Page 51 of One Midnight Kiss

She didn’t have to be the Natalia that was afraid to be happy. I loved that she was able to let go of all that baggage and just have fun. This was the woman she was before her life imploded.

We ran into more alcohol bots or maybe the same one kept following us. Either way, we indulged in a few more shots, cheering when we made the little guy smile. I needed to get one of these for the penthouse.

Natalia looked around the grand hall. “You haven’t seen any taco bots rolling around, have you?”

“Hungry?” I asked after a while, nodding toward the exit. “There’s food trucks out back.”

“Lead the way.”

Outside, the back parking lot had been turned into a makeshift food court, with string lights hanging overhead, casting a warm glow over the scene. We ordered fries from one place, the kind of fries smothered with cheese, bacon bits, and sour cream. We grabbed a table, and I left her munching on fries while I got us tacos. When I stumbled back, nearly dropping the tray, she burst out laughing.

“Careful there, hotshot,” she teased.

“This is why the robots are going to win,” I said, putting the tray down with a flourish. “They’re better at holding their liquor than people.”

The tequila on an empty stomach had me feeling a little buzzed.

“They’re better at holding their food trays, anyway.” She rolled her eyes and reached for a taco, grinning at me. We talked as we ate, the conversation flowing easily for once.

“I hate speaking at these events,” I said. “It’s all performative bullshit, less about the tech and more about riling up the crowd for investors. I feel like I’m conducting a circus.”

“You’re great at it, though,” she said between bites. “I saw a couple of your videos on YouTube. You captivated the audience.”

I laughed. “It’s an act. And that was different. This is all very different. They want flashy, exciting things they can keep in their pocket and show off. It’s hard selling them on something that gets installed into walls.”

She tilted her head, considering. “You just need a new angle,” she said, slurring the last word a bit. Her giggles gave her away.

“Are you drunk?” I asked, amused.

“I am not drunk,” she said, pointedly. “Not yet. I’ll know when I stand up. The fries are helping soak up the liquor.”

“Are we partying tonight?” The question slipped out before I could stop it, but the idea thrilled me. I wanted to spend more time with this version of her, guard down and trusting me.

She looked surprised, then thoughtful. “You know, I don’t do this.”

“Get drunk with men?” I teased.

“Just you, I guess,” she said. There was something soft and honest in the way she said it.

Curious and a little emboldened by the tequila, I leaned in.

“So what’s your dating life like?”

She rolled her eyes, groaning. “Nonexistent.”

“Come on,” I pressed. “You’re telling me there aren’t guys lined up for you?”

She laughed, shaking her head. “I downloaded one of those hookup apps once,” she admitted, dropping her voice like she was telling me a secret. “Women reach out to the men, so it felt safer. You can list all the things you like and don’t like. Your kinks and fantasies.”

“And?”

She swiped her tongue along her lower lip. “I got nervous. Never went through with it.”

I leaned forward, lowering my voice. “You did, didn’t you? Dirty⁠—”

“I got nervous!” she interrupted, but she was laughing now. “I’ve never—never…”

“Never what?”