Page 44 of Hot Mic

Claire really was perfect for Sienna. They spoke the same language. They had the same background. And if Robin wasn’t sitting right here—her messy, annoying presence cluttering up the table—Sienna wouldn’t be half as tense.

There was zero chance Sienna would ever look at someone like Robin when Claire existed.

Robin cleared her throat, trying to force some life into the recording. ‘So, Valeska. Where you off to next?

Valeska smiled. ‘I’m headed to Bolivia to snap these mummies that are perfectly preserved in this weird little cave. It’s hard to get to, really high elevation, remote. It’s supposed to be eerie as hell.’

‘Sounds amazing,’ Robin said. ‘I get anxious if my phone drops below twenty percent in a Tesco.’

Valeska laughed. Claire smiled. Sienna didn’t react. She just stared down at her glass of tap water. ‘So much for your adventurous spirit,’ she murmured, her tone clipped.

Robin blinked, turning her head to look at Sienna. ‘It was just a joke, Sienna.’

‘I know it was a joke,’ Sienna said, looking up, her dark eyes flashing with a sudden, sharp annoyance.

‘I wasn’t sure because your sense of humour seems to be on the fritz today,’ Robin said, her frustration flaring up despite herself.

Sienna put her water glass down on the table with a sharp clack. ‘Robin, please. Just stop.’

The table went completely dead silent.

Claire stopped chewing her bread. Valeska raised her eyebrows slightly, looking between the two of them.

Robin felt her cheeks go hot.

‘Excuse me,’ Sienna said to Claire, her voice small and tight. ‘I need to use the bathroom.’

She stood and walked away fast, her maroon blazer disappearing down the narrow hallway toward the back of the restaurant.

Robin sat there, her hands frozen on the edge of the table. She looked at Claire, then at Valeska.

‘I’m really sorry,’ Robin said quickly. ‘We made it weird.’

‘It’s fine,’ Claire said gently.

‘I’m just gonna... I’m gonna go check on her,’ Robin mumbled, pushing her chair back.

She walked fast toward the back of the restaurant, following the small glowing sign toward the toilets.

The hallway was quiet, away from the din of the dining room. Robin stopped outside the door marked Ladies, took a deep breath, and pushed it open.

Thirty-Five

Sienna stood over the sink, staring at her flushed face in the mirror. She looked like she’d run ten kilometres and all she’d done was sit at the table destroying stale bread. She needed to calm down. Actually, she needed this bloody meal to be over, and they hadn’t even ordered drinks yet.

The heavy wooden door pushed open behind her, and the last person in the world Sienna wanted to see walked in.

‘Hello,’ Robin said with an easy smile.

Sienna sighed. She raised a finger to silence Robin and then reached down to the pack attached to her belt and hit pause. She wasn’t arguing on tape again. Dora be damned.

Robin nodded and did the same. ‘Now we’re off the record... What’s up your butt today?’

Sienna ran the tap for something to do. ‘I am not in the mood, Robin.’

‘Clearly,’ Robin said, taking a step closer. ‘Look, I’m sorry. I know I was pushing it out there.’

‘No more than I was,’ Sienna said, her voice tight as she washed her hands so thoroughly she could have been prepping for surgery.