I swore a small tilt of her lip on the right occurred after she processed my words. Was that an almost smile? My body sagged, and my heart slowed its rhythm. I knew this girl’s smile would break my heart and piece it back together in one moment.
The painting came to my head like a bolt of lightning. Her face, with those blue eyes, that almost smile, and her pale white hair caressing her blushed cheeks.
She looked down at the empty seat again, and I remembered what she said before. She had a companion. Was It the dragon? I feel like that thing would have made its presence known by now.
“You said companion earlier. Who’ve you got hiding over there?”
She looked at me with a gentle face; it was obvious that whoever was there was loved very much.
A six-inch, retro-looking robot hopped on the empty section of the table and waved.
“I’m Pops. Nice to meet you, Arthur.”
She has a dragonanda robot. Clearly the surprise was written on my face because Gwendolyn felt the need to explain why he was here.
“I’m the head of the robotics department at Griffin Enterprises. Pops was my first robot, though he’s had lots of updates since high school, but he is the first artificial intelligence android in existence. He also helps interpret the world for me, people interactions and all.” She went about eating her food, and I was happy to digest her words until my food came. Pops started talking about what it’s like being a tiny robot in the world. She must have given him a degree in theater in there, because the little robot was dramatic as fuck. It was entertaining, that’s for sure. I wondered if her dragon was a robot too.
The rest of breakfast was pleasant. I had no problem initiating conversation, and Gwendolyn seemed relieved that she didn’t have to constantly have to figure out how and when to talk to me.
“We should do this again sometime soon.”
The bill had been paid, by me of course. My dad may have been an ass, but my mom raised me to be a gentleman—someone better than the man she married.
“I think that would be nice.”
Yes! I would get another shot to talk to her!
The door to the diner slammed open and both of our heads swung toward the sound.
Two men in all black, including ski masks over their faces, were holding big guns.
Chapter Seven
Gwendolyn
Breakfast had been nice.
Arthur was attentive and could read me like a book. It was weird; I didn’t have to figure out when I was supposed to speak, and he didn’t laugh if I said what was on my mind, no matter how random it came out. Pops had been enjoying himself, too. Now he was on my shoulder, behind my hair, but watching the scene before us.
“Everyone get on the floor! Except for you, waitress! Empty the register and the safe.” The tall man on the right of the robbery duo shouted instructions, and I felt a rock settle in my gut. Ruby. He was talking to Ruby. Oh God, I was terrified for her. Not wanting anything to happen to her, I acted on the instinct to protect. Her teenager would not be without a mother in this life, as I had been.
I took a step forward, and Arthur’s hand went out to stop me.
“Stay still.”
That same protective instinct had kicked in for him as well, but it was for me. He shook his head no at the same time one of the men stalked over to us and pointed a gun in our faces.
“Get on the floor or I blow your faces off.” The man was trying to make me scared, but I wasn’t. Fear was an emotion I rarely understood. There was a reason for everything, so I had no reason to fear what was logical.
Instead of talking, I just stared at the weapon in front of my eyes and watched as it started melting.
“What the fuck!” the man cursed and dropped the blob of metal that was dripping from his hands.
The scene caught the attention of the other man, who cursed as well.
“Let’s get out of here; it’s one of those freaks.” They tried to run, but I wasn’t having that. The metal climbed up the man’s leg and wrapped itself around his body like rope. He fell to the ground with a loud thud, trying to wiggle his way out of his restraints.
The other man decided to fire first, ask questions later, after seeing his man go down.
