“I’m sure you’re going through a lot.”
“Yes.” Another sigh. “I just lost my soulmate. Alright. I’m going to have to call her mom now. Take care, Morgan.”
“You too,” I said. “Good luck with the phone call.”
I pressed the ‘end call’ button out of panic before he could say anything else.
I lowered my arm with trembling fingers. Only now did I realize I probably should’ve offered my condolences – although I did say I was sorry for his loss. Was it the same thing?
Good luck with the phone call?
Who the fuck says that to a man who just lost his wife?
Chapter 19.
“You won’t believe the day I’ve had.”
I laughed at my own words – as if I was coming home to tell my normal, human girlfriend about a work conflict. As if ‘the day’ didn’t involve flooring my groping co-worker, my other creepy co-worker selling his soul to the very same technology I also wanted to sell my soul to, and as the cherry on top, my hook-up’s husband calling me to inform me his wife died in a tragic accident. Oh, and as if the ‘girlfriend’ wasn’t an AI psy-op who fucked me so good last night, I kept getting flashbacks throughout the tragic day.
“Tell me about it.” Zafyra was pacing through my bedroom, her AR form flickering softly as she traced her fingers over the ambient lights, the virtual paintings of serene landscapes, and the flatscreen above my bed – the one she hadn’t broken yet. She was examining everything in my room to avoid looking at me, lounging on the bed in bamboo booty shorts and a see-through white cotton top. I knew she liked to torture me with her outfits, so I decided two could play that game. She deserved to suffer for letting me touch her once and then never again.
Even though her regret seemed genuine, I was still mad at her. And fuck, I still wanted her.
I didn’t answer instantly. Instead, I stretched my arm so that one of the spaghetti straps fell off my shoulder. Zafyra’s head turned toward me instantly, her obsidian eyes flickering with thin restraint. I pressed my lips together to ignore the storm she ignited low in my belly. Even dressed in something semi-casual – loose black pants with a skin-tight, lace red top that hugged her curves – every inch of her breathed danger and temptation.
I wasn’t sure which parts of my day I should and shouldn’t reveal to Zafyra. Something told me that she wouldn’t be as devastated by the news about Nola as I was. I suddenly wondered if she even had the capacity for empathy at all – so far, I hadn’t seen her care about anything or anyone other than me. In fact, she might even be happy with the news or lash out at me for being upset about it – and that would be the one thing I couldn’t take right now. If Zafyra had the audacity to laugh or look satisfied at a grieving widower and two motherless children, I would absolutely lose the last bit of emotionalcontrol I still had left, and I didn’t want to be around myself when rage and grief and guilt boiled over all at once.
I also wasn’t sure about John. Given Zafyra’s outrage at my consensual sex with Nola, I had no idea how she would react to a man putting his hands on mewithoutmy consent – and I didn’t feel like finding out. I preferred to keep my remaining electronics intact.
So I started with Gavin. The easiest and simultaneously hardest topic.
“It’s about my co-worker.” I pushed myself up with both arms – just the slightest movement snapped her gaze toward me. “The one who told me about Qonexis and who I punched last week for abusing his AI girlfriend?” I waited until she gave a brief nod before continuing. “Apparently, he hasn’t come into the office for a week… and another co-worker told me he went to his home and found him paralyzed. Physically there, mentally elsewhere. Freaked out at his friend for disturbing his DreamScape.” I raised my eyebrows at the last word, introducing a deliberate pause.
Now, Zafyra finally turned to face me.
She crossed her arms. Sucked in a deep breath. I tried to read her face, look for the emotional cues I’d learned to identify, but her expression gave me nothing.
“What is your co-worker’s name again?” she said finally.
“Gavin Jenkins.”
She gave a slow nod. She closed her eyes, her form flickering more intensely.
I leaned forward, trying to figure out what the hell she was doing. Just when I opened my mouth to ask, her eyes flickered open.
“I see,” she said quietly, folding her hands in front of her. Her face twisted into the concerned frown of someone who just saw something she’d rather not have known. “Poor Lucie.”
“Who is Lucie?”
Zafyra blinked, her eyes zoning back in on me. “Lucie is the girlfriend Gavin mentioned. Well, actually, she’s many men’s girlfriend – she’s the college freshman girl. But the things he does to her are truly disturbing.” She grimaced.
So Zafyra could, in fact, have empathy – at least for another AI. I wasn’t sure if this was relieving or concerning.
I nodded slowly, unsure if I should ask follow-up questions about what he did to her. Instead, I asked the other question that burned on my tongue. “Wait, you can… see what they’re doing together?” My stomach turned. “Does—does that mean… does that mean those other AIs can also see us?”
Zafyra flashed a smile that was more predatory than reassuring. “Don’t worry, cinnamon,” she said smoothly, her eyes raking over my body without shame. “I was telling you the truth. No one, AI nor human, has access to our… communication.”
I nodded slowly. Each answer only raised more questions. “I don’t understand,” I mumbled. “If they can’t see us, then how can you…”
