In Love With Alien CUpid: A Sci-Fi Alien Holiday Romance Page 2

  I'd gone to a few of my own classes but found no interest in anyone else. My mind was completely occupied with the auburn-haired beauty. I wondered what other classes she was taking, if she had been in Brandy's class because she wanted to go into Celtic Studies or if her major was something else entirely and that was just a class that she was taking to fill an elective. I wanted to know everything about her.

  With that in my head after all my other obligations to classes ended, I'd started across campus with every intention of running into her. Some might call it luck that it actually happened on such a large campus; I just called it a Monday. As I mentioned before, luck was my thing. Good and bad, I could make it happen, not just for me, but for others too, if I wanted. All it took was a bit of gold turned into a talisman.

  "Whoa there, beautiful," I said as she practically mowed me down. I'd seen her coming, deliberately moved into her path.

  "Oh, I'm so sorry. I guess I wasn't watching where I was going," she murmured, her cheeks turning a delightful pink.

  "Lucky me then. I was just hoping I'd run into you."

  "You were?" Her pretty brown eyes widened, and her cupid bow lips rounded as she stared at me.

  "I was just thinking, I wish I'd run into the beautiful girl from Professor Morrison's class, and here you are." I pushed my hands into my pockets to keep from reaching out and touching her soft hair.

  "Oh, well… hi? I'm Cindy."

  "Dia duit, Cindy." I watched her eyes spark with light at my words. I wanted to keep her talking, spend some real time with her. "I was intrigued by your thoughts on the Tuath De Danann in class today," I started. I had been impressed that she'd done some research into them and I wanted to know more of her thoughts on them. "I was wondering if you might want to grab a cuppa with me sometime? We could discuss them more in depth…"

  "Coffee?" She looked a little confused.

  It dawned on me that I'd used a particularly Irish and British word. "Well, being Irish, I meant tea generally, forget you Yanks don't drink much of it here, coffee's fine, what do you say?" I pushed just a hint of good luck into my voice to encourage her agreement.

  "Okay. Um… when?"

  "When are you available?" I had no idea what her schedule even looked like, but I knew whatever it was, I'd make it work.

  "Good question, I'm not sure at the moment. Can I call you later and let you know?"

  "Of course. Here's my number." I pulled a business card and pen from my pocket and wrote my number on it for her.

  "Got another one of these? I'll give you mine." Her smile brightened.

  Grinning, I pulled out another card and handed it and the pen to her. She wrote her number on it and gave them back to me.

  "I'll look forward to hearing from you." I pocketed the card, and then, unable to resist, I tucked a loose strand of her hair behind her ear. It really was as soft as I'd imagined it would be.

  "I've really got to go, so I'll call you tonight." She started to walk away backward.

  She stumbled just the tiniest bit, making me chuckle. "Careful there, love, wouldn't want you running into anyone else."

  "Right." She giggled and then turned around toward the parking lot. "Bye!" she called over her shoulder with a wave.

  I watched her hurry off to her car, an old looking Toyota that had definitely seen better years. It didn't look like it was going to last her too much longer and that bothered me. It was dangerous for her to be riding around in such a contraption. I'd have to see what I could do about that. Everything about her made me long to have her in my life. To protect her and take care of her. It was an unusual feeling for me. The last fifty years had been pretty lonely. I'd made friends, of course, had the occasional one-night-stand, that sort of thing, but that wasn't the same as a romantic partner, a companion. Someone to share things with. Something about her made me want to make her that person in my life.

  I just hoped it didn't bring me trouble later.

  Chapter Three

  Cindy

  After a quick stop at the grocery for taco fixings, I headed home. Mom had said to fix whatever I wanted, since I was cooking, and tacos were easy. I put everything away, left a note for Terry to stay out of it because it was for dinner and that I'd be back in an hour and a half to cook it. With that done, I grabbed my pooper scooper from the back porch, my rubber gloves from under the sink, and then headed back out, locked the door behind me again and walked down the block to my first client's house. I picked up Mo, Mr. Blevin's boxer, and then made my rounds until I had all six dogs. It was a strange mix, a boxer, two labs, a dachshund, a beagle, and collie. They'd been walking together with me for a number of years, so they knew how to behave.

  Our neighborhood wasn't the best, so I normally headed toward the mini park on Eighty-fifth where the dogs could do their business. As long as I cleaned up after them, everyone was fine with it. I had to take a circuitous route to avoid a couple of bad streets, streets where some of the local thugs liked to hang out, but the dogs didn't mind. It made their walk more enjoyable, since they got to encounter a lot more smells and sites that way.

  After the park, we headed back the way we'd come and I returned all the dogs to their owners, collected my fee, and headed home. I could hear Terry talking to someone in an urgent voice and I started down the hall to see what was going on.

  "Come on, dude, she's here," Terry hissed.

  I saw him standing in my bedroom doorway. "Terry what the hell?" I asked and then my eyes widened seeing his asshole friend with his hand on my dresser drawer. "Get the hell out of my room!"

  "Geez, we weren't doin' nothin', no need to bitch at me!" Terry muttered. "Come on, dude, let's go play X-box."

  I gritted my teeth as the asshole brushed past me to get out of my room. I went in and looked around to see if anything had been moved or disturbed. Apparently, I needed a freaking lock for my door to keep Terry's scummy friends from invading my privacy! I'd have to talk to Mom about it as soon as she got home. For now, I pulled open my dresser drawer and found the box I stored my cash in and pocketed the lot of it. I wasn't going to take any chances that the box was what the little prick was after. I replaced the box and then left my room, closing the door behind me.

  I went into the kitchen and pulled out everything I needed to make dinner and was about halfway done cooking when Mom walked in the door.

  "Smells great, Cin," she said, dropping her bag on the table and sinking into a chair.

  I looked over my shoulder at her. She was an older version of me, slightly heavier, with short-cropped hair because it was easier for her to maintain with her hours. She looked exhausted. "How was work?"

  "Same. Tiring. Too many patients and too few nurses." She sighed.

  I nodded. "Why don't you go take a shower, dinner still has a little bit of time, and it's just tacos, so it can hold while you relax for a while."

  Mom stood and hugged me from behind. "That sounds wonderful, actually. I just might do that. Is Terry here?"

  "Yeah, he and one of his asshole buddies are here playing X-box. Speaking of, I came home to the two of them in my room."

  "I'm sure it was nothing, sweetheart. Probably just giving the boy a tour of the house."

  "He had his hand on my underwear drawer, Mom. I don't think the house was what he was interested in."

  "Well, you know boys. Always curious about the female body… probably just wanted a peek," Mom laughed.

  "Mom, seriously. I'm twenty, don't you think I deserve to have some privacy? I mean come on; I don't want some skeevy asshole pawing at my panties!"

  Mom sighed. "I suppose you're right. If you want to get a lock for your door, I suppose that's fine."

  I smiled. "Thanks, Mom."

  "I'm off to take that shower."

  "I'll hold dinner until you're done." I smiled, grateful that she was seeing things my way for once.

  Almost an hour later, Mom emerged from her room and knocked on Terry's door. I started putting everything out on the table so we could each make our own tacos with what we wanted in them. Terry's friend had thankfully left just minutes earlier.

  "Wash your hands," I said as he made a grab for a taco shell.

  "Shut up, bitch, you ain't the boss of me," he muttered.

  "Terry, listen to your sister, wash your hands."

  Terry rolled his eyes but dropped the taco shell on his plate in a huff and moved to the sink. "Happy?" He slunk back to his chair and picked up the taco shell again and began stuffing it.

  I fixed a couple of my own and then waiting until Mom and Terry were finished. Mom said a quick blessing and then we were able to eat. "I'll stop at Walmart tomorrow and get a new lock, do you want me to pick up anything else while I'm there?"

  "A new lock? For what?" Terry asked through a mouthful of tacos.

  I glared at him. "My room. So, I can keep your creepy friends out."

  "What? That's not fucking fair! Why does she get a lock?" he demanded, looking at Mom.

  "Terry, watch your mouth. And she gets a lock because she's over twenty and deserves to have some privacy."

  "What? That fucking sucks. I deserve privacy too," he muttered.

  "Nobody's invading your space and going through your underwear!" I sniped back at him.

  "Enough! I'm not going to have the two of you arguing during dinner. Terry, when you turn twenty, you can put a lock on your door."

  "Whatever. Like I'm even gonna fucking be here. I'm not a fucking loser. I'm gonna be outta here."

  Mom ignored him and finished eating. "I've got another double tomorrow, so I won't be home till late. You two will have to figure out dinner on your own."

  "I work tomorrow night too, so I'll grab something while I'm out. There's plenty of taco fixings, you can have that tomorrow, Te
rry."

  "Lame."

  "Suit yourself. Eat it or don't, I don't care." I shrugged.

  "I'm off to bed, you've got this?" Mom glanced around the kitchen at the dishes and food.

  "I've got it, I'll get it all put away. Night, Mom." I rose from the table and started carrying plates to the sink.

  "Night, sweetie." She kissed my cheek. "Good night, baby," she kissed the top of Terry's head, "don't stay up too late."

  "God, Mom, I'm not a baby, stop callin' me that!"

  Mom laughed. "You'll always be my baby. Good night." She moved off toward her room.

  "Still don't get why the fuck you get a lock on your door."

  "Because you let your creepy asshole friend in there! What the fuck was he doing, Terry?"

  He sucked his teeth and looked away. "We wasn't doin' nothin', geez. We were just lookin' around."

  "Right. Which is why I'm getting a lock." I finished wrapping up all the leftovers and then started rinsing off the dishes. I loaded them into the dishwasher and then set it to run. I returned to my room and sat down at my desk. My day still wasn't over. I had homework to do.

  Two hours later, with my homework done, I pulled out the card Michael had given me. On it he'd written, Mike McCarthy and his number. Mike. I twirled his card between my fingers, debating what I wanted to tell him. Did I really want to go out with him? Yes. Definitely yes. I just didn't know when I'd have the time. Then stop dallying, Cindy and look at your schedule! Find the time! my thoughts yelled at me.

  I pulled open my day planner where I logged everything I had to do. It looked like my first actual free moment wouldn't be happening until Saturday afternoon. I'd have to work that night, and I had the dogs to walk still too, but on Saturdays and Sundays I usually did that before lunch. Still, I had some time after that and before my shift at the drug store.

  Feeling butterflies in my stomach, I made the call.

  "Dia duit, beautiful," Mike answered.

  "Um, hi?" I replied nervously.

  "Have you had a nice evening?" he asked.

  I snorted a laugh. "Not exactly." I flopped back against my pillows. "Busy and invasive more like."

  "Invasive? That sounds ominous," he replied, a trace of concern in his voice.

  "Just my nosy brother and his equally nosy friend invading my room when I wasn't here."

  "I see. You live with your parents then?"

  "My mom yeah, and my little brother."

  "How old is he?"

  "Seventeen. He's fine normally, just has bad choices in friends, you know?"

  "Hmmm," he murmured noncommittally. "Have you called to tell me when you can meet me for coffee?"

  "Yes, um… so I work all this week, but I have some time Saturday afternoon… I know it's not like the most ideal, but—"

  "Saturday afternoon is perfect. I know just the place we can go."

  "Okay then. Great. Um… how do you wanna do this?"

  "I could pick you up or we could meet there?" he suggested.

  "We could meet. I'm down in East Oakland, so it's a bit of drive from campus. Oh, I didn't even think, where are you staying? Are you on campus?"

  "No, I've got a place off campus. I don't mind coming to get you, but maybe you'd rather have your car? Why don't you meet me at Artis on Fourth? Say around one?"

  I smiled. "I can do that."

  "Wonderful, then I'll see you in class on Wednesday, and I have it on good authority that Professor Morrison is planning a quiz, so be prepared." He chuckled.

  "She is?" I gasped. "On what?"

  "Today's discussion and homework. Just go over your notes, you'll do fine, beautiful."

  "Thanks, I hope so. Guess I've got some more work to do. Talk to you later," I commented with a smile.

  "Bye, beautiful." He hung up the phone and I suddenly missed the timbre of his voice in my ear.

  I lugged my backpack over to my bed and pulled out my notes from today's class. I wanted to know them backward and forward and ace that quiz.

  Chapter Four

  Cindy

  Saturday morning couldn't get here fast enough. I hurried through breakfast, and then rushed through cleaning the house. I didn't bother with Terry's deathtrap of a room; he'd have to deal with it on his own. I'd picked up a new doorknob with a key for my room and installed it as well. I would have done it the day I picked it up, but I just hadn't had the time.

  At ten, I locked up my room, then the house and went to walk the dogs. When I got home, I took a shower and dressed in a pair of capri jeans and a light-weight blue sweater and some boat shoes I'd picked up second-hand. They were cute and comfortable. I grabbed my purse and keys, locked everything up again and jogged to my car. I had thirty minutes to get to Artis to meet Mike.

  He'd been right about the quiz and thanks to him, I'd passed it with a perfect grade. He mentioned after that class on Wednesday that Professor Morrison would be doing that at the beginning of every class, just to make sure we were retaining the knowledge of each discussion. I'd been grateful for the warning and had managed to get another perfect grade on yesterday's quiz as well. There were just ten questions, a mix of true/false, and fill in the blanks along with one essay question. Knowing they were coming helped me to study. Of course, now everyone in class knew it was going to happen every class, which I hoped didn't make Professor Morrison increase the difficulty.

  I pulled into the parking lot and got out, locking the car behind me. When I entered, Mike stood up and waved me over. I smiled and moved toward him.

  "Dia duit, beautiful," he murmured, taking my hand, and giving it a quick squeeze as he smiled at me. "Sit. Let me get you a coffee."

  "Sure, um, half-caf mocha latte," I said as I sat down.

  Smiling he moved to the counter and placed my order. I hung my purse over the back of the chair and folded my hands on the table. I was still nervous; I hadn't been on a date in… well … since high school it seemed. Has it really been so long? I thought. Surely not… but… my mind drifted over the past couple of years and I knew it was true.

  "Here you go," he said setting the cup down in front of me along with a plate of pastries, which he put in the center of the table.

  "I hope you're planning to eat at least half of these." I giggled, indicating the plate.

  "At least." He nodded, grinning at me.

  We started talking about Celtic folklore, and the Tuath De Danann. I found his knowledge about them fascinating. "Where did you learn so much?" I asked.

  He shrugged. "Me da was a believer." He smiled.

  "So, have you lived in Ireland your whole life?" I asked, loving the brogue in his voice.

  "Mostly. I lived here in California for a short while when I was younger, but we returned to Ireland years ago."

  "I see. So, none of this is new to you?" I spread my arms out, showing off California.

  "No, it is. I didn't see a whole lot of this when I lived here." He chuckled.

  I figured he must have been very young at the time, so I smiled. "So how did you come to be here now?" I asked, really curious about him and his life.

  "I was working on my doctorate back in Ireland. I went to a presentation Brandy, Professor Morrison, I mean, was doing on the Isle of Mann. We got to talking and she mentioned that she was looking for a graduate student assistant here at UC Berkeley and it was a shame that none of the students who'd applied had even half of my knowledge. I looked at it as an opportunity and applied for a student visa that afternoon. Once I had it secured and my spot here at UC Berkeley, I contacted her and gave her the good news. She was happy to have me." He took a sip of his coffee and then broke off a piece of a scone to eat.

  "Just like that? You changed your whole life in one afternoon?" I was amazed that someone could do something like that.

  "Wouldn't you?" he questioned, looking at me curiously.

  I sighed. "If it were possible, sure. But I work two jobs just to help Mom take care of the bills and the house on top of going to school. I couldn't just up and leave for myself."

  "What do you do, if you don't mind me asking." He seemed interested and engaged, which kind of surprised me.

  "I work at the corner drug store, just as a clerk, so it doesn't pay much more than minimum wage, but with school, I have to take what I can get. I also walk dogs for my elderly neighbors. It doesn't pay much either, but it helps them, and it helps us, so you know." I shrugged and pinched off a piece of strawberry tart.