Page 70 of We Met Like This
“Pages? Work in progress?” Oliver asked.
“Yes, she’s writing this book about an AI-run city. In the last installment I read, the AI is starting to give questionable rules to a woman named Ana and her husband, Alan, but they have to follow them if they want to stay. And so far, the town has proven to be basically heaven on Earth, so they are desperate to stay.”
“So they are following the AI’s questionable rules, then?” Sloane asked.
“The reader sees them as more questionable than the characters. They’ve all but shut off their decision-making skills, the whole town has.”
“Sounds unrealistic,” Sloane said.
“Youwould totally let an AI dictate your love life,” I said.
She shrugged. “If it had a high success rate.”
“Might be more reliable than a human programmer,” Oliver said.
“Yes, we all know how shady those people are,” I said, smirking in his direction.
“The shadiest,” he agreed. “Also, an AI making decisions for me sounds way easier than the apps.”
“Apparently you would also let an AI dictate your love life,” I said. “No computer is going to figure out love for me.”
“It could be romantic,” he said. “Have you ever read about AI-generated dates? The bots have been trained and they learn way faster than the average man.”
I laughed. “Maybe we could implant a chip at the base ofyour neck and you could be fed romantic ideas all day long. Because what you just said is not romantic. At all.” The words gave me an excuse to reach out and touch his neck, and when I did, a zap of electricity shot through my body as if I were the one being touched.
“Is this book coming out soon?” Oliver asked, goose bumps forming under my fingers despite the fact that he otherwise seemed unaffected. “It sounds good.”
I put my hands on my knees. I needed to keep them to myself. “It hasn’t even sold yet.”
“Hello,” Sloane said. “Less about a book you don’t even represent and back to the business you’re actually trying to start. Still not sure Love Lit is the right choice.”
“Hart Lit? HEA Literary?” I asked.
“I like Hart Lit better,” she said. “It makes more sense.”
“Maybe.” I shook my head. “I need time to think.” The idea of having to come up with the permanent name of my agency was making my palms sweat. This would be on business cards and in website announcements. “It needs to be right, perfect, because it’s going to be forever.”
“Commitment issues,” Sloane coughed.
“You’re the one who said you didn’t like Love Lit.”
“I changed my mind,” she said. “Because we’re allowed to do that.” She looked between me and Oliver like she was making a point. “Love Lit. It’s perfect.”
CHAPTER 21
“Hey, Audrey. I’ve been trying to call you,” I said, leaving a message for my sister. “I’m sorry for the snarky text I sent you the other day. It’s not an excuse but I was drunk. Okay, maybe it’s a little excuse, but probably one that solidifies your thoughts about me.” I sighed. “That sounded snarky too. I mean, your thoughts about me are mostly right is what I’m trying to say. I am unfocused, or have been. I’m working on it. Also, I’m not drunk now even though I sound like I am. Anyway, call me, I need to clarify what happened Friday. Bye.” I disconnected the call.
“That was a mess,” Sloane said.
It was Wednesday evening. I’d spent the last few days applying for a business license and ordering business cards and creating a new business email.
“I know! I’m more nervous to talk to my sister than I’ve been informing editors that I’ve started my own agency.” The truth was that I missed her. This had been the longest I’d ever gone without talking to her and I wanted us to be okay again.I hated that I had lied to her. And I could really use her help. She would be so good at this.
“You’ve been killing it the last couple days. Who knew running into Rob in the parking lot would light a bigger fire under your ass.”
“It was more the quitting thing that motivated me, but sure, seeing Rob just reconfirmed my commitment.”
“Have you told your parents yet?”
