““Anyway, this part of the discussion isn’t up for discussion.” “Maybe it should be,” Cordero offers. “Maybe you should consider that she might’ve shown up to see you and left because she wasn’t ready.” Marcus crosses his arms. “She could’ve seen your prosthetic.” “You mean this?” I raise my robohand. It’s capable of fifty distinct gestures, but the bird’s one of my top-used ones. Marcus is already smiling. He knew it was coming. “It might have taken even less,” Jode adds. “One look at you could’ve sent her running.” An image flashes through my mind. Daryn seeing me, then doing an about-face and hauling ass like she’s in a B horror film. I have to laugh. It’s just so sad. “How is this relevant to anything?” I’m sweating and I can’t sit any longer. I stand and brace my hands on the back of the chair. “Hey, Ben,” I call into the warehouse. “How’s your personal life? You got any rejections you want to dissect with our psychologist-boss?” Ben jumps up and rounds his desk. “Definitely. I’m the king of rejection.” “Dude, then I’m your co-monarch.” “Blake,” Cordero warns. “We’ll talk later, Ben. Keep after it. You’re doing great.””
