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“I just want to see how you think.”
“You’re not paying me to think.”
“I could be.”
“No.”
“No, what? I haven’t even asked a question.”
“You don’t have to.”
“Have dinner with me.”
I check the time, even though it’s pointless. “Downstairs?”
“Is there somewhere else you’d rather go?”
“Anywhere else, in fact.”
He chuckles at that, and I think it’s the first time I’ve ever seen him laugh. “I think something new sounds perfect.”
“Good. I know a place…”
“Oh, but before I forget,” he says, holding out his phone. His eyes meet mine. “I never make the same mistake twice. I need your number.”
“Why?”
“Why else? To call you. What we have is not a very efficient method.”
“I’d say it was very efficient.”
He shoves the phone closer until I can’t not take it from him. “Just add it in. For scheduling purposes.”
I type in my number. I leave the name blank on purpose. He notices.
“I wasn’t a big fan of Amanda.”
“I could tell.”
“I was just wondering,” he says, glancing down at the phone and then back at me, “if I could call you Emily.”
I can’t tell whether or not he’s serious, but there’s something in his expression that I find off-putting. “My name is Vanessa.”
“Sure it is.”
He doesn’t believe me, which is smart. Vanessa wasn’t my given name; my parents were far too religious for that. It was the name I was assigned in Siren school, so I could become someone else, and not just in theory. This seems like more than he needs to know, so I raise my brow and finally offer a shrug. “I suppose Emily is as good as the next thing.”
He smiles. “You have no idea.”
“Where is this place?” he asks again. We’ve been driving for half an hour.
“East,” I say.
“You said that forty-five minutes ago.”
“Your math is a little off, but whatever. If you’re that hungry, take the next exit.”
“What is this place?” he asks, pulling off in the dirt.
