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equipment being kept inside. Or stealing models. Believe it or

not, it’s happened. The lab skeleton is very popular.

“I know it’s last minute, but I was wondering if you

might be free to have a drink with a prospective match tonight.

If not, I can tell him no. I wasn’t planning on even asking you

this soon, but he seems great. He’s an executive of a travel

company. He’s quite well-off, so I don’t think money should

matter to him so much. At least not yours. He’s thirty-five. He

doesn’t have kids but wants them. There are some other details

that I can send over, and I’ll send the conversations. He’s not

free until eight anyway. I know that’s kind of late, but it is a

Friday. If not, that’s fine. He’s going on business trip for two

weeks after today though, so I thought I’d take a chance and

ask you. Honestly, don’t feel pressured. I can tell him no and

try again when he’s back if you’re interested. I really don’t

normally rush things—”

“It’s fine.” I don’t know that it is fine, but I can also

hear the stress and panic in Adley’s voice and I don’t want her

to be upset. “I’ll go. As long as it’s not too fancy.”

“Okay. Let me send over the conversation. And I’ll try

to get him to agree to a place near you. If you give me the

neighborhood, I can get it figured out.”

I give her the subdivision name and she thanks me and

hangs up. I’m strangely unsettled and have to reach out and

palm the lab door. It takes me a few deep breaths until I feel

strong enough to straighten up and walk out of the school.

Even when I get to my car, I’m a wreck. My palms are all

sweaty, my lungs feel compressed to the point that it’s hard to

breathe, and the butterflies in my stomach are making me feel

slightly sick.