“I can come up with my daily risks without your help,” I say mildly.
“You clearly need it,” Sebastian says, as if he’s talking to a child. “We’re the experts.”
Daisy looks down at her notepad. “Here’s what we’ve come up with so far. Number one: skinny-dipping. I didn’t put that item on the list. Kenji did.”
I glare at him.
“If that’s the first one, I’m scared to know what else you’ve come up with,” I say.
“I think it’s awesome because you already have a water theme going with your risks. Also, a naked theme. So, it fits right in.” Daisy looks pleased with herself.
I narrow my eyes. “What do you mean, naked water theme?” I really shouldn’t ask, though, because I’m not sure I want to know. Ignorance is bliss. It’s my new motto.
“Well, there’s skinny-dipping in the fountain. Naked, check. Water, check. Then there was you and the towel incident.” Daisy leans closer to me and whispers, even though everyone can hear what she’s saying. “That involved nudity after a shower.”
“That was not a purposeful risk. It was an accident!” I protest.
Daisy shrugs. “Haven’t you heard? There are no accidents. Regardless, you definitely have a naked water theme going on, so we must honor that. Plus, skinny-dipping is freeing. It’s perfect, even if Kenji has less than pure motives suggesting it. Now, where was I? Oh, yes. Number two: learn to roller skate. I added that because I can’t believe you don’t know how. You were deprived as a kid.”
I’m happy for Daisy to change the subject away from me getting naked. “I wasn’t a coordinated child. Nor am I a coordinated adult. I prefer pastimes that involve being seated. Like reading. Or writing.”
“Number three: swim with the sharks.”
“That’s my suggestion! It’s sick.” Sebastian pounds his muscular chest, proud of his contribution. I’m not caffeinated enough to be confronted with the prospect of sharks.
I take another large gulp of coffee and hold out my cup desperately as Marie comes by to top me up. I’m going to need all the help I can get to hold my own in this conversation. “No. Not gonna happen. I hate sharks. Man was not meant to swim with them.” There’s no way I’m getting in the water with anything that has that many teeth. I shudder just thinking about it.
“Interesting,” Daisy says, taking a giant forkful of pancake, maple syrup dripping. She chews and then swallows. “I like how you didn’t discount skinny-dipping. Okay. We can cross off swimming with sharks.” She consults her list and looks back up, hope in her eyes. “Maybe snorkeling with dolphins?”
I shake my head. “I don’t care how friendly they are. In the water, with that fin, they look too much like sharks.” Another shudder.
“Fine.” She sighs dramatically. “What about visiting an aquarium? We can do this in baby steps, just like the skydiving,” Daisy suggests.
“How is visiting an aquarium a risk?” Sebastian cries. “I’m taking charge of this list, Olivia.”
“No way, Sebastian!” I point to him. “You are officially off my risk-taking committee.”
“Don’t you worry, woman. I promise you’ll love it,” he says smoothly.
I open my mouth to argue, but Daisy holds up her hand.
“We’ll table number three and revisit it later.”
“Fine,” Sebastian grumbles.
“Motion to table risk number three approved. Moving on to item number four: take up a sport.”
“That’s my suggestion,” Emma pipes up. She’s perched on a stool, the only one of us dressed for work in a polished suit and hair in a sleek bun. “Fitness is healthy for you and provides serotonin and a great ass. I left the sport up for you to decide, because I can be nice.” She shoots Sebastian a look. “Despite what some people think.”
“Thanks, Emma. I’m glad someone is letting me choose.”
“Hey, you didn’t thank me!” Sebastian complains.
“That’s because your risk involved something that could eat me!”
Daisy slaps the table with her spoon, as if it’s a gavel. “Come to order and stop interrupting. So, what sport should we choose?”
“Should I choose,” I correct. If I’m the one who chooses, at least I can make sure it doesn’t involve further nakedness or balancing on tiny wheels. I tilt my head, thinking. “Maybe running?” It’s the first sport that pops into my head. I recall the way Chase looks all sweaty from a run. Maybe he can give me some pointers.