"I was hanging out with Sandy and a bunch of her friends last week. We're not really close any more, but we used to play together. Now, every now and ...hen, she invites me over to hang. This time she was talking with her friends about boys - actually, every time that is a topic of conversation."She was complaining about her boyfriends. She said that all the guys she had been with were either wimps or assholes. She said that they only thought about themselves. They pawed her or they were scared. Are you really going to do this? You’re shaking even more now. It’s definitely not that cold.“Can I help you,” he asks?“I’m looking for a ride over to Memphis,” you reply.“Hop in.”After you settle in, he takes off down the highway, extends his hand and says, “I’m Adam.”“I’m Sherry,” you lie. No way you’re going to give this stranger your real name.“Where are you from?”“Nashville,” you lie again.“What brings you to Memphis?”“Looking to meet someone.” Which is technically not a lie, but. "Why? I'm a concubine. I hear that other colonies have a rule that concubines have to be naked unless their jobs require clothes. With replicators everywhere there just aren't that many jobs to do," Randi said, not slowing in the least.Before I'd had time to think or even wonder at Randi's enthusiasm, we'd proceeded back through the airlock and were in the main living area of the house I shared with James and my brother and sister concubines. I saw Brandy there and asked where James had gone.. But this Tuesday, the fates and stars aligned against her. First, her bastard boss not only denied her request, the stupid meeting he insisted she attend ran forty-five minutes past her normal quitting time. She took the shortcut through the university. Her car started jerking and sputtering. Then the damn thing died. Right in the middle of frat row. She grabbed her phone to call the auto club. It was dead too. No battery left. It could be worse, but not much. Maybe she could borrow a phone;.