How To Break Up With An Alien by Magan Vernon Read Free Book Online

menu board behind me. "Alexandra, sometimes I just need a little caffeine and a change of scenery when I'm working on a new book." She looked down at me and smiled. "And what better place to work than a coffee shop?"
    I opened my mouth to speak while Simone slid in beside me. "Alex, I'm going to take my break. Do you think you can handle the register by yourself for awhile?"
    "Oh! Is this the new friend you were out with last night?" mom gushed like I'd never had a friend before. She should have realized that it was hard to bring anyone around an overly dramatic mother. One time I brought a new friend over in middle school and she asked her if her parents would like free copies of her books. Later that friend told me she wasn't allowed to hang out with me anymore because my mom gave her porn.
    Simone turned toward my mom and put on a big smile. "Yes, that would be me. Sorry if I got her in too late."
    Mom returned the smile. "Oh, not too late at all! I'm just glad to see Alex get out of the house!"
    Simone nodded. "Alright, well since you have this taken care of, I'm heading to Subway. Back in fifteen."
    Mom watched Simone saunter out the door and then turned back to me. "Aside from all the makeup, she seems lovely!"
    I rolled my eyes, desperate to change the subject off Simone. "Have you picked out what you wanted?"
    "Oh! Well I think I'll just have a tall flavored coffee." She handed me her credit card and I swiped it before handing it back to her with a foam cup for the coffee station near the pastry case. At least we called it a coffee station. It was more like just a row of carafes of different coffees and some cream and sugar on the side.
    "I'll just be sitting right over here in the corner, writing. You won't even notice me!" She beamed while filling up her cup and then headed to one of the tables by the window.
    "Whatever," I muttered. I pretended to be interested in something else, so I wouldn't have to watch my embarrassing mother.
    The bell rang over the door. Crap . Simone was gone and I wasn't real good at handling things by myself yet.
    "Hey, Alex." Brody's wide grin appeared over the pastry case.
    "Hey, Brody." I smiled back and noticed my mom watching us over her laptop. As soon as my eyes met hers, she pretended to be diligently typing away at her laptop. Like that really ever worked. I knew she was staring and she knew I caught her.
    "Man, you are always working!" He stretched his arms over his head. I tried not to let my eyes wander down to the treasure trail that lingered below his belly button once his shirt was lifted.
    I shook the inappropriate thoughts about Brody's treasure trail out of my head and stared back up at him. "Yeah, I've got to pay my tuition for Northern Arizona somehow."
    "Northern Arizona? I thought you were going to some school in New York?"
    "Well, my dad and boyfriend live out there and they have a good PR program."
    He arched an eyebrow. "You are choosing the desert over NYC because of a guy?"
    My mom's ears perked up. I saw her blond head bob over the laptop. This was what she had been assuming ever since I came back from Circe. Little did she know how much more Ace actually was than just some guy I met over the summer or how our relationship almost caused the end of existence on Earth.
    I shook my head, smiling. "No, there is a lot more to it than that."
    "Okay, I guess I'll let you off the hook for now, but you should do something for me then."
    I tilted my head, feeling the heat rise to my face. Surely he wouldn't ask me for a sexual favor in front of my mom? Not that I would oblige or anything. "Uh, I did just say I have a boyfriend, didn't I?"
    He laughed. "Get your mind out of the gutter! I was just going to say that I am having a bonfire at my place tonight, so you and that redheaded chick that works here with you should come. I guess Brad Gage wants to bang her or something and wanted me to invite you all."
    "Uh, okay." I blinked. "I don't know what Simone's plans are, but I