Tara nodded.
"People need to understand that we don't have a cure, per say," Parker insisted. "It's a personalized treatment plan based off the genome of your specific type of cancer. It has a very narrow focus."
"But it has the potential to help a lot of people," I interjected.
"Also keep in mind that you're going to be presenting to medical- and science-minded people," Owen added. "You need to have some information about the algorithms."
Tara looked annoyed. "I've been doing marketing for a while now. I think I can handle this."
The door slid open, and Josie crept in. I nodded to her, and she reached for Henry. He wrapped himself around the table leg. Josie shimmied under the table to try and pull him out.
Parker looked to me. I could feel Josie crawling around under my legs.
"Sorry," I said. "I'm listening. Henry is just being a pill."
He nodded. "There's a whole education process about what this type of therapy is and what it isn't. I don't think this marketing presentation has enough nuance."
Josie had managed to unwrap Henry from the leg of the conference table. I knew this because he had started to crawl up my legs.
"Just give me one second," I said as Tara began flipping through the slide deck.
Henry was clambering on me, and I felt one of Josie's hands grab for him. She missed, and her palm landed on my inner thigh. I looked down into Josie's red face that was dangerously close to my crotch.
I froze. Josie grabbed for Henry, but he scampered up to wrap his arms around my neck. I scooted my chair back.
"Ow!" Josie yelled. Everyone watched us.
"My earring is stuck," she said in a muffled voice.
"Stuckwhere?" Tara's voice was icy.
Henry climbed off me and waited patiently by the door as if he hadn't just caused all this commotion.
"She's stuck on his button," Parker said, looking over at me then down. "It's exactly the button you're thinking of."
Tara hurried over. "Honestly, Josie," she hissed and reached for my crotch.
"It's fine!" I declared, pushing Tara away. "We'll just go to the bathroom."
I bit my lip as Josie fumbled around my crotch, trying to undo her earring. Parker's lips were pressed together, and Owen was struggling not to laugh.
"Willow, help!" Josie called. I tried to ignore how hot her breath was as her friend came over.
"Willow, Mace, Mace, Willow," Josie introduced us. I needed her to stop moving her mouth against my junk.
"We've met," Willow said. "You passed out drunk in his car, and I couldn't get you out."
"I did that?"
Willow deftly unclipped Josie's earring, and she was free.
"Whew!" she said, sitting up and immediately banging her head on the underside of the conference table. "Ow!"
"Why don't you go put some ice on that?" Tara said. She and Josie exchanged some sort of look.
Josie blinked up at me. "Do you need some ice?"
Parker barked out a laugh.
