Page 57 of CHOICE Lover
The woman’s pale skin flushes scarlet.
Res6 clears his throat. “They look nice.”
As they walk away, Electra glances back to see the woman fanning herself, making the eye roll she can’t hold back entirely justified.
The ice cream stand is on floor one hundred, along with a dozen other food stalls set up like a mall cafeteria.
Chryl steps up to the counter. “I would like that one.” She points to a rainbow-colored pan of ice cream. “Ten scoops!”
The employee glances at Res6 for approval. “Two scoops will be fine.”
“I want two scoops!” Chryl corrects.
Electra orders chocolate mint and, in an interesting twist, Res6 orders one called balsamic strawberry. A giggle escapes as the employee hands Res6 the cone.
He turns to her, eyes narrowing. “What?”
“I totally thought you were going to get vanilla.”
He chuffs, peering down at her as he takes a lick. “I am anything but vanilla, Electra Lynch.”
She glances away quickly, her stomach doing a series of acrobatic stunts she’d just as soon avoid. How does he do that? Right, he’s definitely pretending she’s a manupartner again, though he isn’t, dare she say,flirtingwith Chryl. No, even if he’s flirting with her,remember what happened last time, Electra? He fooled you into thinking he gave a shit, then got all concerned about his precious company.But then he saved you and let the men take the cases. But then a murder, even if it were a manupartner as far as the world knew, would be bad press.
She takes a lick of her ice cream, deciding to ignore him.
When they turn for the elevators, they’re met by a handful of gawking bystanders holding phones pointed in their direction. Chryl steps between the onlookers and Res6, holding a palm out. “No pictures, please.”
“At least she’s good for something,” Electra mutters.
Res6 chuckles as the elevator doors slide closed.
“I’m good for a great many things, hotcakes.” Chryl looks her dead in the eye and gives her an exaggerated wink.
Wait. Does Chryl think they’re in competition for Res6’s affection? Or is she still angling for a three-way? To what extent do the manupartners retain human instincts or are they purely a product of genetic programming? She needs to add that to the list of things to ask Res6about next time they’re alone. Not that she finds the monstrosities interesting. She’s merely curious.
It takes fifteen minutes for them to get Chryl set up in her own simulation chamber. She requested a song and dance theme, claiming “I’ve got the music in me!” which Electra’s pretty sure is the title of a 1970s pop song.
“Well, that’s something,” she says, walking past the counter for the fifth time. Is Res6’s pacing rubbing off on her? Oh God. She stops abruptly. It’s just her normal anxious energy vibrating through her that needs an outlet. She’s got to start the column soon and give it one.
He finishes getting their lake scene ordered and takes her hand, guiding her into the dark chamber. He presses a few illuminated buttons on the control panel, and the lights come on. She takes in the scene, from the expansive clear blue sky to the holographic trees and the quaint round pond they encircle. The real-looking wood planks under her feet creak as she steps onto them.
If she didn’t know better, she’d believe she’s stepping onto an old wooden dock—the kind you see on quaint little lakes in the states people always refer to as having upstate sections. Upstate New York, Upstate Vermont, etcetera. Not that those places exist anymore.She slips off her shoes and sets them aside. As she walks across the planks toward the crystalline water, the planks even feel real, as if her bare feet are touching weathered woodgrain. She glances back at Res6, who’s staring at her feet and shaking his head with the barest hint of a grin.
Warmth flutters through her.Pointedly ignoring that.“Is the water real?”
“Kind of. It’s a shallow pool meant to look and feel real. I wouldn’t recommend getting in fully, but you can do this.” He walks up beside her, kicking off his own shoes. He sits down on the edge of the dock and rolls up his pant legs before dipping his toes in the water.
All she can do is stare at where his neatly manicured toes graze the surface, creating little ripples. There’s something about seeing him like this that feels intimate. Humanizing. Slowly, as if she might scare off what could be thereal him, she takes a seat next to him. There probably aren’t many people who get to see him like this. Which feels especially true considering what she knows about his brother.
“Is it cold?”
He chuckles, gesturing to the water. “See for yourself.”
She dips her toes in. The water is pleasantly tepid. She swishes her feet, splashing a little onto her jumpsuit, only then noticing the simulated lapping sounds and breeze.
She’s about to comment on it when she notices he’s staring across the lake to a cabin on the other side. He clears his throat. “I’m sorry you had to experience that earlier. I’m ashamed that my negligence exposed you to those men.”
Her heart clenches, her own woes suddenly forgotten. He reaches for his knees, but she takes his hand, cradling it in her lap like he did hers when her scan results came in. “Res6, look at me.” He does, albeit reluctantly. She shows him their hands. “This is real. I’m real. You aren’t going through this alone, and that wasn’t your fault. Those men made that choice. You did everything you could to stop them.”
