Page 82 of Ezra
“Anyway, back to the subject at hand—your lady friend,” Deion says. “Okay, she’s passionate. A real firebrand. I get the draw. But others have had strong personalities too, and we know what happened with them. They started making demands, playing games.”
“Katrina’s different.”
Deiontsks. “Different?Are you feeling okay? Systems running away from you? Need a reboot?”
“I’m in control of my faculties, thank you.” I glance out the window. “I’m serious. Kat wouldn’t do that. She understands the job. She wouldn’t press me. I have a feeling I could tell her anything if I wanted to, and she’d keep it quiet.”
“Kat,” Deion teases me. “Already on a nickname basis, huh? Damn, you’ve got it bad, little brother. But she’s gotta realize her family’s never gonna approve, and you can’t just run away with her either. We need you here.” His eyes remain on the road. “Ineed you here, man.”
“I’m not going anywhere,” I say. “You’ll always have me, D.”
He flashes another familiar smile. “I know. Hey, I’m just worried about you. It’ll all turn out all right, no matter what. Andif you really like her, then I’ll like her too.” He ends a brief pause with another thought. “Can’t promise the same for Rashelle. If she can’t win over Rashelle, she’s done for.”
“You aren’t wrong.” That’s what worries me. The more I research, the more I realize bringing someone to your home to meet members of your family is a big deal.And I’m leading with that right off the bat. Maybe it won’t be so bad. It’ll save us both from wasting each other’s time if it doesn’t go well.
But the entire ACU is going to be there, and I’m bringing Katrina Carson. This is a risk. Some detectives go from zero to a hundred at the very mention of Humanity First because of the messes they’ve had to clean up—property damage, endless amounts of paperwork, strikes and rallies gone wrong.
This may be the first action I’ve taken that might be a little insane.
I hope it pays off.
Kat
Flopping onto my bed, I groan into my pillow as I hold my phone up, currently mid-FaceCall with Zoey. “What am I doing?”
I’ve tried on literally everything in my closet. Ezra said casual attire, so I know my fancy and sexy stuff is all off-limits, but I have so many options, and none of them feel like The Outfit.Even in jeans and a simple blouse, I need to be able to knock this android on his ass and get him back for those kisses he keeps surprising me with.
So I’ve got my no-makeup makeup look on point, my short-cropped hair is styled the way I like, and I’ve picked out the jeans that hug my form just right, but not the top.
“You are so hung up on this guy.” Zoey is crazy amused by me, and I’m just glad she’s done making fun of me. Admitting to her how I’ve been feeling, the way I’m changing directions—hopefully, for the better—was nearly as stressful as my dad meeting Ezra for the first time last night.
And unfortunately, dear old Dad wasn’t done with me. He must’ve suspected something was off, picked up on the energy between us. He sent me a text, letting me know he loved me, but he wanted me to be careful, and getting too close to an android might be dangerous to me, even hurtful. I told him to drop it, and he had the good sense to leave me on read.
But good ol’ Zoey? She just laughed at how “awesomely ironic” it all was. After all she’s been through, I was worried she’d be against it, that she’d remind me of the horrors she endured. But she has a good head on her shoulders. She doesn’t blame all androids for TerraPura. I don’t know what else I expected. She even confides in me how the museum’s curator, Diana, invested in a helpful domestic android named Edward, tasked with assisting her husband. I didn’t know he’s been diagnosed with cancer, or that he suffers from occasional PTSD triggers from his last deployment.
“So that’s why she went on sabbatical.”
“I only know because she came to visit me at the hospital, and it came up in conversation.”
“I’m so sorry I didn’t visit you. I feel like a horrible friend.”
“Please, don't even worry about it. Your dad got fucking shot, and I had my entire family and Bridger hovering around me too. As for Diana, I’ll let her know you’re supportive. Now, let’s talk fashion...” Zoey taps her chin. “Just pick something that’ll show a little cleavage but nottoomuch. Think of it like a high school reunion. You wanna look put together, like you figured out life before everyone else did.”
“Wow, thanks, that’s really helpful,” I say sarcastically, combing through my closet again and ignoring my already large pile of definite nos. I hold a top up for her. “This one?”
“Sure, I’m sure he’ll love seeing you in a grandma sweater.” She shrugs. “Definitely family friendly.”
“I hate you.” I toss it on the no pile and pull out a flowing, light blue button-up tunic that isn’t too low-cut. “This?”
“Much better. Wear that with a pair of leather knee-high boots, and you’re golden,” she replies, stirring a cup of tea with a little golden spoon.
“Really?”
“Uh-huh,” Zoey says. “Finish that off with a knit cardigan, and you’ll look like every generic white girl in an autumn catalog ever.”
I slouch with a groan. “Is my wardrobe that outdated?”
“No! You’ll look fine. Trust me, your outfit is the least of your problems.”
