Page 95 of The Restoration Program

“Not in front of the sobbing teenager,” Nicole gritted.

After a few moments, Holly recharged. A glimmer of that sprite-like mischief returned to her red-rimmed eyes. “Okay,” she said. “Let’s go talk about our feelings and whatever before Dr. B loses his shit.”

They discreetly rejoined the larger gathering, dispersing to their respective seats by their partners.

“Did I miss anything good?” Nicole whispered up to Ryan.

“Ellis and Todd still hate each other,” he murmured back. “And Alina Porter is doing a book signing here next month.”

Nicole nodded and faced forward, pretending to pay utmost respect to what Dr. Burman was saying. Would the Facility expect her to attend the event? Even if she managed to evade their invitation, Ryan would probably insist on coming.

“Anyway, I just ordered five of her dresses,” a NüPrint across the table was saying. Nicole hadn’t spoken to her much, but recalled her wife introducing her as Leona in the second meeting. She had always been pleasant—a youthfulness about her despite being one of the oldest to undergo Restoration. Ringlets of her sandy hair bounced as she looked up at her partner excitedly. “I can’t wait to try them on. Alina just… she gives me so much hope that we’ll really be accepted out there someday.”

“Someday?” Ellis scoffed.

Todd groaned. “Can you stop being negative for like, one fucking second?”

“Language,” Dr. Burman snapped. “Leona, thank you for sharing. I hope you’ll share some pictures in the group chat, if all goes well.”

“Oh, you betcha! These hips were made for a mermaid-style skirt. You just wait.”

Ryan leaned closer behind her. “Have you looked into those dresses yet?” he whispered.

They hadn’t so much as mentioned Alina Porter since the day they watched the interview. “I didn’t know they were up for sale already,” she lied.

Dr. Burman fixed his attention to them like a teacher catching his students passing notes in class. Ryan straightened to attention, but Burman didn’t let them off the hook.

“Nicole and Ryan.” Burman smiled easily. “Any achievements you would like to share?”

Nicole exchanged a look with Ryan, gauging what was safe to divulge. “We, uh… We’ve mastered the art of sleeping in the same bed again,” she announced sheepishly. “It’s nice to feel closer that way.”

Without either of us waking up every ten minutes to make sure I haven’t been crushed, she wanted to add, but Burman looked pleased, so she kept her mouth shut.

Rebecca giggled sympathetically, though Carlos did not share in that.

Ryan slid his finger along the outside of Nicole’s thigh, a smile in his voice. “We’re figuring out how to make intimacy work.”

Her stomach dropped. “It’s really not that exciting,” Nicole stammered.

Dr. Burman shook his head. “You don’t have to downplay your embrace of new normalcy. Every milestone is worth commending.”

Holly’s mother cleared her throat. She was a no-nonsense looking woman, her hair pulled into a tight bun at the back of her head. She eyed Ryan and Nicole distastefully before addressing Burman. “My apologies for interrupting, but is this really an appropriate conversation? Holly is a teenager.”

“I can assure you, these conversations are more than age-appropriate for Holly,” Burman said good-naturedly.

“I just don’t see how it’s relevant to her adjustment,” Holly’s father sighed.

Holly appeared on the verge of spontaneous combustion.

“Well,” Nicole piped up before she could stop herself. All eyes turned to her. Half the group looked mortified on her behalf, while the others looked intrigued. She flushed. “I think it’s good for Holly to understand the reality of being in an adult relationship in this…form. That way, she’s more prepared to understand what to expect in the future.”

Holly’s mother scoffed. “Well, she won’t need to worry about another relationship any time soon. Not afterthatdebacle.”

“Mom,” Holly groaned.

“What, baby? We have to be realistic.”

“I’m almost eighteen! Almost a legal adult. Just because I’m likethisdoesn’t change that, does it?” She looked to Burman desperately, her eyes beginning to shine again. “Does it?”