Page 52 of The Dis-Graced

“Yeah, but it couldn’t have felt good seeing me handed everything on a silver platter while you were stuck with mom and dad. To be honest, I don’t know how you made it as far as you did.”

His eyes shift away, and I feel what he’s thinking. How you made it as far as you did before you crashed. It hurts.

“How’s the project,” Luke asks.

“ALAN? It’s…interesting.”

“It’s the story of the century and a long time in the making. When Drake took it over, it was hapless strings of code. He gave it personality.”

“What was he like in the lab?”

“Smart, curious, funny even. Never play poker against him, that’s for sure.”

“I’d really like to meet him.”

“I know, and hopefully you will. Drake’s being cautious about him, which he should be. It’s like a Frankenstein’s monster situation. God, I’m so glad I’m not in charge of those kinds of decisions.”

“You’re a smart man, I think you’d do well in his position.”

“We should probably go back in.”

When we enter the room, Drake is handing Annabelle back to Amanda for a feeding.

“So, what’s this big project you’re working on?” Amanda asks. “Is it really top-secret, or is Luke just trying to hide how boring his job really is.”

“Oh, Luke’s job is boring, I promise you that,” Drake says. “It’s why he’s perfect for it.”

“Come on, now,” Luke darts a glare at Drake.

“It’s nowhere near boring, but I am finding myself bored,” I reply.

Amanda cocks a perplexed brow.

“It’s…so hard to describe, but it’s a wonderful opportunity.”

Annabelle begins to fuss, kicking out her cute little sausage legs.

“Oh, let me take her!”

“She’s gassy,” Amanda says. “Let me burp her first.”

Amanda brings Annabelle up, patting her back for a good minute before a comically loud burp is emitted.

“Someone needs to teach that child some manners,” Drake jokes.

Amanda continues patting as Luke grabs a glass of wine.

Drake keeps casting glances, or rather, micro-movements at me. At first, I look to make sure I haven’t spilt something on my shirt, but when I look down, everything seems to be in order.

“So, are you looking into getting a nanny?” I ask Amanda.

She rolls her eyes. “I mean, yes, but I really hate being that kind of parent. I loved mine growing up. She was like a second mother to me, but I don’t want little Annabelle to have a second mother, I want Annabelle to only see me like that. I have contacted an agency—”

“ANNABELLE IS CHOKING!” ALAN’s voice booms louder than I’ve ever heard it.

Everyone’s eyes grow wide with confusion. It takes me a moment to realize what he said.

I dart over to Amanda, grabbing Annabelle off her shoulder. Drake is by my side in an instant.