Cole had spat insults, called her a cold bitch for lying, even as he knew he had no leg to stand on. She’d taken it, waiting until he sputtered out and her silence made him sheepish. She’d pulled up the handle on her luggage and rolled out of that godawful apartment and made her way to the airport.

She’d thought she’d cry in the car, where no one could see her except for the automated driving system. Everyone had grown used to giving orders to the pleasant-voiced feminine robots. Alexa, Siri, Sophia, Sage, do this for me. A perky “okay,” and your wish was her command. They’d all been doing it for years before women started realising the men in their lives had been conditioned to do the same to them. And by then it was too late.

Even Cole had done it to Naomi. He’d asked for a glass of water, except it hadn’t been an ask, exactly, and there was no thank you when she clinked the glass against the ceramic coaster. She’d done it without thinking. She’d been conditioned, too.

Her eyes remained dry in the car. In the airport, another automated robot with a female voice checked her in and sent the boarding pass to her phone.

“Have a pleasant flight,” the robot voice intoned.

“Thank you,” she said, and the man behind her in line gave her a strange look.

Another robot scanned the pass before she walked up the temporary stairs to the craft. A robot would fly the plane, though they still had a bored pilot in the cockpit just in case they needed to override the controls. Still another robot would serve her drinks and snacks. She bought a double gin. The robot scanned Naomi’s public health profile, determined the alcohol units and calories were within her allowance, and poured it for her. She scowled at its back as it continued down the aisle.

Valerie waited for her at the airport. Naomi was surprised at that; she’d expected her to simply send a car. She’d offered to send a plane when Naomi phoned to tell her she’d left Cole, but Naomi had demurred at that extravagance. Especially knowing Valerie wouldn’t like what Naomi had to tell her once they were alone.

Valerie nodded at her. No hug. “How are you doing?”

Naomi gave an empty smile. “Fine.”

Valerie snorted.

“No, actually. I’m fine. Whatever we had broke a while ago. I was just the one to rip off the band-aid. And get the hell out of Texas.”

“Like adopted mother, like adopted daughter,” Valerie said with a laugh, taking one of her suitcases for her.