“My schedule—”
“Rule ten.”
Dates were allowed to be inefficient. Mornings apparently qualified. I stayed. This was how happiness became dangerous. Not because it felt unstable. Because it began to feel ordinary.
Blake announced the finalist interview Monday morning.
BETTER TOGETHER PROVISIONAL FINAL FOUR — LIVE COMMUNITY NIGHT
Our names appeared with Evelyn and Vanessa, Marisol and Jen, and Noah and Marcus. Marisol immediately warned the group against surprise questions or sabotage; Jen added thateveryone should hydrate because Blake considered nerves a content strategy.
The twelfth-week event would stream live Friday, with sponsor interviews, audience questions, and final bonus scoring. Our eligibility review remained open. The packet warned that questions could draw from public race and charity records and linked the Lake City Community Partners roster.
Dani read the email over my shoulder in the gym café.
“Final four.”
“Provisional.”
She stole fruit from my plate. Then her phone buzzed. Her smile disappeared.
“Rose?”
“Training log. She wants to review mileage tonight.”
The four-week reassessment was three days away. Dani had completed a disclosed, approved fourteen-mile long run. At least according to her.
“Are you worried?”
“A little.”
“About the mileage or the decision?”
“The decision.”
Whether to use the charity entry. We had agreed she would tell me before acting.
“Do you want help preparing?”
“No.”
“Do you want me to listen afterward?”
“Yes.”
“Then call.”
“I will.”
She answered easily, and I believed her. Trust did not feel dramatic while it was working.
Friday, August twenty-second, arrived with heat. Sponsor banners and a small stage transformed Iron & Ivy. Tessa sat near the front with Rose and Gloria; Lola held a sign reading REAL GIRLFRIENDS, FAKE RULES.
Dani wore a dark blue suit with red trainers. I wore the green dress from our first real date. She stopped when she saw me.
“Wow.”
“Specificity is better.”
