Page 8 of Nolan
“So.” Apollo’s voice brings me out of the daze I’ve found myself in. “What do you think? He’s pretty cool, huh?”
“Yeah, definitely,” I say, trying to compose myself and hoping I wasn’t staring too hard. We shift awkwardly as I try to think of something to say to my brother. “So how is work going?”
“Fine, it’s—” He breaks off as Jessica emerges from the back room and catches Apollo’s gaze. She smiles coyly and brushes her hair behind her ear, looking at the register as she pretends she doesn’t see him looking. He just grins that much brighter.
Ugh, they’re so in love. Gross. I don’t need the reminder that I’m perpetually single. I’ve gone on plenty of dates and had a couple of boyfriends, but nothing stuck. Nobody was the one. Apollo, meanwhile, never had that problem. He met Jessica and the way he tells the story? Boom. That was it.
I’m still waiting for that. That boom.
Seeing Nolan walk through the door is the closest I’ve ever felt to anything like lightning, and right now, I’m trying to figure out why. I should be wary, right? Pissed, even, at androids. But—I don’t know, I just don’t have it in me to blame androids for the fact that my world came crashing down when I thought I was at the height of my game. It’s the corporations, the greedy fuckers at the top who don’t want to hire people who require lunch breaks and vacation time, who have families to feed. It’s not Nolan’s fault I lost my job. It’s none of their faults. It was a bunch of rich guys in suits that screwed me over, not him or any of the rest.
It’s hard not to look at him. I can’t get over his smile, the dimples in his cheeks. He looks so unbelievably real. If it weren’t for those eyes, I never would have guessed.
I’d love to talk to him some more, but he and Apollo are lifting some boxes of heavy freight for Jessica, and I don’t have the arm strength to contribute. I want to chat with him without getting in the way. But what do I even say when I get to that point?
I head into the back room, which is already cleaned up for the night. Alia’s working on the front window displays, while Rae-Rae sweeps the floors. Lindsay has already gone home for the day, but there’s one piece of sweet bread left in the box she brought this morning.
“Aha.” I take the box and hurry back out onto the floor, making a beeline for my brother and Nolan, who have finished with the boxes. As I approach, there’s a lull in their conversation, and I do my best to be suave.
“Sweet bun?” I offer to Apollo, but my voice cracks, and I have to cough to clear my throat.
Great, Mia. Nice.
Apollo gives me a puzzled look. “No, I’m good. I ate already.”
“Oh, okay.” I turn to Nolan. Perfect, gorgeous, intense Nolan. “How about you?”
Nolan’s smile is patient. “I can’t eat. I don’t have a stomach.”
I want to disappear into the floor. Of course, I knew that—why would a robot have a stomach?—but it slipped my mind in the moment. I’m usually so much better at this stuff. I can be flirtatious, sexy, fun. This guy has me acting like a total dork, and my brother’s laughter, however well-meaning, draws color to my face. Why haven’t they invented transporters yet? I want to blink out of here and hide in my room forever.
“Oh.” I try to laugh at myself a little, in a weak attempt to deflect my own embarrassment. “Sorry. I was on autopilot.”
“It’s not a problem,” he replies.
His irises are so white. So intense. Like he’s looking through me. Wait—I read somewhere that androids can read vitals to anticipate things like heart attacks and other health problems. Oh, shit. That just sends my heart thundering worse. Can he see it?
In defeat, I take the rejected sweet bun to the back room. With a soft “Fuck it,” I take a bite and throw the box away.
After devouring my consolation prize to my failed icebreaker, I return to the storefront and do my best to avoid looking at Nolan. I mess with my phone and pretend like I haven’t already found the best areas of the shop for recording. My brother’s right there, and the few times I allow my eyes to wander, Apollo watches me like an annoying hawk. You’d think I was back in high school.
At one point Apollo waves at me, and I quickly look away, refraining from rolling my eyes. Ugh. I just want to tell him to go away! What is it about older brothers being annoying and getting in the way of everything? It’s a mystery of life.
Fortunately, I have a small reprieve from his surveillance when he follows Jessica into her office. With the door shut, I’ve no doubt they’re either talking business or sharing a few moments of stolen affection. Gag. But this is my chance. Now, I can look at Nolan whenever I like as he peruses the store, looking around curiously at the items in men’s section. I just have to not be obvious about it.
Don’t be creepy, Mia. Be cool.
The few times I risk it, he’s looking my way too. My cheeks flush hot. He’s an android, I know, but I have myriad friends with all kinds of opinions on bionics. A few die-hard Humanity First supporters are among them, and I recognize from first-hand experience the validity and the fear of losing jobs to automation. But I’ve also got some pro-bionic friends. They’re a bit more hippie than me—hello, California—but because of them, I’m hooked on a few pro-bionic social media celebs. Lucy Warren is the most established, and I love how tranquil her voice is, how intelligent she sounds when she talks about issues. I also follow Becca Schroeder, who’s definitely using her pro-bionic powers for good in the political department.
And then there’s Madison Hadley, an influencer who’s just started to grow a following from sharing a couple’s blog in New York. Her android hubby Dominic is a championship fighter, and he’s so funny. I love watching their videos, how they prank and joke with each other. They’re so cute.
Would you date an android? is the big question among single adults. Tentatively, yes. I have some concerns about the shape of our economy, how AI and bionics are taking over the working class. And if that wasn’t enough, there are some that can be infected with dangerous viruses that make them violent, explosive, frightening.
But after dating boys in high school and college and losing my virginity in the back of a truck, things either crashed and burned naturally or we just had different dreams. If I knew for sure it was safe, I’d be down to date an android. I’m just not sure about how my family would take it. Mom and Dad are pretty traditional in their values, and Apollo? Well, I don’t know. He works with Nolan. Maybe he’d be cool with it, maybe not.
None of that matters, though, if I can’t even work up the bravery to speak to Nolan.
There’s a couple of shoppers left in the store, a pair of women around my age, and wouldn’t you know it, they’ve noticed Nolan too. I mean, how could they not? The man is a tall glass of water. Goddamn, I need to stop being so thirsty.
