“Okay, besides the fact that you can just throw down fifteen grand as a ‘treat,’ I don’t have the luxury of picking up and going to the Catskills for eight days. I actually have a job, a life.”

“He said Ellison would give you time off. I didn’t think it would be a big deal, and from what I experienced in that office, it seems like you might be a touch uptight and need to loosen up. This camp might do that.”

“I was uptight because you were not following instructions.”

“What instructions?” I ask. “I assumed we were playing it by ear up there, which, by the way, the family recipe thing was gold. Took everything in me not to bust out in laughter. Seriously, you should take improv classes. You were really good on your feet.”

“I…I can’t take you right now.” She blinks a few more times and then charges down the sidewalk away from me.

I chase after her and match her stride when I catch up. “Don’t you think we have some things to talk about? To hammer out?”

She shakes her head. “No. There’s nothing to talk about. This was all a huge mistake. I’m just going to have to go talk to Ellison and tell her the truth. Tell her that I lied to fit in. Sure, it’ll be a great way to get fired probably, and my hopes of moving on to bigger and better things will crumble at my feet, causing me to have to start all over again. But who doesn’t like a second-chance, rock-bottom storyline?”

“Stop,” I say, tugging on her hand. “You’re not going to get fired.”

“You don’t know that,” she says. “You don’t know my company. Being happily married is apparently a cult there. They find out I lied, not only will the Brads and Chad point and laugh in their stupid embroidered vests, but they will gleefully watch me walk out of the office building with a boxful of my supplies.” She stops and looks out dizzily toward the street. “I don’t think I can stomach the thought of it.”

Fearing she’s on the verge of a mental breakdown, I spot a juice bar across the street, so I guide her by the small of her back and say, “Follow me.”

Thankfully, she doesn’t put up a fight and allows me to guide her. I open the door, usher her in and straight to the back, where there’s seating and no one around. I sit her down, and she leans against her side of the booth, looking like she’s in a daze.

Yeah, I think I might have broken her.