She probably thinks I’m a monster now. And I deserve that.
Despite every instinct in me that still wants to defend her, protect her, hold her… I have to steel myself.
We can livearoundeach other.
Work around each other.
Breathe the same air.
But I can never have her that way ever again.
If there’s anything right I can do by this woman, it’s making sure I stay away from her romantically.
-??-
Chapter 38
Sunshine.
That’s what I feel on my face until my eyes open. It’s early but dark. The sunshine was in my dreams.
Why is it so dark out here?
Looking over, I see my phone glowing on the nightstand. Picking it up, I see Sarah calling me.
I’m tired.
What does she want?
I swipe to answer, rubbing my face.
“Hello…” I mumble, my voice thick with sleep.
On the other end Sarah sounds like she’s been awake for hours already.
“Lincoln, are you up?” she asks a little too energetic for whatever time it is.
“I mean… kind of,” I mutter.
“We need to come in today,” she tells me without preamble.
“…Why?” I ask, already regretting the question.
“Voss wants us in. They ran another overnight sim and Auralis started glitching again… some… weird speech-loop. He wants us to look at the behavioral stack before the engineers screw it up. And he wants it done today.”
I sigh, dragging a hand over my face. “Did he uh… say what time?”
“As soon as possible.Preferablybefore 8:00,” she replies. Then her tone softens slightly. “I know you’re tired, babe, but…”
I groan quietly. Sarah hears it.
“Don’t do that,” she teases. “Get up. I’ll bring you coffee. ONE.”
“Ireallywanted to just sleep. Like, is it too much to ask just for a day of rest?”
“I know. Awww. And maybe if you’re nice to me today I’ll bring you something else too,” she adds, the suggestiveness dripping from her voice.
I close my eyes. I really don’t want this right now.
