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Adam didn’t seem the type to want to rub salt into the wounds Or at least I would have thought so before that display at his office He’d been rubbing plenty of salt then I burned with anger at the pretense under which he was here Whatever it took, I’d keepinvolved With any luck, he’d leave and she’d never know that there was a history between us

I didn’t want to talk to hie shallow pleasantries for my mo status was or if he was sleeping with Lindsay again The very thought of it hurt like a bitch

After showering and doingtouches on dinner by tossing the organic, handpicked salad She was an excellent cook--part of the entire picture of her livelihood She uests every day, creatively concocting new and special repasts Breakfast was her specialty, but her dinners were daone to culinary school during et better at it

Dinner was beyond aard The only one not affected by the silent uneasiness was my mom Adam and I did not talk to each other The entire conversation was conducted through my mother

"Mia’s a medical student"

"Not yet," I corrected her

"Well, she will be once she aces this big test that’s co up"

At least Adam didn’t ask me sham questions that he already knew the answers to--like he had the first few tioodto it It was already onschool in the sareatly lowered it in ranking on my list of top schools UC Davis, in northern California, was starting to look better and better

"I understand you have some wonderful back country around here, even off the PCT," Adam said to Mom

"Yes, great for hiking or riding Do you ride, Mr Drake?" Mohed "No, not at all I think I can count on one hand the nu to get a guided ride from me, I’d have to be quick on my feet to deflect the request My mind raced with excuses I could come up with Sore throat? I had to study? A horse had stepped on reat horses for beginners and Mia used to take guests on sunset rides Maybe I can coax her to do one for you if that sounds like so you’d like to do" Shit, shit, shit Shut up, Moaze on lued toin my food as fast as I possibly could "That sounds like a wonderful idea, but how about a hike this evening, Mia? Do you hike?"

I took a long tih at least a half a dozen more excuses--all lame--before I spit out probably the lamest one of them all "I’m a runner"

"Perfect, so am I"

Fuck I should have known he would say that As always, he’d thought a few steps ahead of me and had been ready

"I would only slow you down on a run," I said, anxious to evade this

Adaly "It would be fun Do you know of any great views?"

Mom, of course, had to put her two cents in "Why don’t you take him up to that vista spot you love so much?"

Soritted my teeth and darted Adam a murderous look He looked supre into a picnic basket

An hour later, I was in ear when my mom knocked on the door and came in "Did I put you on the spot back there? Are you okay with taking him out for a run?"

I hesitated Here was ht Ada alone with hihtand I’d really prefer she not find out the truth Beyond that, Adam would knohy I’d bowed out and he’d already called me a coward once My pride was on the line And lastly, that curiosity beast was nipping at et soed noncommittally "Sure"

"Mia, I don’t knohat’s been up with you lately, but can I ask you to put in a little extra effort with this guest? He’s a CEO for a co some retreats up here for his employees I know you don’t schmooze, but just…you know, turn on your sunny personality I know it’s in there somewhere"