The moment Miles’s name falls out of Cynthia’s mouth, Odette’s eyes go wide. Her mouth drops open and she soundlessly mouths the name. I glare at Cynthia. “I don’t want to bring him into this…” Of course I have considered his help in the past. I’m even sure he’d give it. But it feels so… transactional, especially with how intimate things have been between us. I don’t want him to think I’m the kind of girl who needs favors in exchange for s*x. “He’s your friend, isn’t he?” Cynthia asks, looking at me incredulously. “He’d do this for you.” “It doesn’t matter that he would –” “It does matter, actually,” Odette says. “If he supports you, we can win without question.” “See?” Cynthia says. “He’d want to help anyway, Esther.” I know he would, I do. But, “It’s too much to ask.” Elbows on h