I should have ended the conversation.
Instead, I asked, “How much is your certification deposit?”
The humor left her face.
“Too much.”
“Number.”
She told me. I calculated. The prize would not arrive before the deposit deadline, but it would replace what she used from savings and cover most of the remaining tuition, travel, and equipment. Dani noticed the calculation happening.
“You already paid for the marathon,” she said. “Why do you need the prize?”
“Professional coaching, hotel, and equipment reduce the total cost. Also—”
“You want to beat Evelyn.”
“That is not the primary reason.”
“What percentage?”
“I have not calculated it.”
“Dangerous.”
We looked toward the challenge table.
“This is not a plan,” I said.
“No.”
“It is an idea wearing running shoes.”
Dani’s smile widened.
“There she is.”
That evening, I reviewed the challenge rules at the kitchen table.
Tessa read over my shoulder.
“You’re going to fake-date the trainer.”
“I am evaluating feasibility.”
“Same thing with columns.”
“We would require boundaries, a consistent history, conflict procedures, and a defined end date.”
I drew the laptop closer. Tessa’s shadow fell across the empty document, making the plan feel less theoretical.
“You have known her two weeks.”
“Correct.”
“You like her.”
“I dislike her frequently.”
