Page 104 of Stardusted

He didn’t, so I surged forward and grabbed his arm, pulling. He paused at the top of the stairs and, at my tug, turned. I tightened my grip on his forearm. The tense muscles felt like iron.

I took a deep breath. “If it’s Bob or Amelia…” I didn’t know how to put my reluctance into words, but I wasn’t ready to explain this to anyone. Explainhim.Being here. Not yet, anyway. I licked my lips. “Just let me check first, okay? I don’t want you answering my door. Especially with you…well, this.” I gestured vaguely at his half-open shirt and all that other…stuff.

He looked down, then back up. A flicker of complete confusion crinkled his forehead, like I’d just handed him a math problem in Sanskrit. Except he could’ve probably figured that one out.

He eventually figured this out, too.

“You’re…embarrassed to have me here?” He said it slowly, like the concept was foreign. He blinked at me once, twice. “Why? Nobody knows what I am. Except you.”

I flushed. Especially because his reaction brought back,in vivid HD,that one time I’d told him I didn’t want his number.

“Do you not usually bring people here…?” Sky stilled suddenly, like something had occurred to him. His gaze darted to mine. “Do you have a boyfriend or?—”

“No!” I blurted, a strangled laugh escaping me. I realized I was still holding his forearm and released it hastily. “No, I bring…well, Ihavebrought…sometimes…”

I trailed off. Sky was studying me intently, and I couldn’t for the life of me determine what he was thinking. Not that it mattered. I wasnottalking to him about my love life. Or lack thereof.

Especially not when there was a potential threat at my door.

Flustered, I pulled my cardigan closed and set my phone back on the counter. We were up here having a discussion, and the FBI could be at my door.

“I just want to answer my own door, okay?” I told him. “I shouldn’t have to explain myself.” I wasn’t sure I could. “You can come down with me, butI’manswering it. So stay back.”

He held up his hands as I brushed past. His footsteps were quiet as he followed me into the stairwell.

We’d made it halfway before another knock sounded, sharper this time. Impatient and loud enough, I jolted and snatched the banister, narrowly avoiding tumbling down the rest of the way.

“Careful,” Sky murmured.

Yeah, no kidding. Licking my lips, I called out, “Just a second!”

No one answered. I sensed Sky sticking close as I made short work of the rest of the stairs. My heart thudded against my ribs by the time I reached the bottom.

My hand hovered over the deadbolt.Note to self: install a damn peephole.I hesitated and glanced back. Sky had joined me in the narrow entry, standing off to the side and out of sight, ready and waiting. He gave a single nod.

Here went nothing. At least killer robots probably didn’t bother knocking.

I unlocked the door and eased it open. Relief hissed out of me like a popped tire. Amelia stood there, scowling.

“What the hell, Rae?” She adjusted her sleek black umbrella, her cheery yellow raincoat gleaming under the porch light. “Took you long enough. It’s pouring. What were you doing in there?”

Arguing with a shirtless alien.A slightly deranged laugh got stuck in my throat, but just then, Amelia moved to step forward. I leaned out to block her.

She stopped. Her eyes narrowed. “What’s going on?”

So much. I couldn’t think of a single lie. I tried to smile.“Sorry. I was, uh…in the shower.”

“Ri-ght.” She snapped her gum, very obviously taking in my dry hair and loungewear. “I was around the corner studying at Joanie’s when I got your text. I thought you were working tonight. So can I come in or what?”

“Now’s not…a great time.” I couldfeelSky behind me. He was quiet but impossible to ignore. Just like our unfinished conversation.

“You textedmeto come over like an hour ago— Wait.” Amelia’s amber eyes narrowed further into slits, then flew wide. Her lips curled into a slow, delighted grin. “Is somebody in there with you?”

Damn it. She knew mewaytoo well.

I tried to summon a denial, but she tipped closer and dropped her voice to a stage-whisper. “You have a guy over or something?”

I recoiled. “What?No.” Not technically a lie. Pladians didn’t count as guys, did they? I laughed, and this time it sounded genuine. Mostly. “Nobody’s here.”