Robot Boyfriend Booker (special preview)

Meeting Mina was like meeting a celebrity. She is Hephaestus’ wife and the cofounder of the academy. She was also one of the best mechanics on the planet, or so rumors went. Tori was one of her best friends growing up and worked alongside Mina most of their lives. She was also in a relationship with Hug, one of the robot instructors at the school.

“How’s everything going with Booker?” Mina asks.

You sigh and grumble. “Not sure.”

“I get that,” Tori replies. “Booker is one of the most awkward people I have ever met. Even if he was human once, I don’t think he ever knew how to act around people.”

“That’s why he suggested hiring someone to work with him,” Mina replies.

“He suggested?” You ask.

Mina nods. “He’s a brilliant therapist, but he needs that human touch sometimes. He drove Mrs. Humbrees crazy when he first started working here.”

“Me too,” you admit. “I actually just kind of yelled at him. If he didn’t looking like some evil hellhound version of a robot, I would have done it sooner,” you slouch in your chair.

“What’d you say?” Mina asks.

“I went in there, ready to hammer down the law, he got defensive, but then he said he’s not used to working with women,” you glance up at Mina and Tori. “So, I guess I kind of let him off the hook.”

“That might explain a few things,” Tori murmurs.

“Yeah, really,” Mina chuckles. “When I did his interview with Heff, he never talked to me. He only ever talked to Heff. I was wondering why he seemed so uptight.”

That evening when you get home, you notice a few emails from Booker. The first one is another apology, kind of long and heavy handed, but you appreciate the effort. The second one is the menu from the bar he’s taking you, so that way you know what to expect. The third is his phone number, in case you needed it. 

You text him so he will have yours and then go to get in the shower. When you return you find that Booker has replied with a smiley face. This bothers you, for some reason. For one, you rarely, if ever, use emojis yourself. For another, Booker seems like the last person to ever use an emoji, especially the cute blushy smiley face one.

“Thank you for the menu,” you text him. “That’s a big help.”

“Anytime,” he almost instantly replies back.

You feel a bit off put, not sure how to handle this so you just set your phone aside and go to scavenge your fridge for something to eat. As you’re making a sandwich your phone chimes.

Booker has sent a picture of a small dog in his lap. “This is Captain,” he says.

You smile, unable to deny the little dog has the cutest face and its uneven ears look so soft. “I didn’t know you had a dog.”

“I’ve not had Captain long, but I’ve always tried to keep a pet at home with me,” Booker answers. 

You sit down on the sofa with your sandwich and a drink. 

“Do you have any pets?” Booker texts.

You don’t. You only recently moved here and have barely unpacked anything. You’re basically living out of boxes. 

“Maybe,” you answer, “once I get settled.”

“The shelter down from the school is great. That’s where I got Captain.” Booker answers as instantly as before.

“I’ll keep that in mind thanks.” You set your phone down and start to eat. You turn on the TV and then your phone chimes again.

It’s another picture of Captain, this time he’s asleep in Booker’s lap.

“I was grading papers and was about to get up, now I’m stuck here until he wakes up,” Booker says.

You smile. “Well, that’s what you get for having a pet.”

“I suppose that’s true.” Booker laments.

You and Booker keep a long chat open. It stops while you’re both at work, but when you get home Booker is like like an open, well, book. At work, he doesn’t seem to have that same openness. He’s quiet most of the time when he’s not talking to those who come into the therapy room. And when he does talk to you it’s mainly about work.