“It is what it is. Really.” I meant that. “The place was on the way to work for Elliot, and he stopped there most mornings for Dew re-ups. He’d give me his change. And then it was coffee. And then he was taking me to breakfast.” He’d tried to offer me a place to live, but I was too proud for that. This was the part that hurt. Not because of what happened then—I loved these memories—but because no one believed that Elliot now was the same man, and I knew better. “Then he offered me a job. I’d learned a little about computers from a friend in jail, but he was willing to teach me anything I needed to know about programming.”
“Wow.” Fallyn’s tone was impossible to interpret.
I’d make up the meaning I preferred. “Yeah. I’m pretty fucking lucky.”
She looked past me. “So you do have a heart in there.”
I whirled, to see Elliot in the doorway, lounging against the frame in sweats that hung low off his hips, and no shirt. When did he join us, and why did he have to look so good, even now?
He kicked into an upright position. “I don’t. It shriveled and died eons ago.” He didn’t sound upset.
“He does have a heart,” I said. “Don’t believe him.”
Elliot shook his head. “I did what anyone would’ve done.”
“You did what almost no one would’ve done,” Fallyn argued. “And now the two of you are intertwined in this bond of honor that will keep you together for eternity.”
Was she being serious or sarcastic? “Pretty sure that’s not the case,” I said.
Elliot strode past us. “Not until we complete the final quest, anyway. We have to defeat the boss monster.”
Fallyn laughed lightly. Appropriate response to a ridiculous brush-off, and I liked both.
Elliot grabbed his coffee, then took a seat at the table with us. “Moving on. I was thinking, I know Fallyn’s trip is half over, but it’s not right that she’s sleeping all the way on the other side of the house. You should stay in one of the billions of rooms closer to mine.”
Whoa. Did that much change last night?
“Why?” Fallyn looked as surprised as I was.
On other hand, Elliot sipped his drink in the most casual manner possible. “I just told you why.”
“But why really?” I needed to know.
He shrugged. “I don’t know. Good girls get rewarded?” His tone was almost playful.
Fallyn didn’t look impressed. “Wow. So you’reso generous.” Even before she finished talking, her smirk broke through.
“Right?” Elliot grinned.
Wait. Were they teasing each other? In a fun way? Without any alcohol or immediate promise of sex? “No, really.” I poked Elliot in the arm. “Pod person? Robot clone?”
“Knock it off.” Elliot batted my arm away. “Link likes Fallyn, and I trust his opinion. King does too, and dogs aren’t wrong about these things.”
The face Fallyn made was exaggerated and almost pained. She sucked in a long breath through her teeth. “I mean… they like you, so it’s not a perfect theory.”
“Bitch.” Elliot was still teasing.
And Fallyn’s smile grew. “Asshole.”
The banter was light and no malice hid in either of their voices. Their smiles reached their eyes. This was surreal, but I liked it. “If you are robot clones, remember I was already loyal when you enslave the minds of humanity.”
“Noted.” Elliot pressed a spot on the side of his head, near his eye, and his expression went blank. “Human Link is loyal.” His tone went monotone. His face returned to normal and relaxed. “Seriously for just a second. Are you going to the con all day, Fallyn?”
“Not sure yet. There are panels I want to catch this morning, but I really need to get some work in, so I might come back here this afternoon.”
“I have to drop Link off at his car and I have first shift at the Aces booth. If you want a ride, we can take you.” Elliot offered.
And Fallyn still looked mildly surprised. “Sure.”