Stray (Touchstone, #1)

by Andrea K. Höst

"Everyone's really competitive?" I asked. "Or just no manners?" Except, given my grammar and how slow I say stuff, it was more like "Compete all much? Manners no?" I really hate sounding so stupid. Yoda with a lobotomy.

And then the leader of Fourth Squad came over. I was wondering if I should thank Fourth Squad for rescuing me, but if anything this guy was even more unsmiling than Zan is. As an added bonus he seemed to be staring at my chest, which was really amazingly uncomfortable until he said: "Experimental animal?" Maze thought he was being insulting, and said "Rue-el," in a warning tone, but stopped, probably because he saw my expression. "You can read English?" I asked – in English – completely disbelieving. "Don't neglect the psychological aspects," the Fourth Squad captain said to Zan and turned away without another glance at me. Though he added, "It's not inapposite,"

I'd decided that my role was like a caddie for a bunch of professional golfers. I don't do any of the hitting of balls, but I make the day a little easier for them.

Mr I-Have-Every-Kind-Of-Sight-But-No-Visible-Sense-of-Humour

Alyssa used to say that time spent with impossible-to-achieve guys is time well spent because it gives you a chance to find reasons not to like them.