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‘Is your pleasure worth my life?’

They argued that fleeting pleasure derived from the taste of a regular burger, for example, was not worth the precious life of the animal that was slaughtered to provide the meat. Asking for people’s views and opinions on similar topics often turned into fruitful exchanges. It allowed animal rights advocates to debunk myths about the fact that slaughter was humane: how could any kind of killing be humane? And correct any preconceived ideas about nutrition and health that stopped people from adopting a more plant-based lifestyle, such as the protein issue. Hopefully, sharing science and facts all contributed to opening people’s minds to a different way of thinking and planted seeds for future change as well. Dana joined the group for a couple of hours at lunchtime, after which Olivia offered to drive her back to herpractice.

“You should have seen Cash last night,” her friend said, referring to her older German Shepherd. “He wasn’t sure about your little guy at first, but Everett chased him all over the house, wanting to play. In the end, they had a brilliant time.”

“I’m glad they got on,” Olivia approved. “Thanks for babysitting Everett overnight for me.”

“No problem. So what happened exactly?” Dana prompted. “It’s not like you to get drunk and have to spend the night at a hotel.”

“It was definitely an accident. I had a beer with a client, just to be polite, as we discussed his requirements for a new project. Then I bumped into Charlie’s niece.”

“The famous Grace Michaels.”

“Yes. I shared another couple of drinks with her; she likes whisky, the expensive kind.”

“Huh! Nice.”

“Definitely. Because I’d skipped dinner, I got a bit dizzy as I stood up to leave. She wouldn’t hear of me catching a taxi home and made me stay the night.”

“Made you, eh?” Dana queried. “Strange way to put it, but okay…”

“Well.” Olivia shrugged, fighting a blush. She wasn’t about to confess how much she’d enjoyed Grace Michaels in full take-charge mode, telling her what to do. And just opted for another word to satisfy Dana. “Grace insisted.”

“Grace. Right. And she fed you vegan burgers and chips.”

“Yes.”

“How wonderful.”

“It was really kind of her, for sure.”

Dana fixed her with glinting eyes. “And?”

“And what?”

“What happened after that?”

“Nothing. I ate and went to bed. On my own,” Olivia added when she noticed the widening grin on Dana’s face. “Her suite at the Forester is big enough for a family of six. And it wasn’t about that.”

“But you are attracted to her.”

Olivia kept her gaze firmly fixed on the road. “What makes you think so?”

“Oh, let’s see… Could be the wistful tone of your voice or that little smile on your lips.” Dana chuckled. “Your eyes are all shiny.”

“Oh, gosh.” Olivia groaned.

“Plus, I know you, babe, and how stubborn you can be.”

“Hey…”

“It’s true. If you’d really wanted to go home last night, no woman’s ‘insistence’, as you say, would have kept you there.”

“I guess not,” Olivia conceded.

“So there must be more to the story. I like her for not letting you leave in an Uber late at night when you were not feeling too well.”

“That’s pretty much what she said.”