Chapter 20 #2
Once they were seated in the intimate plastic sphere, River really looked at her. There were dark circles under her eyes, and her cheeks seemed hollow, like maybe she hadn’t eaten in a while. “How are you?” she asked. “Really.”
Marina didn’t have to answer as she asked the waiter to bring out their pre-ordered wine. River ordered iced tea. At Marina’s questioning look, River tapped her helmet on the seat beside her. “I never have anything to drink when I ride.”
Marina nodded. “Too many people think just one is fine, and then they’re proved wrong.
You can lose someone in an instant.” The look of grief that flashed through her eyes was intense, and then it was gone.
“I’m fine. How are you? You certainly look comfortable in the zillions of videos you’re in online. ”
River ran her hand over her hair. “I knew I’d be in the limelight, but I guess I didn’t think about what that meant in terms of today’s way of digesting information. Leo is going to take over our socials for us.”
Marina laughed. “Smart move. Old people should make way for the young to do the things they’re bad at.”
River put her hand over her heart and did her best to look wounded. “I’m offended and deeply saddened that you see me that way.” She gave her best sexy half-grin. “I’m still better than the young ’uns will be at certain things.”
Marina blushed and sipped her wine, but she didn’t break eye contact. “Oh, I don’t doubt that.”
Before she could say anything else, River put her hand over Marina’s. “Please don’t gloss over real questions. How are you?”
The light in Marina’s eyes dimmed. “Busy. Juggling a lot of egos. Irritatingly concerned with gray areas that haven’t bothered me before.” Slowly, she turned her hand over and threaded their fingers together. “Thank you for asking.” She squeezed and then gently pulled her hand away.
River felt the lack of energy in Marina’s being. It wasn’t good. She looked for a menu. “Let’s eat.”
Marina motioned to the waiter hovering nearby. “We’re ready for our courses, please.”
River raised her eyebrows. “I can honestly say I’ve never had anyone order for me before.”
“Does it put a kink in your boxers?”
River’s mouth went dry, and she shook her head slowly. “I’m always up for new things, especially to do with kink or my boxers.” This was a game she knew and could play well. Marina’s energy tonight was open and honest, and no shadows shielded her eyes. Not yet, anyway.
“In order to book these tables, you have to order ahead of time. I chose a couple dishes I hoped would work for you, and I’d planned on sharing this wine, but I’m happy to keep it to myself too.” Her fingertip slid along the rim of her glass.
River considered that and decided to go with it for now. But she wanted to look the menu up when she got home. A place that required you to pay for food up front probably wasn’t going to cost the same as the food at Goat and Girl.
“What kind of bike do you ride?” Marina asked, tapping the helmet.
“A Harley Softail. It was a gift from my parents when I graduated college. I’d been riding around on a bike that sounded like a crying lawn mower for years. Helluva upgrade.” She leaned back, liking the feeling of them being the only two people in Chicago. “Do you ride?”
Marina gave her a wry smile. “Are you being sarcastic?”
River frowned. “Of course not. Why would you think that? I know a lot of women who ride.”
“Sorry.” Marina held up her hands. “Sorry. I’m a little on edge today after some comments at the office. I’m happy to ride on the back, but I’ve never had any desire to be the driver.”
“You don’t mind someone else taking charge? That surprises me.” River laughed outright when Marina rolled her eyes.
“I’m in charge. Even when I’m not in charge, I’m the boss.” She winked and gave River what might have been the sexiest smile she’d ever seen.
“Noted.” The conversation had taken a turn for something other than, well, whatever it was they were to each other, and it was time to take down some of the heat before River burst into lusty flames and melted the plastic dome around them. “Want to tell me some office gossip?”
And just like that, the playful sensuality was smothered under Marina’s darkened energy.
“Not really. Maybe. No. It wouldn’t be professional.” Marina blew out a breath. “I shouldn’t even be here with you, really.”
“Would Cruella DeVil drag you off to a tower and lock you away?” River wiggled her eyebrows, making Marina laugh and lifting some of the dark energy. “Maybe tonight we talk as two people who met at an art gallery exhibition and are just getting to know each other.”
Marina’s eyes twinkled. “Even when we’re watching Adriana’s segment?”
“People watch the news together all the time. Under a snow dome on a rooftop in the middle of a city.” She smiled, glad to see Marina’s shoulders relax a fraction. “In the meantime, tell me about yourself. What movie do you watch when you’re sad? And what’s your go-to snack?”
Marina seemed to consider the question seriously as she sipped her wine. “Mad Max. The one with Charlize Theron. And peanut butter ice cream.”
River laughed. “Wow. That’s pretty hardcore. Why that movie? The peanut butter ice cream is a definite yes.”
“Watching a hot, strong woman defeat shitty bad people in the harshest environment possible? How is that not uplifting?” Despite her look of incredulity, there was a slight curve to her lips.
“The women in the white gowns never get dirty.” River shook her head and sighed over her iced tea like it was a true travesty. “How are we supposed to suspend disbelief?”
“Oh, because the rest of it is so credible right off the bat.” Marina laughed, and it was the first time it was a genuine, open sound without a filter. It was beautiful. “So, Romeo, what’s yours?”
“Happy Feet.” River shrugged as Marina choked on her wine.
“Dancing penguins?” She motioned to take in River in her entirety. “The handsome, motorcycle-riding, ghost-chatting butch likes a movie about dancing penguins?”
“That’s right. They sing too, you know. How can a movie like that not make you smile?”
Marina shook her head. “Okay. And the snack?”
“Salted popcorn. A huge bucket of it that gets everywhere. You find pieces of it down your shirt and in your socks when you get home. I’m like a gremlin with the stuff. I have to keep it away from Shamus, my cat, though. He tries to eat it and sounds like a train trying to cough up coal all night.”
Two waiters arrived with trays of food, forcing them to pause their conversation.
“Here’s your Dai Moriawase. It includes Spicy Tuna Maki, Godfrey Maki, Firecracker Maki, Dragon Maki, and Salmon Avocado Maki.
And on this side, we have Tuna Sashimi, Salmon Nigiri, Hamachi Hand Rolls, and Tuna Hand Rolls.
” The waiter gestured grandly to each bit of food like they were presenting it to royalty. Maybe sometimes they did.
River was salivating, though it was a hell of a lot of food for just the two of them.
“And here is your charcuterie, with salami, capicola, mediterranean speck, pecorino, grana padano, French brie, blue cheese spread & various breads and crackers.”
They left, and Marina started piling up her plate. “You were saying?”
River wasn’t sure where to start with the food. “Are you trying to fatten me up so you can eat me later?” She realized how it sounded as soon as it came out, and Marina’s sly smile suggested she did too.
“I didn’t know what you liked, so I got a variety.
What if you didn’t like fish?” She bit into a piece of salmon and avocado and made a sound of appreciation.
Her phone, set discreetly on the other empty chair, began to buzz.
Still eating, she grabbed it with her free hand and showed it to River. “Segment time.”
“This isn’t popcorn, but it will have to do.” River got up and shifted her helmet to the chair she’d been sitting in, and then she moved her plate and sat next to Marina. “Easier to watch it together, right?” She took a bite of dragon maki and sighed happily.
“Right.” Marina’s eyes narrowed like she was trying to figure out River’s game, and then Adriana was live and their attention turned to the screen.
She was standing in front of an empty building with boarded-up windows and graffiti in swirling patterns all over it.
“First of all, wow. You guys really came through yesterday, and I’m so impressed at how many of you have turned out tonight, especially when it’s definitely getting colder.
” The cameras panned the crowd, which was certainly bigger than the one the night before.
“I’ve got a couple of interviews to show you that I did earlier today. But first, I want to share some information with you about Black Pinnacle. I need to get it all out tonight, because they’re probably going to slap me with a gag order by morning. So listen up.”
“Here we go.” Marina set down the tuna roll she was about to eat.
River took her hand. “Hey. There’s no need to get stressed. She’s going to say whatever she’s going to say, and there’s nothing you can do about it from our igloo. You may as well treat it like a movie and enjoy your food.”
Marina squeezed her eyes shut and then nodded. “You’re right. Thank you.” She picked up the tuna roll.
“Besides, Cruella will probably have you eating cold gruel off her high heels in the morning.” River coughed as Marina elbowed her in the side.
“First things first. Black Pinnacle is a real estate development empire owned by Sheila Black. They’re huge on the East Coast and have gentrified communities all over the Eastern Seaboard.
They’re known for tearing down buildings like this one, behind me, and replacing them with fancy, modern condominiums.” Adriana looked over her shoulder and back at the camera.
“Now, tearing down a derelict building that isn’t serving a purpose for the community isn’t a bad thing.
I think most of us can agree on that. The problem comes with the next part. ”