Page 140 of CHOICE Lover
Sable studies them. “I suppose that passes the logic check. Since I’m not here to talk you out of it, why did you want me here?”
Electra rolls her eyes. “Because you’re his friend, and friends support each other when they’re facing life’s difficulties.”
Sable scratches her head. “I suppose I’ll have to read up on that.”
“I’ll send you a column I wrote about this exact topic,” Electra says, laughing.
Wordlessly, he opens the first vial, his breath catching as he tips the contents into a small flask containing the buffer solution. He opens the final vial, taking a few deep breaths as he holds it near the flask’s opening. Sable and Electra watch on from either side of him.
“Tread fast into tomorrow’s future,” Sable says, voice monotone
Electra leans forward, eyeing the other woman. “You’re insane.”
Sable grins. “Thanks.” Suddenly they’re all grinning, and he’s pouring out his final Jerme sample.
A tear streaks down his cheek. It isn’t a sad tear, exactly. Bittersweet. Jerme is gone. But he has Sable and Electra now. Possibly, if Sable’s right, even more friends—notFRIENDS—await him at the group dinner they’re having tonight.
Once complete, he pours the flask into the hydrolysis vat, watching as the liquid is quickly mixed into the greater batch of recycled manupartners and organic bio-gel substrate. A foot drifts by, floating atop the thick peach-colored sludge.
Electra jumps when she sees it, burying her head in his chest. “Gross!”
He squeezes her shoulders, drawing her away to get a good look at her. “You write about throats getting slit open and green gooey alien blood. How is this gross?”
Sable nods. “Agree. Don’t forget that one scene where Analise thrusts her hand into the monster’s gaping chest cavity to pull out its heart.”
He nods, recalling the exact scene, adding, “Which she promptly offers to the male love interest as a trophy.”
Electra slaps her hands over her face. “You have her reading my books, too? I’m going to die of mortification.”
Sable pats her on the back. “It’s good to know you have a healthy,” she clears her throat, “imagination.”
“Okay, I’m dead now.”
“You can’t be dead. Don’t you want to give him the present I helped you with?” Sable gestures to a package she brought with her, which she sat on the metal counter when she arrived. He didn’t think twice about it, much less suspect it was for him.
He perks up. “A present?” No one’s ever given him a present. After all, he can afford anything he wants—and he’s never had actual friends.
Electra excitedly hands it to him. He turns it over and shakes it. The intensity of their eyes on him makes him squirm. Fortunately, his curiosity is strong enough to outweigh any feelings of discomfort.
He unseals the envelope flap and slides out the contents. In his hands, he holds a slim book made of real paper. On the cover, there’s a beautiful woman on the far side of a thick patch of briars. The man on the opposite side is holding a giant sword in both hands and is depicted mid-slash. On his side, cut briars litter the path he is carving toward the woman. The title isOnce Upon a Dreamby Electra Lynch.
“It’s a loose Sleeping Beauty retelling.” Electra reaches over and flips open the cover. “Read the dedication.”
Both women lean forward, reading with him.
For Jerme. I never got to meet you, but this ridiculous man we both love believes we would have become fast friends.
A lump builds in his throat. “When did you write this?”
Her cheeks turn a delicious shade of pink. “Mid-January.”
“That was before we reconciled.”
“Before the IdenTECH meeting,” she offers.
Sable takes the book and flips through the pages. “Is there sex?”
Electra chuckles. “God no. It’s about his brother. A way to memorialize him.”
