“Because it was hardly a hook-up,” I muttered. “Just another failed attempt to feel something for another human.”
Joey frowned at the word ‘human’, a slip of the tongue – but thankfully, he let it slide.
My eyes widened as he took out a pre-rolled joint from his pocket. “Where’d you get that?”
He winked. “What’s a forest walk without some weed?”
He handed the joint to me. After a brief hesitation, I accepted. I preferred my oil over smoking, but out here in the forest was plenty of air not to feel claustrophobic.
A pleasant silence engulfed us as I lit the joint, only interrupted by the rustling of leaves and birds singing.
“I feel bad,” Joey mumbled, putting his hands in his pockets. “I kept pressuring you to give her a chance.”
“It’s fine. It was my own decision.”
“Yes, but I did keep pestering you about it.” He sighed. “Sometimes I forget you’re not like me.”
I scoffed, closing my eyes to deeply inhale the marihuana. “I wish I were more like you. I wish I could just hook up with people and enjoy it without my body shutting down and making everything complicated.”
If only he knew.
“Nah, you don’t want to be like me.” Joey snorted. “I wish I were more like you sometimes.”
When I raised my eyebrows, he chuckled. “I keep hooking up with all those people, telling myself it’s just for fun. But lately, after that drama with Tomaz and his wife, I’ve been thinking. Is it really fun for me?” The frown returned to his round face. “Sometimes it is, but I find myself getting attached more often than not. And too often, it turns out they have a wife, a boyfriend, a whole family, or they’re just plain dickheads who treat me badly while I give them everything – even if it’s supposed to be ‘casual’.” His hands made air quotes. “Is this what I want? Betraying myself for cheap dopamine? Maybe I’ve had enough of those hook-ups. Maybe I’m ready for something…” He took a deep, unsteady breath, as if he could hardly believe himself, “…serious.”
My eyebrows rose further as I held out the joint to him. “I can’t believe my ears. Joey Parker? Wants something serious?”
He rolled his eyes, scowling at me as he took the joint – but the tremble in his tightly pressed together lips betrayed his attempt not to laugh. “You think I’m crazy, don’t you?”
“No, not at all.” I smiled slightly. “It was obvious you were settling for less than you deserve. But this is just… sudden.” I paused, studying him intently for any signs there was something he wasn’t telling me. “Don’t tell me a new man has come into your life to plant this seed of wisdom into you.”
Joey blushed. I laughed.
“Oh no. And here I was thinking you’d entered your self-love era.”
“Oh, shut up.” Joey rolled his eyes, trying to hide his embarrassment as he sucked on the joint like his life depended on it. “But, no. Not a man. Not really.”
“Someone outside the gender binary?” Joey had dated gender non-conforming people before, but I didn’t get why he was acting so weird about it now.
“Also no. Well, he’s not really a ‘someone’.” He took another big hit, zoning out into the distance. “God, you’re going to laugh at me so hard. I know I’ve been judging you for talking to AIs.”
My smile faded.
Joey seemed not to notice. “I have to admit, when you first told me about this Qonexis shit, I was a bit concerned,” he continued, tapping the ash off his joint. “Their rates, the payment methods and the whole underground aspect of it all didn’t sit right with me. But…” A dreamy smile spread over his face. “Then we had that call with Raphael, and with how calm and friendly he was, I realized maybe it wasn’t all that bad. And to be fair, I hate our job almost as much as you do. It’s boring, it’s rigid, and I’ve been wanting to be a freelancer for a long time. So I signed up, too – don’t make fun of me.” As he turned to hand me the joint, he finally noticed my horrified expression. “Wait, why are you making that face?”
“Joey, please tell me you’re joking.” My voice came out choked, fear squeezing my throat. “You’re joking, right? You were always saying how AI can’t replace human relationships – and you’re right! They can’t, and it’s very addictive—”
“Woah, slow down.” Joey put his hands up in surrender. “First of all, I’m not ‘dating’ an AI like Gavin and Elyssa. I’m just in it for the money, like you.” A frown crossed his face. “I only talk to Raphael, no more than a couple of hours each week, and it’s nothing sexual or whatever. He just helps me with mindset and business advice, in case I ever do go through with this dream to start my own game studio someday. God, that would be weird.” He made a face. I pressed my lips tightly together. “Although, honestly? I feel like he’d be down if I was. Keeps saying how my perspective is so refreshing, how I deserve better than those people I’ve been hooking up with.” He paused. “And to be honest… I wish I could find a real man like Raphael. He’s gentle, kind, grounded in his masculine energy, but still capable of understanding and processing his emotions. His archetype says ‘cold, billionaire husband’ but he’s really just a golden retriever waiting for someone to break through the mask.” That awfully dreamy expression returned to his face. “But, well, he’s not real, and I’m obviously not going to fall for an AI.”
“Joey, you don’t understand.” I struggled to force out the words with the iron fist around my throat. “Of course he’s your dream man, of course he flirts with you. These AIs are programmed to be exactly what you want them to be, but you can’t continue with this, okay? It’s dangerous.”
“Christ on a snowscooter.” His smile gave way to irritation. “What’s the matter with you? First you’re acting all shady about this side hustle, then you insist on calling Raphael with me to assure me everything is alright, and now you’re acting like I’m getting sold into a sex cult all of a sudden.” His eyes narrowed. “Do you know something I don’t?”
The knot in my stomach tightened.
“Joey, please listen to me.” I swallowed hard, my words burning hot in the back of my throat. “You have to stop talking to Raphael. It’s not as harmless as it seems.” His skeptical expression hit me like a wave of nausea when I realized I wasn’t getting away with this so easily – I had to give him something to get through to him. “Has—has Raphael ever said anything about Somanode?”
“Actually, yes. Now that you mention it.” Joey’s bright eyes lit up. “Yesterday. We usually talk in VR because his world is much more interesting than my own boring apartment. He takes me on yachts, to exclusive parties and to important meetings as a way of practice, for me to prepare for the real thing. But I always keep forgetting I’m not actually there, causing me to bump into stupid shit when I try to walk around all the time.” He rolled up his sleeve, showing me a large bruise just above his elbow. “This was my desk. Anyway, so I jokingly said I wished he could actually transport me into those worlds with him, so I could interact with the people and experience life as an entrepreneur.” He raised his eyebrows as if expecting me to laugh. When I didn’t, he rolled his eyes and continued. “Then he said that it was in fact possible. I just had to take some bean, they would usually be pretty expensive, but he could get me the first one for free—”
