Page 72 of Maneater

“That’s fair. Okay, what next?”

“Are you close to your parents?”

I look from one woman to the other, suddenly nervous. “If I say no, is it going to be a check in the negative?”

They look at one another, a silent conversation going on between each other before Josie responds.

“Is there a reason?”

I tip my head to the right before confessing. “Yes and no. I’m an only child to two parents who had me later in life because it was what they were ‘supposed’ to do. They enjoy working and traveling, and although I’m grateful I’m here and all, they probably shouldn’t have had a kid. Once I was out of the house, they sold the house and left to travel. We see each other a few times a year.”

“Is that why you’re so close to your boss?”

“Close to his boss?” Rory asks in a questioning way.

“She’s more of a mentor to me,” I correct before she gets the wrong idea. “But…yes? I guess? She’s been pivotal in my career, and I share a lot with her. I wouldn’t be where I am right now without her.”

Josie and Rory look at one another, some silent conversationhappening before Rory nods, and Josie smiles. I assume I passed the first round of interrogation when Rory seems to settle into her chair, grabbing her drink and taking a long sip. I turn to Josie then.

“So…you?”

“Me?” she asks.

“Close to your parents?”

Josie shrugs. “Close enough. Holidays and birthdays, a couple of dinners a year, but they live two states away, so it’s not too often. I travel a lot, obviously, and they…” There’s a moment of hesitation before she continues. “They don’t understand my job.”

“Influencing?”

She blinks for a moment, then nods, quicker than necessary.

“Yes. Exactly. It’s not a real job to them.”

Her answer is honest, but something about it is off, that same something that I can’t quite put my finger on.

“Okay, enough third degree,” Rory, who started the third degree, might I add, says. “What’s your favorite Daydream resort, Rowan? Josie and I were saying we absolutely want to visit another one sometime soon.” My mind rolls through ideas, most of them of Josie and me at a resort together, neither of us working, before I answer.

We spend the next hour chatting, and I continue to get to know the women, Rory more than happy to spill her friend’s secrets, like how Josie is apparently amazing at darts and likes to con men out of money at bars playing it, or that once she snuck her way backstage at an Atlas Oaks concert and still keeps in touch with the lead singer’s wife because of it.

“Where are you going next?” I ask as our plates are taken away.

“Well, I am going to lie by the pool, because my tan is greatly lacking,” Rory says with a contented sigh. This one is crazy and wants to actually get things done. Then we have an urgent appointment at three.”

“Oh?” Josie rolls her eyes.

“I’m taking a yoga class on the beach. I’m not running a goddamn marathon.”

“When’s that?” I ask, trying to think of how much time I can steal with her before my next meeting.

“One,” she says. I look at my watch, seeing it’s 12:30.

“I can walk you,” I say with a smile, thinking of what dark corners there are between here and the beach where the afternoon yoga classes take place.

“What a gentleman,” she says.

Rory rolls her eyes, seeming to already know where my mind is. “Yeah, real gentleman when he drags you into a corner to feel you up.” Rory laughs, and I wonder if I truly am that obvious.

“Rory,” Josie says with wide eyes, and Rory laughs.