“What about her?”
“I looked her up.”
“Why?”
“Because you’re running a marathon with someone who has a public platform and a professional role in your training.”
“That is not an answer.”
Evelyn sat straighter. She had prepared her reasoning.
“You became involved with her very quickly.”
“You do not know when we became involved.”
“Your story was inconsistent at the launch.”
“New relationships often involve details people remember differently.”
“Not you.”
The observation was annoyingly accurate. I set down my cup.
“What did you find?”
“Public race results.”
“I know she has no official marathon finish.”
Evelyn blinked.
“She told you?”
“Yes.”
The surprise in her face was small but revealing. She had expected the information to damage something.
“When?” she asked.
“Before we entered the challenge.”
“Then why did you describe her publicly as an experienced marathon runner?”
“I have not described her as a marathon finisher.”
“You said she knew the course.”
“She does.”
Evelyn leaned back.
“You’re defending a technical distinction.”
“I am clarifying one.”
“She started twice and quit twice.”
Quitlanded badly.
