Asimov's Science Fiction: March 2014 Read Online Free PDF Page A

covered all that ground already?"
    "Some, I guess." She sipped from her drink. "Try."
    Den smiled. He raised the glass and could taste the beverage before it even touched his lips. He sipped and the fruity, acidic liquid spread around his mouth as if it had its own plans. He set the glass back down. The taste continued to expand through his mouth. "Strong stuff," he said.
    Melissa nodded. "It's for sipping, really."
    Den looked around the bar. Lots of patrons. Businesspeople, mostly, a few in open collars like himself, but mostly people who'd come right from the office.
    "Don't you want to know what's rekindled my interest?" Melissa said.
    "You're assuming that
I'm
still interested. I think I've moved on."
    "Sure you have." She grinned at him.
    He hadn't moved on. The smiles, the looks, it was all getting to him. Making him want her again. She was probably just leading him along, though, excited by his interest. He could see that kind of thing in her. He smiled himself. It would be all right to fool around, have some fun, he thought, but he wasn't going to bring his emotions into it this time. Treat her as someone who'd already promised to leave. Like a summer affair at Key West or Laguna. Enjoy it in the moment.
    That put him in a better frame of mind.
    "So," he said. "What's your plan for the rest of tonight?"
    Melissa smiled and sipped from her drink again.
    In the morning sun, he showered and found himself something to eat in her breakfast nook. While he ate, looking out across Pomona condos from her balcony, he heard her showering. For a moment he considered joining her, but the water shut off before he could make a move. He remembered, then, that she took quick washes. Efficient. In a way it joined up with the old Prius; concern about wastage. Except that she wasn't, she just didn't like to linger, felt there were better things to waste her time on than watching her skin prune up. It wasn't her car, he remembered.
    "Hi," she said, walking through in a robe and drying her hair with a towel. "You found eats?"
    He motioned with the bowl. "Honey Trinkets."
    She smiled and looked back at the shelf where the muesli box still stood. "Is there even a cereal called Honey Trinkets?"
    "If there isn't, there should be."
    She laughed and dropped the towel to her side. "A business opportunity." She came out onto the balcony with him. "This is good. The air's clean, the sun's shining." She put her arms around him and hugged.
    He could feel her lack of underwear though the robe, and liked it. He held the bowl and spoon out and tried to hug her back. She purred a little.
    "I'm glad," she said. "It's kind of like we laid the groundwork all that while ago and finally you're ready."
    "I'm ready? What's that mean? You're the one who broke it off. Both times."
    "Because you weren't ready. You were emotionally lame." She let go and pulled away. "If you'll excuse the expression. Not meant as an insult."
    Den puffed air through slitted lips. "Really? Because, gosh, you know, I wasn't thinking of it that way, but probably good of you to clarify it."
    "You know what I mean."
    "Really—no."
    Melissa nodded, her face becoming serious. "You were younger. Reserved. And distant. In control. You didn't give yourself over to it."
    Den took another spoonful of the muesli. He chewed it down a bit, then said, "And you think I might be now? After one night?"
    "Oh, I know it. You're not the man I dated six months ago."
    "Excuse me? He's standing right here. It's me."
    She smiled just a fraction. "Your sister. What you're doing for her. Even though she's—excuse me again—she's a complete mess."
    "A wreck?"
    "Just this side of it. She could have gone downhill very fast."
    "She still could."
    "No," Melissa said. She moved toward the cereal boxes. "The leg will block the opioids. I didn't tell you last night."
    Den shook his head. "I wish."
    "It will. As soon as I saw her details, I altered the build. I added in one of the corrective organ systems. In the