The last time he’d seen Jasper and Colin in this bar was when they’d chatted up that girl Daniel was certain was a prostitute. Not that it bothered them.


    They always met here when they wanted to hang out and catch up, but hadn’t planned anything more exciting. Or they came when something urgent needed to be discussed. Like now.


    When Daniel walked in, Colin and Jasper had already claimed a table with just one empty seat left. Daniel took it quickly. Colin flashed him a smile, but Jasper looked annoyed—or maybe just tired. Still, he spoke first:


    “I’m exhausted, I’m not in the mood, and I’m telling you, by the time this beer’s gone, you better have said what you need to say.” Jasper waved his bottle, already half-empty.


    Jasper’s eyes confirmed he wasn’t keen on sticking around. Colin, on the other hand, was more cheerful, genuinely happy to see them. It showed. But he rarely spoke up. And that made sense—he didn’t know what they’d been through.


    “Man, you both look wrecked,” Colin’s rough voice cut through the music. “What were you up to out there? Did they torture you or something?”


    “I’m fine, bro,” Daniel said. “Just a bit messed up. The place—the park—was awesome, though. We had a blast. And we almost got hanged.”


    Colin’s eyes widened.


    “Hanged?”


    Daniel noticed Jasper glancing at him, but he wasn’t in the mood to recount park stories. He wanted to tell them about Emma. He was waiting for the right moment—one that might never come if Jasper kept talking.


    “Yeah, bro. Long story. We turned that park upside down. Me and this troublemaker here.” Jasper pointed at Daniel.


    “I knew you would,” Colin said. “You two monkeys… By the way, they’ve started advertising that place. Billboards, TV ads, online. They’re calling it revolutionary.”


    “And it is,” Jasper replied. “Imagine it like time travel. You go back to whatever era you want.”


    “But isn’t it boring with robots?”


    “You don’t even realize they’re robots. Turns out, there were real people mixed in with them. They were testing us or something. They explained it differently, but I don’t buy it. There was some hidden reason for including real people. That was the only annoying part. Otherwise… it was like a miracle.”


    “And you didn’t spot the real people? No way. Are the robots that realistic?”


    “Bro…” Jasper leaned in. “Ask Daniel if you want. I only figured it out because I overheard two technicians talking. Without that, I’d never have known. Once you know there are real people, it’s a bit easier to spot them, but before that? No chance.”


    “When it opens to the public, will there be real people? The ads don’t mention it.”


    “Nah, they said there won’t be. I don’t fully trust them, but I don’t fully doubt it either. The robots wear gloves. The blood doesn’t reach their hands.”


    “What do you mean? Blood in robots? Can’t they fix that?”


    “I didn’t get it exactly. Daniel—” Both turned to him. “Where’s your head at? You called us here, and you’re just sitting there quiet. My beer’s almost done.”


    Daniel straightened up. He looked at them one by one, glanced around as if searching for help, and somehow found the strength:


    If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    “Emma left me.”


    Their first reaction was shock. The second was wide grins, like they’d rehearsed it. Jasper raised his glass.


    “Let’s drink. Finally. My mood’s back.”


    Colin did the same, clinking bottles with Jasper as they drank.


    “Bro, that’s the best news I’ve heard in a while,” Jasper said.


    “Honestly, I’ve been waiting for this moment for at least four years,” Colin added.


    “But you’ve only known him for three,” Jasper shot back.


    “Exactly, Jas. He’s finally free.”


    “And these are my friends,” Daniel muttered, frowning. “I expected you to comfort me. Say she doesn’t deserve me or something.”


    “We’ve been comforting you since you got with Emma, bro,” Jasper said. “Now you’re free! Free!”


    Jasper raised his hand, and a waitress came over. His grin was back. She was petite, with tied-back black hair. Jasper whispered something in her ear and winked at Daniel. She went to the bar and returned with a full bottle. Jasper took it and set three fresh glasses in front of them.


    “I don’t know what’s better news this week—that you took me to the park or that Emma finally left. I’m buying.” Jasper poured each of them a glass.


    “Aren’t you forgetting something?” Colin didn’t lift his glass. The others didn’t get it.


    “You haven’t apologized for not taking me.”


    “Come on, bro… I was ready to give you my ticket, but you didn’t want it.”


    “I’m kidding. I’ve got the cash, I’ll go myself. The ads hooked me. And you guys rave about it…”


    The others laughed. When the laughter died down, Daniel tried to steer the conversation back.


    “Emma left me a letter.”


    “Did you burn it?”


    “The letter? No. It’s at home. But I deleted her number.”


    He knew they’d like that.


    “Good move. You learn fast. Throw all her stuff out in front of the house. Let her pick it up outside. Don’t let her back in.”


    “She already took her luggage.”


    “Ha. She’s quick. That bitch has been planning this for a while, you know.”


    “I figured as much.”


    “Even better. Next weekend, we’re at your place. I’ll bring girls and booze. This calls for a celebration.”


    “Isn’t it too soon, Jas? I’m not in the mood to celebrate.”


    “Too soon? You sound like we buried someone and need to wait forty days. Come on. You’ll see it’s for your own good.”


    Jasper downed his glass, poured another, wiped his mouth, and went on:


    “You could bring that Russian chick. Ava, right? What a babe.” He turned to Colin. “Our buddy here hooked up with a blonde with dark eyes. Just my type. But I’m a good guy, so I let him have her.”


    “So you ditched Emma first, huh, Daniel?” Colin jumped in. “You naughty boy. Did you at least sleep with her?”


    “She probably wouldn’t want to see me again. And I don’t have her contact.”


    “She wouldn’t want to see you? Are you that bad in bed? Sure, sleeping with Emma’s no picnic, but I thought you still had some game.”


    “We didn’t sleep together, Jas. She went to her room, I went to mine.”


    “You’re pathetic,” Jasper said, nearly crushing the glass in his hand. “She was looking at you like she’d jump you if I wasn’t there. That’s why I left you two alone. And you chickened out… Little Danny boy…”


    “I had a girlfriend, Jas.”


    “Had! And what did she do? She left you. And now you’re probably regretting it. Instead of hooking up with that blonde temptation…”


    “Wait a sec,” Colin interrupted. “Are we talking about a robot or what? I’m getting confused. You fell for a robot?” He looked at Daniel.


    “No, the blonde was one of the guests there. She wasn’t getting along with her boss. I think he wanted to sleep with her, but she turned him down.”


    “Typical story,” Colin said, throwing his hands up. “What did she expect, going with her boss?”


    “I said the same thing, bro, and she got a bit offended,” Jasper replied. “So she set her sights on our Daniel, but he… Hey, Dani—” Jasper rarely called him that. “You didn’t turn gay, did you?”


    Colin burst out laughing.


    “No, seriously,” Jasper continued. “Living with that girl might’ve rewired you. And speaking of her—” He raised his glass. “To her health. May she live long and well, far away from our friend.”


    Colin lifted his glass too, nudging Daniel to join. When he did, the two cheered in excitement.