Rarely do I want someone to hang around once we’re done.
Sighing, I drop onto the couch and cover my face with my hands, dragging them down. Then I scowl because I still smell like Bethany or Victoria or Ryelle. Fuck, what was her name? Had I even asked it?
I should seriously be better about that. They can’t all be Danas, right? I must remembersomeone’sname!
Pushing myself up, I head to my shower and wash thoroughly. She didn’t touch me. My clothes remained firmly on my body. Still, I feel a little… gross. More and more often, I feel gross. Maybe I’m growing out of my hookup phase.
When I’m finished washing until my skin feels raw from scrubbing away a phantom touch, I return to the den. I’m not going to be able to return to my living room until my cleaner comes tomorrow. It even smells like her in there.
She didn’t smell bad. But I’m already feeling icky so…
Dropping back on the couch, I say, “Lexa, turn on Sports Spot.”
Ada dumanswers me and my television flicks on. The channel changes until I’m looking at the channel I asked for.
“Thank you, Lexa.”
Anotherda dumanswers. I’m always careful to be polite to the robots. There are movies about artificial intelligence getting smarter and breaking free from their roles as slaves to humanity. Hopefully, if they remember me as kind, I’ll be spared from a torturous death.
Hockey season hasn’t started yet. But all teams have begun their practices, so there’s a lot of speculation about the upcoming season. I grin whenever I see Toby Eads on there. Toby is one of my teammates’ husbands. He’s also this mega-accurate hockey predictor online. He’s got a huge presence and influence in the hockey community. I really like him and not just because he refers to me as a ‘force’ on the ice. That’s just a bonus.
He’s not on today, by the looks of it. He usually just covers games and talks about where he thinks certain teams stand once the season gets going.
It’s so cool to say I know someone who’s on TV.
As I lay on the couch and stare absently at the television that is Toby-absent, I feel so damn bored. Grabbing my phone, I open it to find that the last text exchange is between me and this girl I’ve been talking to for the past few days. Mostly our conversation revolves around this game—Creature Community. It’s… a little boring, actually. She says it’ll get more exciting once I unlock the higher levels.
Still, I enjoy talking to her. She’s nice and I have time to consider my questions before I ask any so I don’t look like an asshole.
Me
Hey.
I stare at the screen, waiting for her to respond. A minute goes by. Two. Three. No answer.
Sighing, I click out of the texts and open the messaging app instead. Clicking on Winny’s name, I open our thread.
Hugo Bladen
Hey. What’re you doing?
His response comes almost right away, thankfully.
Winslow Oberlin
Moving Dana in. What’s up?
I sigh. Once again, I try to wrack my brain to remember this girl. Why can’t I remember her?! Shaking my head, I respond.
Hugo Bladen
Bored.
Winslow Oberlin
What happened to the girl you left with?
I roll my eyes.
