Just an Ex?

"What are you doing here?"

Joe holds up a six-pack beer near his face, "You said I could buy you a drink by just knocking on your door."

"Well, I am very busy right now." Rae makes the door gap even smaller.

"Busy with what? By the way, was that guy you brought to Gloucester alumni party your new boyfriend?" Joe sticks his face near the door gap.

"No."

"The brown haired guy, muscular?"

"No."

"Well, there's a popular local social media post about you two. The power of white women on social media is not to be underestimated."

"I heard about it."

"So, can I come in?"

"No."

"Actually, have him come in, Rae," Z speaks in a low voice behind Rae.

"Why?" Rae turns around.

"Just trust me," Z winks.

Joe can see Z from the gap, he gasps, "What the hell, old lady, how many guys are you seeing? You've got a man in your apartment?" Joe raises his voice a little.

"Oh my gosh! Shush!" Rae opens the door and gestures Joe to come in very impatiently. She is not pleased.

"Hi!" Z says.

Rae looks at Z and quickly says, "He's my friend. His name is... Zach."

"Zach?"

Rae shuts her eyes briefly. She decides to make up a name because she knows it will be weird that Z's name is just a letter. That's not what a normal person's name would be. But she really doesn't know too many male names so she just falls back to what she knows, which is Z's original setting, "Zach Jr."

"Huh," Joe shrugs, "I guess Zachary is a very popular name of your generation."

"Yeah. Glad that you are aware we are not from the same generation." Rae crosses her arms.

"I'm a friend from out of town and Rae kindly lets me crash at her apartment for free. Hotels in Boston area aren't cheap," Z helps with an explanation.

"OK. Well. You did just break up with Wes Warren, and then I saw you hanging out with a guy late at night. If this is another lover, I'd be impressed," Joe comments.

Rae blushes, but she is shocked that Joe mentions Wes's name.

"What do you mean I just broke up with Wes Warren?"

"I saw you confronting a tall, good-looking guy at the Irish Pub downtown the first time I met you, remember?"

"I guess." Rae remembers now. Joe even taunted her about that.

"I didn't know who that guy was. But coincidentally, I was looking up my neighbor's boss. And I found out, holy crap, that's the guy at the bar you were depressed about. And, obviously, you said you thought you might know my neighbor's boss, so I figured it had to be him, Wes Warren."

"Wait, your neighbor works for Wes Warren?"

"Yep. And she's totally infatuated with him. I don't even think infatuation is the right word. She's beyond that."

Rae sinks back into her couch. Of course, many women like him.

"Well, tell your neighbor that she might have to shift her attention to someone else. I just figured out Wes Warren has a girlfriend already." Rae shakes her head.

"But my neighbor says he's single. That's why she's on and on about him. She said he's been single even before she started working for him. And she's been working there for 4 years. That's how long I've been babysitting for her." Joe says casually.

"Maybe she doesn't know?" Rae sits up.

"Rae," Z intervenes, "You might think you know something, but maybe it's a misunderstanding. I think it's the best you talk to Wes face to face."

"I don't know," Rae presses one hand on her chest, "I think I'm just going to get hurt again."

Z watches her and looks at Joe. Z is glad at least Joe can plant a seed in Rae's heart, letting Rae know Wes wasn't cheating. Getting Rae curious about Wes's real situation.

But Joe is not trying to encourage Rae to be with Wes. Joe nods and says, "Well, you're probably right. Men like Wes Warren are not looking for a girl next door. I mean, my hero Zach Evans dates a model."

"Kid, I don't think you know what you are talking about," Z interrupts, "Zach Evans is not dating a model, despite rumors."

"How do you know?" Joe asks.

"Because I'm also his very close friend. And really, speculating is not going to make Rae feel better. If you care about Rae, just tell Rae what that you know for sure." Z tries to get Joe back on track.

"Well, I just know my neighbor has a crazy, almost unhealthy crush on him. I am pretty sure he is single. But, there are obviously women coming after him. My neighbor is always trying to fend them off. There seems to be one girl that my neighbor tries to get rid of, but Wes tells my neighbor not to worry. I believe it was his ex-girlfriend. But I don't think it's you, Rae." Joe says.

Rae nods, taking in all the information. Could that woman she saw with Wes at the bar his ex-girlfriend? But that doesn't make sense. Why would he still be going out with his ex-girlfriend?

*** *** ***

Friday morning, Nikki is sitting in Zach Evans office, reading a script prepared for her.

"So I only need to read this page?" Nikki asks, bashing her eyelashes at Zach.

"Yeah, that is enough voice data for us to simulate the rest of the speech that will be used in our female robot. We obviously won't be recording every word the robot might say. It is smart enough to pick it up once you give us your voice sample."

"Wow. Cool."

Nikki is recording her voice for Zach Evans to use for the female version of the robot. A leading gaming company is the primary investor of the female version of the A.I. robot assistant, and they have requested Zach to get someone popular among younger boys to become the prototype. At least for the promotional purpose.

Zach isn't crazy about the idea, but his engineer, Bo Wang, recommended Nikki for this promotional task. They have so far 3D scanned her face and body, captured her walk, her movement. And now, just the voice.

After Nikki finishes reading the one-page script, Zach gets up, trying to walk her out of his office, but Nikki sits where she is, not standing up.

"Hey Zach, what are you doing this Saturday?"

"Tomorrow? Um, just, working on the robots," Zach scratches his head.

"Will you be free for at least like a couple of hours?"

"What is it?" Zach walks back to his desk.

"So, my agent told me there's an event in Sudbury, some kind of local chili competition to raise money for local stuff, totally boring and lame, but, apparently, some social media post about a firefighter guy and a girl has gone viral. Like, everyone is totally curious about them now. And they will be in that contest. And apparently, some famous people are invited there, like, I think an actor is going to be there. The Wind Chime CEO, Wes Warren is also going to be there."

"OK," Zach crosses his arms.

"Even though I'm not, like, officially asked to be there or anything, I thought to check it out. And I think you should come with me."

"You already asked to go to Sudbury with me last time, remember? I thought you said it was boring and not worth the time."

"Oh my gosh, yeah. I did just go." Nikki only just suddenly remembers she already asked to tag along when Zach was going to that charity event in Sudbury. Nikki invites herself to any function that will have local news coverage. Even if it's something trivial like small fund raising events.

"Well, I'm not sure if I have time to go. I went back there a couple of times already. I have other things to do." Zach leans against a cabinet.

"Oh, I didn't know you went back a few more times," Nikki finally stands up.

"Well, I don't believe you eat chili anyway. You don't look like you'd eat much of anything..., to keep up your figure, I mean." Zach looks up and down at her.

"Well, thank you!" Nikki puts one hand on her hip, "But call me if you change your mind!" Nikki leaves.

Zach is now seriously considering if he should go. Because he thinks Rae and Dan must have been the couple that went viral on the internet.