CHAPTER 14
DEVON
Losing in a shootout wasn’t the worst way to lose, but it stung all the same.
I stared out the window as we drove west from Belleville to Toronto.
When I spotted the GM smokestacks in Oshawa, I knew we were almost there. When we found ourselves snarled in rush-hour traffic trying to get into the city, I felt like I’d come home.
Claus cracked an eye open and gazed over the barriers between the freeway and the factories. “Kind of depressing.”
“Yeah, Oshawa is the home of General Motors. People think Detroit, but it started here. For years, this town really only had one purpose.”
He rummaged around in his bag until he came up with an apple. He buffed it on his shirt.
Then caught my look.
He shrugged. “I washed it before I put it in my bag.”
“Oh.”
“Yeah.Oh.” He grinned. “So this isn’t an industrial town anymore?” He pointed. “Looks like it to me.”
“Well, they’ve, uh, diversified.” I racked my brain, but couldn’t remember the name of the university. “Things have changed. Progress.”
“Robots.” He shrugged. “Humans are destined for the scrap pile. Robots are going to destroy us all.”
I wanted to argue. Except I couldn’t. Not really. I didn’t understand all this technology stuff. I understood my phone was more powerful than the computers Jack grew up using. But that didn’t help contextualize progress or the trajectory of change. Things would happen in the future that would make me look back at this moment and think how quaint things were.
That scared me.
My phone buzzed with an incoming text. Iknewit wouldn’t be Jack. But for just an instant, my heart leapt.
Mickey
When are you hitting town, Devs? I’m booooored.
I rolled my eyes.
We’re in Whitby now. Going straight to Exhibition for a skate before tonight’s game.
I know. I got tickets for tonight’s game. We still good afterward?
I have a roommate.
So invite him.
My gut clenched.
No fucking way. He’s not like that.
Not like what? Into fun?
I closed my eyes.
More like too much fun.
Will he let me fuck him?