“They’re getting brunch that morning,” he said, his tone tinged with incredulity.
So, because she got her mom a meal, that excused everything?
I rolled my eyes. “Forget I said anything. If being in a relationship like that makes you happy–”
“Zero–”
“Enjoy your own personal fantasy island.” I stormed off, my teeth gridlocking. What a stupid, dated reference. It didn’t even make sense. Victor would laugh at me for bringing up my old, guilty-pleasure, late-night TV show.
I dropped my stuff by the tech desk and flung myself into the chair hard enough I had to anchor my feet to stop myself from flying into the wall. I dragged myself to the center of the desk with my heels to work on a laptop. My eyes welled in the glare of a reboot screen.
How did he know I had trauma? Was I that awkward and horrible with men? I wasn’t flirting. I didn’t act like I thought he liked me, right? So why let me down like that?
I sniffed and rubbed my temples, hunched over. Hopefully, my nose wouldn’t drip on the keyboard and short-circuit anything. I’d had enough collateral damage.
Ash approached my desk. “Hey, what’re you doing in so early?”
I jerked upright and wiped my nose. “Nothing. Just getting a head start on this glitchy hard drive.”
She furrowed her brow. “Are you okay?”
‘Yes,’ wouldn’t come out. I nodded. Perhaps it would’ve been more convincing if I could’ve met her gaze.
“Let me know if you need anything,” she said, moving the tissue box closer. Then, she mercifully walked away.
Ugh. This was so pathetic. I blew my nose as quietly as possible. How many times had those robotics assholes told me I was ‘too emotional?’ That I couldn’t take a compliment…or a joke?
I didn’t see anything particularly funny about AI-nudes of my body or unsolicited dick pics. Nothing flattering about those for any party.
Sal headed toward True Tech, holding both of our drinks. Ah, shit. I couldn’t face him like this.
I bolted into the storage closet, which was much more dignified. I pushed some carts aside to make room and pretend I was sorting old cables. A barrage of dust tickled my nose. Shit. I couldn’t sneeze, or he’d know I was back here. The door had a gap in the bottom, which did nothing to block sound from the main room.
“Hey, where’s Zero?” he asked.
“Busy,” Ash said.
“Busy?”
“She’s doing something for me. What do you need?” she asked curtly.
“This…is her drink,” he said.
“You got coffee?” she asked.
Why did she sound so amused?
“So? You and I get drinks,” Sal said.
“Right,” she drawled.
“She was helping me with a present. For Janice,” he emphasized.
I yanked a bunch of tangled cables in exasperation. Did he have to tell Ash about my involvement?
“Oh, Sal,” she chided.
“What?”
