Page 88 of Forty, Flirty & Fake-ly Yours

I sigh, absently rolling cookie dough. "At our age, you'd think we'd be better at this."

"Better at what?"

"At being honest about what we want. About not playinggames." I look up at Olivia. "About admitting when something fake becomes real."

She smiles softly. "Maybe it takes getting to our forties to be brave enough for the real thing."

Not for the first time I wonder about what the “real thing” even as I glance out the window, as Seattle's promised snow begins to cascade down again.

"Mom!" Bianca calls from the living room. "We need Aunt Roz for the big finale! It's a metaphor about processing emotions through interpretive dance!"

“Lots of movement," Mia adds. "Like robots learning to feel!"

I look at my phone one more time, at Grayson's carefully worded message. Then at the snow creating its own unpredictable patterns against grey Seattle skies.

Tomorrow's going to be interesting.

At least there won't be any wine to spill.

Probably.

25

HAVE YOU TRIED TURNING LOVE OFF AND ON AGAIN?

Mountain Cabin,Outside Seattle, WA

GRAYSON

The day after Valentine's Day dawns like a system crash – cold, unforgiving, and impossible to ignore.

Seattle's record snowfall has transformed the mountain roads into something from a disaster simulation, which feels appropriate for the fucked-up way I feel.

"Sir," CORA announces as I adjust my tie for the fourteenth time, "your heart rate suggests elevated stress levels. Would you like me to calculate the probability of successful social interaction given your current biological metrics?"

"Mute, CORA."

"Though I feel compelled to note that your playlist choices since yesterday morning indicate concerning patterns of?—"

"Mute. Forever."

The AI falls silent, though I swear I can feel judgment radiating from my phone. Then again, maybe that's just the countless messages I'm trying to ignore:

Connor:Grandmother says that damn CORA's been playingnothing but Taylor Swift breakup songs for her. Should we stage an intervention?

Alex:Whatever's going on with you and Roz, please don't let it affect tonight. Mac's really excited about the party.

Douglas Franklin:Press already speculating about your absence from SecureMatch's Valentine's events. Time for damage control?

I silence them all, adjusting my suit jacket with the kind of precision that probably betrays exactly how not-fine I am. The mirror reflects back a perfect image – dark suit, crisp white shirt, silver tie that completes the polished look.

Everything exactly as calculated, except for the slightly manic look in my eyes.

The car service arrives exactly on schedule because of course it does. I've optimized every variable of this evening except the one that matters…

How to handle seeing Rosalind again after yesterday's disaster.

The drive to her place feels eternal, each turn bringing fresh memories of her soft skin and raspy laughs and amber eyes.

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