A knock at the door.I jerked awake, heart hammering, hand instinctively reaching for... what? A baseball bat I didn't own? My phone to call... who? Jade? She would laugh so hard of how I’m a scaredy cat instead of a man.Another knock. Softer this time."Evan?" Clara's voice, muffled through the door.My brain rebooted.I stumbled to the door in boxers and a t-shirt that said "I'm Not Lazy, I'm Energy Efficient." Classy.I checked the peephole. Clara stood in the hallway in an oversized hoodie and shorts, clutching her laptop bag like a security blanket.I opened the door. "Hey. You okay?""Define okay." She wouldn't meet my eyes. "Can I come in?""Yeah, of course." I stepped back.She walked past me, and I caught that citrus shampoo smell again. My brain did something stupid involving neurons firing in directions they shouldn't."Sorry it's..." I gestured vaguely at my disaster of an apartment. "A museum of poor life choices.""It's fine." She set her laptop bag on my couch, then ju

Monday hit and I found myself standing outside a glass-fronted office building downtown that looked like it charged rent by the reflected sunlight. The directory listed Hart Strategic Consulting on the fourteenth floor.My phone buzzed.Leona: Come up. Suite 1407.I checked my reflection in the glass doors. The borrowed blazer still didn’t fit at the shoulders. My jeans were clean. My shoes were... shoes. This was as good as it was getting."Remember," Mira said inside my head. "She's testing you constantly. Every word, every reaction. Stay authentic but pay attention.""So be myself but also not embarrass myself?""Exactly.""Those are contradictory instructions."The elevator was glass and steel and played jazz. I watched the city shrink below me and tried not to think about how far I'd come from delivering coffee to people who wouldn't look at me.The fourteenth floor opened into a minimalist reception area. White walls, black furniture, a single orchid that probably had a better s

My apartment greeted me with its usual enthusiasm: stale air and unwashed dishes.I dropped onto my couch and pulled up my Quest Log. The familiar blue glow painted the ceiling.[QUEST LOG - ACTIVE][Quest: Public Speaking - Panel Discussion][Status: Pending decision][Reward: +2 PRC, Influence Path skill upgrade][Risk: Public image damage on failure][TIMER: Offer expires Thursday]The timer pulsed red. Aggressive. Passive-aggressive, actually. Like Leona had personally programmed it to judge me."You're staring at it like it owes you money," Mira said."It might. I'm still not sure if I owe Leona for the wine glass."[Quest Reminder: Public Speaking - Panel Discussion]"Yes, thank you, I saw it the first time—"[Timer: Offer expires Thursday]"—and the second—"[Bond Quest Candidate: Jade Kwon]"Okay, what the hell is that last one?"“Bond Quests,” Mira said cheerfully. “They unlock when a Link is emotionally significant enough to merit dedicated challenges. Jade qualifies.""And

She pulled back just far enough to breathe. "This is a bad idea.""Terrible idea.""We're on a rooftop in a thunderstorm.""Very unsafe.""I'm using you to not feel things.""I know.""That's not fair to you."I reached up, cupped her jaw, ran my thumb along her cheekbone. "Maybe I want to be used.""Careful what you wish for, Cross."She kissed me again, and this time she didn't stop.Her hands slid under my soaked shirt, nails dragging across my ribs. I hissed, half pleasure, half pain from the bruises she'd just spent an hour giving me. She smiled against my mouth."Too much?""No.""Liar."She peeled my shirt up and off, tossing it somewhere into the rain. Then she sat back, straddling my hips, and looked at me.I was suddenly very aware of every flaw I had. The skinny arms. The ribs you could count. The complete absence of anything approaching muscle definition."Stop thinking," she said."Can't help it.""Then I'll help you."She unclipped her sports bra and dropped it on my che

I crossed the room to her slowly, like approaching a skittish cat. "Clara.""Don't.""I'm going to anyway." I stopped in front of her. "You matter. What we have—whatever it is—matters. Tonight with Jade doesn't change that.""How can it not change it?""Because feelings aren't zero-sum. Caring about her doesn't mean I care less about you." I ran a hand through my wet hair, frustrated. "I know that sounds like bullshit. I know it sounds like something a guy says when he wants to have his cake and eat it too. But I don't know how else to explain it."Clara stared at me. "You're terrible at this.""I'm aware.""You're soaking my carpet.""Also aware.""And you smell like rain and sex and I really want to be mad at you but you literally just saved me from my stalker using skills I taught you, and I don't know what to do with any of this information."Jade moved to stand beside me. Both of us facing Clara. Dripping on her floor."Take your time," Jade said. "We're not going anywhere.""You