Page 22 of The Bully Alien

"I don't see how that's any of your business," she says in a rush.

I shrug. "Maybe not, but I was curious. A natural question given the topic of our conversation."

"Yeah, yeah." She eyes me and then purses her lips. "Fine. I didn't really choose to be celibate. It wasn't something that happened overnight or even something I thought was necessary. I think... I think I respect... I understand the power of touch and sex, and I want to are sure that if I decide to enter into a relationship, it is with someone who cares about me as much as I do them. I don't have friends. I don't... I have never been in a relationship, and it's not because I think that no one is good enough for me. I don't trust people. I don't trust their motives. I've been bullied a lot, tormented, teased... I've been made the butt of jokes, and I don't trust anyone with my heart or with my body, and... and I know that all of this makes me sound like a giant hypocrite because of what I did to you. I... I'm sorry."

I gape at her.

"Why are you looking at me like that?" she grumbles.

"I didn't expect to hear that."

"Which part? All of it?"

"The apology."

"Yeah, well, what I did was wrong—"

"Maybe not entirely underserved. I was an asshole to you."

"Yes, but I was an asshole back. Maybe I was even worse."

"Oh, so now we're comparing dicks, huh?" I joke.

"No way I can win that contest," she jokes back.

I grin at her.

She starts to smile and then looks away.

"Why do you do that?" I ask.

"Do what?" She still won't look at me.

Figuring she won't answer, I change the subject. "I can take you to see what's left of the ship."

"You will?" Her eyes widen, and she jumps to her feet and then continues to jump. That's how excited she is.

"Sure."

"Why?" She narrows her eyes, suddenly suspicious of me.

I have to laugh.

"What's the catch?" she demands.

"Like I told you, there's no way to fix it," I warn her.

"I want to see your spaceship!"

"Which one?" I ask as I climb to my feet.

She blinks a few times.

"The one out there or the one in my pants?" I joke.

She slaps my arm. "The one out there!"

I just laugh and laugh and laugh.