Kate glowers at him. Then her eyes brighten. “Yes, it’s true. After I saw what limited equipment I had to work with, I incorporated more oral sex into the program.” She pats the back of his hand. “He’s almost perfect.”
James grimaces, and Jett breaks into all-out laughter. At his expense. Though he knows Kate intended the comment as a retort to his own, he can’t help but feel a little emasculated. After all, she had God knows how long to get an unbridled view of him naked. Not that he is lacking. His gaze slides to her. She seems nice enough, but did she touch him? Take liberties? Surely she isn’t that desperate. Even amongst the people he’s seen so far, Kate’s beauty outshines them all. She wouldn’t have any trouble finding a partner. But if that is true, then what is his purpose?
Jett sighs, relaxing back in his seat. “You seem happy. You’re glad you went ahead with the activation?”
Kate clears her throat, and this time James is sure she’s faking her smile. “You’re right. It isn’t nearly as weird as I imagined.”
Jett’s eyes gleam with barely contained delight. “See, I told you—”
“But I’d still rather have arealpartner,” she interjects. “One positive encounter isn’t going to convert me. You know I only activated him because GROW wouldn’t give me a refund. Ahh, here’s Decci!”
Now James is sure there’s more to the story, which he’s suddenly very interested in getting to the bottom of. Unfortunately, there isn’t time to follow that thought. A lithe man steps up to their table. Severe, shiny black hair hangs past his shoulders, and a matching liner circles his green eyes. A fine film of powder makes his complexion milkier than it might have been otherwise. For a man, James can acknowledge he’s beautiful in an austere way.
The newcomer places his ring-bedazzled hand on Jett’s shoulder, waiting to be acknowledged. A sinking feeling causes James’s stomach to dip as he realizes what this other man is. Jett absently grazes hisfingers over the man’s hand before turning to him. “Decci, this is Kate’s first manupartner, James.”
James isn’t sure what he is supposed to do, so he lets his instincts take over, rising to reach out his hand. Decci only stares at James’s outstretched palm as if it is a curiosity. Noticing the lingering moment, Jett directs the manupartner. “I think he wants to hold your hand, silly.” Decci puts the wrong hand in his, which James quickly releases, addingdon’t shake handsto his growing list. Jett turns to him. “Decci is my latest partner from CHOICElover.”
James bites back the wordsI gathered thatwhile trying to plaster a compliant, if not serene, expression on his face. “Wow.”
Jett chuckles. “It’s been a while since I’ve had a GROW. He seems genuinely surprised. I guess their recent adaptations are really panning out.”
Kate smirks at James’s apparent failure, patting his hand. “Yes, it seems so. They’re still abominations.”
Relenting, Jett sighs. “Decci, take James and show him how to operate the CaféPress. I’ll take a flat white with sea salt foam, a pick-me-UP nourishment packet, and . . . let’s see,” Jett taps his finger to his mouth, “three rice cakes with red berry jam.”
Kate rattles off her order much more quickly. He does his best to memorize it, but the jumble of words gets lost in his scrambled thoughts. Hopefully, the manupartner will remember. Otherwise, how many options can there possibly be? Surely, he’ll get close enough. Or he could completely screw up the order and enjoy watching as Kate pretends like she’s pleased with his selections. But that could backfire. She is doing him a favor by not reporting him. Notwithstanding the ethical implications that she acknowledged, which give him a shaky sense of security.
Decci directs him through the lobby, which is less crowded than it was the night before. In the corner sits a vending machine like youmight see in a hospital waiting room that distributes coffee and a handful of other machine-produced drinks. As they walk, he considers what else he might learn from the manupartner. And how safe that might be. He figures it has to be relatively safe because the thing that looks exactly like a real man doesn’t really have a vested interest in what James is.
Decci points to the touchscreen on the CaféPress. “You put your partner’s unit number in first, and then you select the items required. It’s easy. Watch and it will make sense. Us manupartners have to stick together.” Decci gives an uncomfortable laugh as if that was a programmed line he recited.
James forces a chuckle and nods, watching Decci demonstrate. A moment later, the machine starts making whirring noises and then a claw hand drops three metal cups and two muffins onto the tray below. Decci takes the tray and nods toward the machine. “Your turn.”
“Shit.” Kate’s order has officially drifted out of his memory. She really should have spent more time debriefing him on what to expect before they went out in public. “I’m afraid I don’t know Kate’s unit number.”
Decci, unfazed, recites, “CA25-163-11.”
Before he forgets, James punches the number onto the touch screen, then makes a last-ditch effort to remember Kate’s order. He gives Decci another helpless look.
The manupartner happily grins as it supplies, “A pick-me-UP nourishment packet, a Café Italia, double XPRESO, double foam, and two bean puffs. And of course, whatever you choose to fuel.”
James figures it added that last part despite its waning solidarity.
Behind them, another manupartner set on a mission to do its master’s bidding says, “I’m happy to wait, but my Lolla needs her order. Will you please hurry faster please? Excuse me.”
After the twenty-four hours he’s had, he doesn’t give a shit. He shoots the woman-shaped thing a masterful glare, wondering how many of the people he sees are manupartners and how many are their owners. If he really is Kate’s first one, that says even more about the woman he’s agreed to live with for the time being.
Decci explains, “She is a PickMe Partner. It’s a generic brand and probably an older model. Not a premium manupartner like CHOICElover.” This time, James is sure the line is implanted.
He shakes his head before turning to search for the items on the list. Decci only has to correct him twice, which he is rather proud of. As he swipes, he looks for eggs, bacon, or even a cup of yogurt for himself. It seems future people really enjoy their carbs. He needs something though, so he edits the order to include two of everything. Later, he’ll talk to Kate about getting some meat and vegetables.
The machine whizzes and buzzes like it did before. When the tray is filled, he picks it up, turning to follow Decci. He clears his throat. “How long have you . . . err . . . serviced Jett?” Internally, he cringes, but he can’t think of a better way to say it. And it was, after all, the thing’s purpose. It was in the name.CHOICElover.
“I’ve been Jett’s companion for over four months.” Decci stares blankly ahead as it answers.
“And do you like it?” James presses.
Decci stops, slowly turning to look at James as if his question has caused the thing to short circuit. “Can you repeat the question?”
