Her skin was crawling. But how did you explain to someone you barely knew that they were getting into your weird place?

You didn't. That was the answer. But Fatima could feel hairline fractures forming in her perfected facade. They were trembling, threatening to shatter. If she wasn't careful, poor Roy would inadvertently trigger something...unpleasant.

She cleared her throat, deciding that the safest and cleanest way out was a complete course correction. It might come off abrupt or rude, but it would be nowhere near as abrupt or rude as a meltdown might be.

"I've been meaning to ask," she said, "How'd you hook up with Chandra?"