“True.” A faint smile. “It’s strange being the one who needs the coaching.”
“If you want to practice, I’m happy to play interrogator.”
She laughs—soft but genuine. “I think I’ve had enough interrogation for one morning.”
“Fair.”
The rain intensifies, drumming harder against the windows. She pulls the blanket higher, tucking it under her chin.
“This is the first Saturday in months I haven’t had plans,” she says, changing the subject. “It feels...odd.”
“Good odd or bad odd?”
“I’m not sure yet.” She glances toward the window. “Part of me thinks I should be doing something productive. The other part just wants to hide under this blanket until Monday.”
“Hiding under a blanket sounds pretty productive to me.”
She smiles. “Is that what you do on your days off?”
“I don’t get a lot of those.”
“When you do, though. What’s your version of hiding?”
I consider her question. “Running, usually. Long runs where I don’t think about anything except putting one foot in front of the other.”
“That sounds awful,” she says, but she’s grinning.
She’s grinning, and I find myself wanting to say something else just to keep it going. “You’re not a runner?”
“I was. In college. Now?” She gestures to herself, wrapped in a blanket. “This is more my speed.”
“Nothing wrong with that.”
“Stella thinks I’m boring,” she says lightly. “She’s probably right.”
“You founded a company, manage high-profile crises, and raise a kid on your own. That’s the opposite of boring.”
“Tell that to a twelve-year-old who thinks I should let her watch R-rated movies.”
I laugh. “Yeah, that tracks. My sister was the same way at that age. Thought our dad was the most uncool person alive. Drove Dad insane.”
“Was he?”
“Uncool? Absolutely.” I grin. “But Maya got over it eventually. Now she calls him for advice on everything.”
“How old is Maya now?”
“Twenty-seven. She’s a nurse in Chicago. Stubborn as hell, heart of gold.”
“She sounds wonderful.”
“She is. Drives me crazy, but she is.”
Alicia’s expression softens. “It must be hard, being so far away from her.”
“Hmm. We talk. And I visit when I can.” I pause. “What about you? Any siblings?”
“No. Only child. My parents were older when they had me—I think I was a surprise.” She smiles faintly. “A happy one, but still.”