Machine Man (serial)

“Take off the glove,” Lola said. “Come on. Let me see your fingers.”

I pulled my hand out of her reach. “Wait. My fingers are attracted to you.”

“It’s mutual. Stop teasing.”

“You don’t understand. Not romantically.”

Lola looked confused. Then she realized what I meant, and stepped back. As she did, I shifted backward, as if I had been bracing myself against a force too subtle to notice until it was gone.

“What was that?”

“I’m not sure.”

“Charlie, I’m scared.”

“It’s okay,” I said, although I didn’t know if that was true, not at all. “Wait here. I need a scanner.”

“What did they put in me?”

“I’ll find out.”

Her eyes filled with tears. She was about to break down. And then we would have a problem, because I wasn’t sure I could move any closer to her without damaging one of us. But she sucked in a breath and nodded. “Hurry.”

81.