“Do you want to come?” she asks hopefully, appreciating his confidence and ignoring that last part. Of course she can afford them. At least, she could before she got James. But it wasn’t like a single outfit is going to make or break her. And Holiday is right around the corner. He’s right. She deserves a little something nice.
“No. I have plenty of work to do.”
She takes a few minutes to get ready to venture out. But there’s something nagging her. Before she steps out the door, she pauses. “James?”
He glances up, giving her a once-over before grinning. “Yes?”
“I don’t suppose you have to tell me any of that, but you are. Why?” she asks, biting her lip.
James sighs, leaning back in his seat. Does he look guilty? No, he’s forcing the eye contact. “Because Jett told me about your parents. I didn’t ask him to, but he did. And now I know the standard I have to live up to.”
She nods, a little surprised at his definitive tone. Also, that Jett shared something so personal that wasn’t his story to share. She’s going to have to have a conversation with Jett about how that makes her feel. Namely, angry. That’s why her tone might come out a little snippy as she says, “You want to live up to that standard now?”
He spreads his arms across the sofa, like he can read her desire for him to say yes. Like his confidence has fully rebounded since this morning and he has a new lease on life. The corner of his lip quirks up. “I thought I’d give it a try.”
She wants to grumble at him, but instead she narrows her eyes, because there is no way he’s saying what herfoolish heartanalytical mind thinks he is.
He stands and saunters over to her. Takes her hair and moves it over her shoulder. “I’m sorry, K8.”
“It’s fine,” she hears herself say. “At least you know.”
“I know you weren’t ready to share that with me. I haven’t earned that yet, but I plan to,” he says, leaning down so she can smell the cool mint of his mouth wash.
Her breath hitches. He plans to earn her? That certainly sounds like what she thinks it does. What happened in the last twenty-four hoursto cause such a shift? But what if he tries and can’t do it? What if she becomes invested and what if—
As though he can read every thought on her face, he says, “In case you are wondering, I rarely, if ever, fail.” Then he kisses the corner of her mouth, so lightly she isn’t sure it happened. She wants to reach out and grab hold of him, but she’s frozen. In shock. He steps away, leaving her blinking.
A little later, as she walks into the first shop, thoughts of him fill her mind. She’s almost in a daze as she selects a few necessary items. How is James, of all her FRIENDS with their Respectful and Considerate Conduct Courses, the only one who seems to get her? It’s uncanny.
Yet somehow she knows it isn’t some magical twist of fate. It’s because he’s the only one paying attention.
November 20, 2390, Day 37.
“I know your business needs your attention, but I appreciate you coming with me.” K8 gives James a grateful grin. She thought when he got back from his brunch with Jett and Oro1 that she might be the recipient of that affection he’d been primed to give herThe Morning Everything Changed. Zephyr, when he buried his head in her lap—well, it wasn’t her fault that her mind wandered. But he was fully consumed with telling her about their idea, then working on it. It’s all he’s been doing for the last week. How irrational is it to be jealous of a business? One that he promises will be successful enough that they’ll never have to worry about his lease again.
James only looks at his device, presumably for the time. “Sure. I can keep working when we get back.”
K8 can’t help but deflate, even though his hand feels delicious on her back as he escorts her out the door. Like a firework at the end of each fingertip is burning a suggestive promise into her skin. Like there’s some unspoken understanding between them now.
As they step into the elevator, K8 gives him a reminder. “There will be lots of people who don’t know you’re real at the party, so you’ll have to be on your best behavior.” She runs a lacquered nail down his chest as the elevator takes them down to emphasize the point. James gives her a delicious smirk. “Do you like my outfit?” she asks, doing a turn for him.
His eyes rake up her form, catching on the way the flexible LED lighting embedded in the weave of the skirt changes with her movement. “That looks . . .” He hesitates as if he wants to say something likeexpensive, but settles on “interesting.” Then his eyes trail up, snagging on her chest before meeting her eyes. He wraps an arm around her waist, drawing her near. “You look stunning, as always.”
Flutters erupt in her stomach. Maybe tonight will be the night.
After a short SAT ride, they enter Tower CB49. “A lot of event spaces are in this area. Restaurants and things like that,” she explains as they make their way through the air transfer chambers. James carries their gift as they enter the packed baby-themed room.
A screen across the room flashes betweenIt’s a baby!andCongratulations, Lessa!
Another screen depicts little rainbow-striped bouncy-bears swinging from cartoon trees, and yellow rubber unicats splashing in a candy-fluff pond.Another says,Welcome to Lessa’s Conception Party!From the ceiling hang streamers in varying shades of blue, green, pink, and orange.
Now that K8 has gotten over the initial shock, she’s thrilled for Lessa. She sees them across the room and promptly dances over to greet them.
“Lessa, you’re glowing!” she squeals as she embraces the expectant parent.
Lessa fans themself. “Is it warm in here or do you think it’s the baby?!”
It isn’t warm, and K8 isn’t sure if the baby is big enough to be causing Lessa to be overheated, but who is she to dampen their joy? And everyone knows white lies don’t count. “Of course it’s that little angel inside you.” She makes grabby hands toward Lessa’s belly. “May I?”
