Inexplicably, emotion clogged my throat, robbing me of my ability to do anything but swallow for a few moments before I managed, “You’d do the same for me. You all would.”
“Exactly.” Greg nodded once, sending me a soft smile that looked foreign on his typically sardonic features. “Which is why I told Quinn as soon as I found out. We’re looking out for you, kid. And don’t you forget it.” But then added, “And now you and Fiona have more in common.”
I sniffled, prompting Kat to cross to me and place her arm around my shoulders. “How so?”
“Now you’ve both seen Matt’s penis.”
27
Retrieval Robot
A robot that is swallowed and used to collect dangerous objects ingested accidentally. The device is based on foldable robot technology, where the robots fold up, a bit like origami, into small structures less than a few millimeters in diameter so that they can be swallowed like tablets. Then, once inside the body, the capsules enclosing the robots dissolve, allowing the devices to unfold, and reconfigure themselves to retrieve the object.
Source: Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
An opportunity for Matt and me to prove our trust in—and good intentions for—each other arrived earlier than I’d anticipated.
Once again, we were at my apartment. He said he liked it because it felt like a home. Whereas, other than a few of Grace and Jack’s drawings hanging on his walls, his place felt like a pit stop.
Presently, he was sitting at the kitchen table, his hands in his hair as his mouth moved wordlessly, as though reading to himself from the computer screen. I was sitting on the floor by the couch, using the cushions as a surface for my storyboarding notes and biting on the end of my pen.
The cuddling story was done and sent, as was the dry-humping piece. The OM appointment was set for two days from now.
“You know, they have programs for that.”
I glanced up from my papers. “For what?”
“Storyboarding.”
“Oh. Yeah. I know. But I like this better. I can see my notes, what I’ve written, and it reminds me of what I was thinking at the time.” I frowned at the paper in my hand. It was from a phone call a few weeks ago—just before my trip to New York—with my writing partner.
Tommy had attended an OM session in San Francisco and had already sent me his notes. However, we’d decided to split up the last two paid services. He took the life coach and I was supposed to hire an escort.
But, again, that was weeks ago, before everything had changed.
“You look troubled.”
I didn’t look up this time. “I’m . . . debating.”
“Anything I can help with?” I heard his laptop close and the scrape of the kitchen chair on the floor as he stood.
Taking a deep breath, I let the phone call notes fall to the floor and leveled Matt with a bracing stare. “I’m supposed to hire an escort to take me to David’s engagement party.”
He stopped, mid-movement, his eyes widening to maximum diameter as he stared at me. “Come again?”
“For my story about paid services. I’m supposed to hire a male escort.” Rubbing my eyes, I sat back on the carpet and sighed.
“Well . . . okay. That’s interesting.”
That made me laugh and I lifted my eyes to his, finding him smiling at me. “So, what am I going to do? I agreed to do this before things changed between us.”
“Do you want to do this?”
“No. Yes. I mean, I don’t know. I want to finish what I started. I want to finish writing these pieces. This whole series was my idea and it’s getting a lot of great feedback. I’m really proud of it.”
He nodded all through this. “Okay. Then, you should do it.”
“Really?”
“Yeah.” He shrugged. “As long as you feel comfortable, then—if you’re asking about my feelings—I’m fine with it.”
I gaped at him. “I can’t believe you’re okay with this.”
“Why not?”
“Because, honestly, if the roles were reversed, I would not be okay with it. I would absolutely not want you to hire a female escort for work, or research, or anything else.”
Matt smirked at me. “Jealous?”
“Hell. Yes. I don’t want anyone touching you but me. And if that makes me possessive, then so be it.”
His smile widened. “You know you can trust me.”
“I know. But it would still piss me off.” Recognizing this about myself, and being able to communicate as much to Matt without having to worry about upsetting him was . . . amazing. Truly revolutionary for me. I’d never had that with anyone. And I appreciated him so much for it. The trust between us was a gift.
And so, I decided I wouldn’t hire an escort. If I couldn’t handle seeing him with a female escort—even for work—I felt it was unfair to ask that of him.
He was laughing at me, at my freely admitted covetousness, crossing to where I sat, and lowered himself to the floor. “I have no plans to hire an escort.”
“And no female companion robots, either.” I lifted my index finger and pointed at him. “None of that.”
“Don’t worry. We’re going in a different direction. At least, I am. I’m focusing on a Compassion AI for foster kids. One that will be assigned to them as soon as they enter the system and stays with them through to adulthood.”
I straightened, blinking at him, my heart emitting a burst of heat that traveled down my arms and up my neck. “Oh.”
He met my gaze evenly, a small smile on his mouth. “I think that’s where I can do the most good.” He’d drawn his legs up, his elbows resting on his knees.
“I’m sure you will.” Cupping his jaw, I kissed him on the mouth, then on his cheek. “I’m so proud of you. You are amazing.”
“Oh? Tell me more.” He caught my hand before I pulled it away, holding it against his face. “Leave nothing out.”
“Well, not many men would be cool with their girlfriends hiring an escort for research. But, it doesn’t matter, because I won’t be—”
“I think it’ll be interesting. Besides, I have questions, too.”
I stiffened. “Um, what?”
“Yeah. Once Quinn and Alex thoroughly vet him, the three of us can go. We’ll just update our RSVP numbers with your ex.”
A burst of laughter escaped my throat. “You want the three of us to go? To David’s engagement party?”
“Yep.” He nodded once, his tone still even but a glint of devilry lit behind his eyes.
“Matt.”
“Oh wait.” His mouth fell open in a cartoonish movement. “You thought I’d be okay with you hiring a male escort and going out on your own?”
I pushed his shoulder, wrinkling my nose at him.
He caught my wrist. “Oh, no. No. That’s not going to happen. No way. Not unless you take one of my terminator robots.”