She giggles, biting her tongue.
James continues, undeterred that her friend is poking fun at his expense. “When I can, I will compensate you for the time lost, naturally.”
“Naturally,” Jett says, snorting. As K8 turns toward Oro1, he mutters, “I see you’re still clinging to the hyperindependent bullshit.”
“It’s a process,” James replies.
She ignores them and their weird, blunt dynamic in favor of greeting Oro1. “Happy Holiday!”
He returns the greeting, pulling her to his side. From the corner of her eye, she sees James attentively watching as Oro1 squeezes her. Silly man. He says nothing, which is good because she wouldn’t tolerate it if he did—another reason she is never jealous. But it still makes her insides warm. Maybe he’ll forget about the purchases.
“Sable is running late. NHOS inspectors showed up at the recycle station, which delayed a batch of decommissionings,” Oro1 says. “Apparently, since the runaway manupartner, they’ve made a few unexpected appearances.”
“Good thing we got our two loaners for the fight tonight before they came,” James says, opening a bottle of Vine. She can’t help but notice his stare drift toward the smartwaiter.
K8 retrieves five glasses and watches James pour.
Fifteen minutes before they’re about to leave, Sable arrives with the two stocky manupartners.
K8 puts on her most winning grin, offering her hand to the woman like James showed her. She adores the customs from his time. They make her feel like she’s acharacterreal person in one of the Old News articles. “Hi, I’m K8.”
Sable glances at her hand, then at James, which makes K8 bristle.
“It’s called shaking hands,” James tells Sable, cutting through the quickly coagulating tension. “I’ve been showing K8 things from my time.”
Sable’s dark eyes widen.
K8 is becoming increasingly antsy with her hand hovering in midair between them, but her desire to impress James outweighs her rising discomfort.
Berry-stained lips purse as the physician considers K8’s hand. “I don’t see why we must touch each other to greet, but if this was your custom.” Sable takes her hand and K8 nearly breathes an audible sigh of relief.
“We just move them up and down for a second, like this,” K8 says, demonstrating. “Now you say, ‘I’m Sable.’ Then we both say, ‘Nice to meet you.’”
“At the same time?” Sable asks, incredulously.
K8 defers to James, who says, “No,” then laughs as they follow the procedure.
When K8 releases her hand, James slips an arm around her waist, murmuring in her ear, “Very nicely done.”
K8 beams, hoping his praise means she’ll be getting a reward later. It isHoliday, for Zephyr’s sake. “Now we’re friends,” she tells the other woman.
“That will throw off my optimal balance,” Sable notes, sighing.
“That’s what I said!” K8 exclaims, pleased they’ve found common ground so quickly. “I think as long as we don’t become good friends, it will be fine.”
Sable studies her for a moment. “You’re making a joke?” Her open features can’t hide the twitch at the corner of her full lips.
“K8 is very clever. It’s one of the traits I like most about her,” James says, his warm hand running affectionate strokes down her side.
From the kitchen, Jett makes a retching sound, and she swears she hears him say something about Yansy.
Sable says, “Well, that was interesting. I tend to agree with the man in the kitchen.” Then she looks toward the two manupartners patiently waiting by the door. “We should probably go get them entered. I think that one,” she points to the slightly taller one, who is twitching, “is malfunctioning.”
“What about your Vine?” K8 asks, startled that the seemingly intelligent woman would forget about something so important. It was pre-boxing Holidaydrinks, after all.
Sable straightens like K8 has caught her interest, then follows her to the kitchen. When K8 hands her the glass, Sable sniffs it, then downs it in one go. She hands the glass back. “Thank you. After the day I’ve had, I needed that.”
K8 isn’t sure what to think of the abrupt physician who she’s decided has zero interest in James or the people in the ring trying to punch each other.
