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“I don’t think these are the world’s most massive burgers,” Jos said, staring at the menu dubiously. “Can’t they get sued for making a claim like that if it’s proven false?”
“I think most people take things like that with a grain of salt.” Eden picked up her knife from the little packet with the fork and napkin attached and sliced the burger into four pieces. There was no way she was going to try to embarrass herself by picking it up and eating it like that. What did people call it? Double fisting it? Or maybe that was something else. Something she would never say out loud because it was probably one of those dirty things that really meant something quite extreme.
“Some people are assholes, though.” Jos stared her burger down. “Even if I cut it like you did, I don’t think I’ll be able to get half of that in my mouth.”
“Take it apart. I don’t mind.”
Jos did just that, picking off the bun, pulling off bacon, lettuce, avocado, onion, tomatoes, and probably six pounds of sauces. It was a good thing sides were optional. Who the heck could eat that huge burger and fries?
Eden had done some research on places to eat close to the studio. The diner they were sitting in, a family establishment with booths that lined the walls, tables in the middle, and fairly ugly carpet and wallpaper all around, had rave reviews. One person had termed the burgers “die happy food,” so Eden thought she’d give it a try.
“Oh wow.” The first taste was pretty much burger heaven.
“Yeah. I have to admit it’s pretty good.” Jos stabbed another piece of meat with her fork and added a few extra toppings from the many scattered around her plate.
“So…” Eden wasn’t sure it was a good time to broach what she wanted to talk about, but maybe there would never be a good time. What she wanted to ask Jos was about the makeup, of course, but she chickened out. “So, I’m really happy that I’m going to do that piece in a few days.”
Jos’ fork paused. “I can’t believe they’re sending you out. That’s not usually something that’s done.”
“Well, it’s just clips. Most of the show is the interviews in studio.”
“I realize that, but generally they send a different reporter. Anyone else.”
“I was pretty adamant.”
“Hmm. Well, if Alden listens to you, that would be a first. He’s a nice enough person, and I think, at heart, he really is a good guy, especially outside of work, but listening? That isn’t his strong suit.”
Eden didn’t really want to get into gossiping about her coworkers, especially the ones that were her bosses. She trusted Jos, and she didn’t think she was trying to trap her. She wasn’t sitting there wearing a freaking wire, ready to record her saying stupid things about the people above her, for goodness sakes. Jos wasn’t a rat. She wasn’t a tattler.
She wouldn’t have pressed so hard for Eden to take the job if she wanted to get her fired. Gossiping just also wasn’t polite, and it wasn’t something Eden ever indulged in. Instead of leading into what she really wanted to ask, she thought that maybe it was best to steer the conversation in a different, but maybe connected direction.
Jos was smart. She’d catch on. She’d probably be furious. Hopefully she didn’t start throwing food in retaliation.
“I think the show is getting more and more important topics.” Eden tested the water with that. “It’s more like how it used to be. When it first started.”
“I didn’t know you watched it.” Jos cut a tomato slice in half and ate that alone. She chewed slowly, watching Eden with enough intensity to make her squirm in the bench seat.
“Oh, well, I didn’t. Not really. I mean, I used to. I guess. Kind of. When you first started. I followed your career. That’s not a secret. You already know that.” She was blushing. Shit, she was blushing, and Jos was totally taking note. She was kind enough not to stick pins in.
“The powers that be wanted to improve ratings. They wanted to shake things up. That was part of the reason they wanted to hire you. Bring in a fresh face and new ideas. Maybe this is part of that. Or maybe they’re just looking for a way to get rid of my ass because my makeup and the lighting make me look old and aging isn’t an option for anyone who wants to stay relevant, and relevant is what they want.”
That was the second time Jos had said that she thought she was getting edged out. Eden wanted to ask about the makeup thing and what happened. The fact that Jos brought it up didn’t help her breathe a sigh of relief.
Jos blinked. “There’s something about you that makes me say things I shouldn’t. When I’m talking to you, I can’t stop talking. It’s a problem.”
Her candor surprised Eden. “Like right now?”
“Yes.”
Eden was starting to get ideas about Jos, and that wasn’t a good thing. She was starting to realize that Jos thought she was walled up and she tried to be that way, but she’d started to let her guard down and she was finding it refreshing instead of just horrifying. Maybe she thought she’d gotten it wrong all that time. That she thought she was one type of person, but it turned out it was actually quite nice to be someone else even if she should hate it.
Eden realized Jos was handing her enough ammunition, enough of her secrets, to do some serious damage in her personal and professional life, but she didn’t entirely know why she was doing it. She couldn’t ask. Jos would just give her that carefully practiced blank expression and shut down harder.
“Have you ever thought about what you would do after?” Had she asked that before? Eden couldn’t remember. She was going for benign, and she was harping on something she’d probably definitely asked already. Like a dummy. “I mean, retirement would be okay, wouldn’t it? You have lots of money. You wouldn’t even have to stay here.”
“I don’t know.” Jos studied her plate, but she wasn’t eating. There was a long pause, and just when Eden was sure she should say something to change the subject, Jos did it again. Provided her with a more open, honest answer than she ever expected. “I gave up everything for this job. Everything, including my marriage and my dreams of a family, which I didn’t even realize was a dream until it was taken away from me. I put it off so long it’s probably not even possible anymore. I haven’t even thought of trying again. I’m clinging to this damn job like it’s a lifeline.”
Her eyes shot up and found Eden’s. There was so much naked anguish in them that Eden dropped her fork. It fell to her plate, making a loud clatter, then rolled off the table and dropped onto the floor. She didn’t bend to pick it up.
