Chapter 37
Earlier the same day.
The hot water is invigorating as she quickly showers.
She rushes to her closet, throwing on the closest outfit.
Does this even match? It doesn’t matter.
She ties her hair into a no-nonsense ponytail, throws on a little blush, some mascara, lip gloss .
. . maybe a touch of glittery eyeshadow that would really pull the look together. There—she’s ready to tackle the day.
With determination, she approaches the stacks of still-unwrapped packages. Most of the items are still narrowly within their return window. Incredible Bill will be fine without her purchases, and she will be fine without the latest winter line. James, however, if she doesn’t do this, won’t be fine.
When she peeks her head out the door, James is nowhere to be seen. Perfect.
Loaded up with everything she can carry, she slips out of her unit on a mission.
Four hours and three trips back to her unit later, she’s sitting at a table in the center of the food court, processing what she’s afraid to identify as grief.
But at least refunds will be issued in three to seven days.
So even if she can only afford a one-week extension, between her next paycheck, the remaining refunds, and the rest of her gently used sales, she’ll afford the next full month.
Then she will have kept her promise, and the rest will be up to him. As he wished.
In her peripheral vision, a man coming around the corner catches her attention.
It’s James. Her heartbeat ratchets up, and she sinks behind the two remaining packages that the shopgirl told her weren’t refundable.
A store credit would be of no use to her, so she decided to keep the items—including a shimmery little dress she might treat herself by wearing out tonight.
She is getting tired of lying around, heartbroken and morose.
Plus, it is the three-month anniversary of her eighty-sixth birthday.
And she deserves to celebrate her accomplishment of becoming a better person. Maybe Jett will go with her.
Speaking of, Jett follows James around the corner. They pause and talk animatedly for a moment. Then they shake hands, and Jett walks off. James stands against the wall, glancing at his device every few minutes. He’s waiting for someone. Oro1 perhaps?
Zorg, hopefully he won’t see her.
Then a striking brunette approaches him as if she’s met him before.
K8’s stomach pitches. The woman leans forward, and K8 can tell they are speaking in hushed tones.
Then the woman walks into Bird Tea, with James following behind her.
Of course he’s meeting a beautiful woman at the place she originally wanted for them to have their fake meeting.
Her heart is in her throat as she picks up her device and messages Jett. Have you seen James?
We just had lunch, Jett replies. Why?
K8 takes a measured breath. Do you know if he was going somewhere after? The question is innocuous enough.
Yes. The next response takes longer to come, and while K8 waits, her knees bounce uncontrollably. He said he was meeting a reincarnate. If you messaged him, he probably hasn’t seen it. You know how focused he can be.
She’d laugh if her stomach wasn’t in such a tight knot. As if he’d want her to message him. Apparently, James hasn’t told Jett about the dissolution of their relationship. A sensation that feels a little too close to shame crawls up her neck.
She replies, Okay thanks.
Robotically, she pushes through the crowd to the bank of elevators, clutching her remaining packages. When she gets to her unit, she changes the particle panes to a rainstorm scene. The position she takes on the couch gives her an equal view of the door and the thunderstorm.
After four hours of stewing, he hasn’t returned to her unit. She’s sure she’s going crazy, because she’s done denying things. She’s jealous. He’s out with a woman from his time who makes sense to him. A woman who’s capable of providing the type of relationship he desires. A woman who isn’t K8.
There’s only one thing for it. She needs to get James out of her system like she did Viper. As she gets ready for a night out, she sips a glass of Vine to calm her nerves. The slinky silver dress is more lovely than she imagined. She’s sure to get the attention she deserves wearing it.
Her palm is only a little shaky as she places it on the SAT palm print reader before picking up her device to message Jett. Going to Bubble Bar if you want to come.
Then she messages James. Going out tonight. Don’t wait up.