Page 59 of Bargain with Fate
“Define relationship.”
“Someone you introduced to others as your girlfriend or boyfriend.”
“In that case, never. When was yours?” I asked, in an effort to shine the spotlight on Joan instead.
“The cocksucker I made famous.”
“You haven’t dated anyone since your divorce?” I asked.
“No. I have no desire to tether myself to a man ever again.”
“Not even a loose thread?”
“Not even a ‘come hither’ glance.”
“Well, this is a crappy topic for us, isn’t it?” I said with a laugh. “I guess that’s our common ground: we’ve sworn off relationships.”
Joan gave me a cursory glance. “You’re still young. Why aren’t you interested?”
“The island has limited options for my age range.”
“What about before that?”
“I was focused on my career.”
She arched an eyebrow. “Your career as a bounty hunter?”
“Yes,” I said slowly. “It involved a lot of travel. It’s hard to form relationships when you’re constantly moving from place to place.” It was far more than that, but this was enough information to prevent more probing questions.
“What about sex?”
My mind immediately conjured an image of Vale, which made me choke on my mouthful of wine. Joan whacked me between the shoulder blades.
“What about it?” I managed to ask in a raspy voice.
“Excessive travel seems like an easy way to bed ’em and forget ’em.”
“Not my style.”
“I’m old and crotchety. What’s your excuse?”
I thanked my lucky stars when Margie called time again. I didnotwant to delve any deeper into this conversation, and I certainly didn’t want to experience another Vale jump scare. Just because the demigod was attractive, powerful, earnest…
“Your face is beet red,” Joan said.
“Must be the wine.” I slid the glass away from me.
“Next topic is childhood,” Margie announced.
I threw up in my mouth a little. This game was a gigantic mistake. I cut a glance at Louise and Bernice. The roommates were in a deep discussion; their heads were bent together.
Okay, maybe not agiganticmistake.
“Where did you grow up?” I asked Joan.
“New England. I grew tired of the winters and moved to Florida in 1900. You?”
“Pennsylvania.”
