Divine Artifact in a Scientific World

Katie looked up at Jack and asked hesitantly, "Um, can I have a hug?"

It was the first time any girl had asked him for a hug. Most of the time, they just hugged him without asking. Or rushed in as soon as he opened his arms.

He opened his arms, and she lurched forward and wrapped her arms around him.

As he wrapped his arms around her, returning her hug, he caught a pleasant fruity scent. He tilted his head down and pressed his cheek against her head and breathed in.

"Do you like it?" she asked.

"Yes, it's nice."

After a few moments, she pulled back and said, "I guess we should get going."

"Sure."

He turned and walked around the car towards the driver's side.

As he did, Katie opened the passenger-side door and got in.

While he was buckling up, she asked, "Did you really win this from Gregory Fletcher?"

"Sure did. He was a good sport about it. Or maybe I should say he lost gracefully? He wasn't pleased, but he didn't seem to resent it. When I ran into him again at the Grand Wallingford, he seemed more surprised than anything else."

"Why were you at the Grand Wallingford?"

"I'm staying there in a suite until my house is ready."

"Wait, you're staying in a suite at the Grand Wallingford?! But aren't those like a thousand credits a night?"

"Twelve hundred, but yes."

"But I thought you were..."

"Poor?" he teased.

"No, not poor. But not that well off, either."

"I wasn't."

He started the car and pulled away from the house.

"Oh, wow. I can't even hear it. I've never actually been in one of these. This is nicer than I thought it would be."

"It is nice, isn't it? My Land cruiser is a huge improvement over my old Sentra but this makes my Land cruiser feel a little clunky."

"You bought a Land cruiser, are staying in a suite at the Grand Wallingford, and are not nearly as excited about driving a Maybach as I'd expect. There's a story here. Care to share?"

"Sure. I'll tell you my story, but only if you tell me what the deal is with your mom, dad, and the gigachad wannabe."

She snorted. "Gigachad. You're not wrong."

"Okay. I'll start..." he told her about the death of his birth parents, foster care, being adopted by Fran and Jacob, Jacob's death, the lawsuit, and Fran's death. Then he filled her in on more recent events, including Madison's revelation, the FIS raid, being interrogated, and his encounter with Lilly while shopping with Samantha and Miranda.

Throughout his recounting, she made appropriate noises, including saying, "Oh, no, that's horrible," when he told her about Jacob and Fran's deaths. He also gave her the cover story about receiving a larger settlement and finished by telling her about buying a mansion.

"Wait, it this by any chance the house on Lakepoint drive that sold recently? The one with a ten-car garage, professional kitchen and absolutely enormous master bath shower?"

"Yep, that's the one. I'm having some work done on it before moving in."

She chuckled. "My dad bid on that house. Said it would be a great place for me to stay while I'm attending NSU. He was annoyed that someone had outbid him. I'm not sure if he'd be impressed that it was you that outbid him, or disappointed that you paid so much for it."

"My real-estate lawyer said that most of the homes in that area are being snapped up by investors. And since I really wanted it, I had to bid higher. I didn't buy it as an investment, so I don't mind paying a little more upfront."

"I guess that makes sense."

"So, what's the deal with your parents? Samantha said you're basically being forced to go to this party. Something about being cut off if you don't."

"It's not quite that bad. My mom did threaten to cut me off, and Samantha was there when she did it, but my mom was just being overly dramatic. My dad told me he supports my decision to become a doctor and won't let Mom interfere. Or at least not too much."

He was relieved to hear her situation wasn't dire, like Naoko's. If she had her father's support, then she probably didn't need to worry about her mom doing anything drastic.

"I'm glad your dad supports you. It would be rough if he didn't."

"Yeah, me too."

"So, what's the deal with Chad?"

"Mom's idea of a great catch. My dad rolled his eyes when he heard Mom was trying to hook me up with Chad. I think he let Mom try because it would be less drama than telling her no. She's not a bad person, but she's... obsessed with wealth and status, and just doesn't understand why I'm not."

"So your dad knew Chad was a douche nozzle, but let your mom try because he trusted you to make the right choice?"

She chuckled. "Douche nozzle?"

"Yeah, something I picked up from Jacob. He believed in creative epithets. He had tons of them, but I only remember a few. This one he used a lot instead of saying asshole or scumbag."

"Got it. As to your question, yes. Dad knew Chad was a 'douche nozzle' and trusted I'd decline any advances from him."

"So, I asked Samantha this question as well. Why are you interested in me?"

She took a deep breath before answering.

"Okay, you're gonna think I'm shallow, but you initially caught my eye because you're tall, and handsome, and smell delicious. Then I talked to you and found out you're smart too. I especially liked that you answered my questions without talking down to me, like some of the other boys did."

"And does it bother you that I already have six girlfriends?"

"Six? I thought it was four?"

"Samantha makes five, and a recent unexpected discovery makes six."

"Do you think that's going to happen a lot? Unexpected discoveries?"

He couldn't tell if she was excited or concerned.

"I don't know. But I suspect that I'm going to wind up with a lot of peripheral female friends. However, I believe my inner circle will remain small. Hopefully, under ten."

"And what about me? Am I peripheral?"