Chapter 12

Jack had met and spoken to Miranda Ramirez only a handful of times since they’d moved in here, but Jack thought she seemed to like him, though they barely knew each other.

She was the same age as Jack, currently a Junior at Pressman HS, where Jack would be attending once the fall semester started. That was still four months away. But he’d met Miranda and her parents when he’d first moved in and when they learned that they’d both be attending the same school and probably have a class or two together next year, they’d been friendly a few times.

Twice in the last month since the weather had gotten especially warm as Texas spring began to approach summer, she’d asked to cool off in the pool they had in their new house’s backyard.

At the time, Jack wasn’t sure if she was really just wanting to cool down or if she was indicating a possible attraction to him. But now, with his new memory capabilities and his high EQ, Jack saw several examples of her flirting with him and making several moves that he should have seen as indicators of her interest in him.

For one, the first time she’d come over to use the pool, it had been when his parents and her parents were around, and she’d worn a somewhat conservative one-piece that wasn’t especially flattering. But the second time, she’d been the one to ask and she’d worn a bikini that showed off quite a bit more skin. It was not obscene or anything, but Jack’s new emotional intelligence examined the memory and saw her always staying close to him in the pool and even purposefully touching his arm or rubbing up against him in the water as if it was accidental, but was not.

Jack picked up his phone and searched for Miranda Ramirez in the app. He found her quickly and was surprised to see her avatar was naked. With a sly smile, Jack clicked the live view button, something he’d tried a few times with his parents and his Grandpa Buck, but never found it all that interesting.