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“I don’t know. As ready as I’ll ever be?” I fiddle with the buttons on my blouse.
Maybe I should’ve changed into something prettier. The restaurant Meghan chose—on Shepherd’s generous dime, of course—is one of the hippest and most expensive newer places in Ballard.
I don’t usually worry about whether my business casual is business-y enough to be intimidating. But this whole situation has me on edge as we dart through Seattle traffic in silence.
If this goes badly, there might be such a blazing fire to put out that there won’t be any sei whale excursions at all.
“You look fine,” Shepherd says as we pull up to the place, almost like he can read my mind.
“Thanks.” Another deep breath.
I should probably do something about my lung capacity, given how often I’m needing to breathe lately.
“You ready?” He grabs my hand and squeezes so tight.
I want to cry.
But for him, I need to be brave.
“Yeah. Let’s do this.”
The restaurant is a high-end Italian place with intimate lights hanging over tables and tasteful ambient music playing in the background.
I spot her immediately.
Meghan Tea shines at a table in the corner, sitting with a garishly dressed woman beside her.
I wonder if it’s her lawyer.
I didn’t know she’d be bringing company, but since it’s me and Shepherd, I guess it’s only fair.
As we approach, the older woman stands and jabs her hand at Shepherd first, then me.
“Hi, hi! I’m so glad you two could make it.” She kisses the air beside my cheek. “I’m Adriana Cerva, Meghan’s mom and manager.”
Meghan, surprisingly, barely looks up when we sit. Her usually perky, whip-sharp demeanor seems subdued.
Even her newer fire-red hair hangs limply around her face, and her lips are pursed in a way that’s hard to interpret.
But it doesn’t look like a happy face.
“Hey, Meghan,” I venture, trying to feel her out for hostility. But she just glances up briefly, gives me the slightest smile, and then looks down at the menu again.
She’s not reading it, though.
Her eyes are too still, almost like she’s staring right through it to the center of the Earth.
Okayyy.
Not what I expected.
To be fair, we’ve only met once or twice in person, very briefly at social media marketing conventions. Pretty normal, considering we’re on opposite sides of the influencer fence.
But I’ve seen her videos plenty with how much algo love she gets, even if they make me roll my eyes.
She’s not like this in her content.
She’s always perky, brash, and ready to swing her sarcasm around like a brandished sword.
