactly. You slept with an alien. You started showing interest in an alien . I think it’s safe to assume everything about you guys would be far from normal, starting with you bringing home a plant that is an exact replica of Kiran’s penis.” Her head swivels as she scans the room. “Where is the plant baby, anyway?”
I push up from the couch and make my way to my home office, where I stashed Willy last weekend. Except the state I find the Talahecksiya in has me gasping audibly. Not only are all the leaves of the plant brown around the edges, but Willy’s willy has shriveled and shrunk, resembling a dingy, green raisin.
“Willy!” I call, racing for the pot. Steps sound from behind me as I scoop him up.
Wren stands in the doorway, her chest heaving. “What is wrong?”
I hold up the sickly plant. “It’s Willy. He’s dying!”
“Well, how long has he been in here?”
Once I reach her, she steps aside to let me through the doorway and follows me to the kitchen.
“I shoved him in there last weekend and sort of forgot.” Guilt settles in my gut like a boulder. “Quick, can you grab the pepper out of the cupboard?”
The kitchen cupboard slams shut just as I finish adding a couple tablespoons of water. Wren sprinkles the soil with pepper, and I pet the shriveled arm the best I can manage.
“What are you doing?” Wren asks, quiet snickers slipping from her.
I place him up on the sill of my kitchen window so he can get the most light before turning to lean back against the counter. “The third step of caring for Willy is stroking the arm, but since it’s, uh—hiding, I had to do my best with what’s left.”
She nods at me, taking a few steps back from me. “I’m gonna go so you can stroke the plant version of Kiran, but if Willy doesn’t recover, I really think you should head back to the greenhouse.” Wren slips her jacket on and stands at the door, waiting for me to come over there.
“Why would I do that?”
“Because just like last time, I’m still rooting for Kiran. Besides, what if there’s some freaky plant shit that if that plant dies, Kiran’s dick falls off or something? Would you want to be responsible for a penis like that ceasing to exist?”
A laugh finally escapes me. “Bye, Wren. Love you.”
As I get into bed, Wren’s words run through my head… What if something does happen to Kiran as a result of what happens to Willy? Could I live with that?
And can I really live without Kiran?