Good question. I had met Evelyn once and already disliked her. That did not justify using Amy’s breakup to sell the idea.
“I shouldn’t have pushed that,” I said.
The apology changed her posture slightly.
“I’m sorry.”
She watched me for a moment.
“Thank you.”
“The challenge would help me. A lot.” I turned the cup between my palms. “The certification starts in the fall. I can drain most of my savings for the deposit in five weeks. If I miss it again, I wait another year. Blake may reimburse part after completion, but not before, and my client schedule is nearly full.”
“What about a workshop?”
“I’m considering beginner running.”
“You should do it.”
“I do.”
“You would be good at it.”
The certainty in her voice hit harder than I wanted.
“You’ve seen me coach for three weeks.”
“I have seen you modify exercises without humiliating people. I have seen you adjust plans based on actual performance. I have seen you remember details that other people would overlook.”
She paused.
“And I ran one mile.”
“You did.”
“I would not have done it correctly alone.”
The praise warmed me and made the lie about my own race history feel heavier. I scraped a thumbnail over the cup seam.
“Still,” she said, “that does not make fake dating a responsible financial strategy.”
“Probably not.”
“I expected you to argue.”
“I can be reasonable.”
“You named a treadmill.”
“Geraldine is not part of this.”
Amy took another drink.
“Have you asked anyone else?”
“No.”
“Why?”
