Page 71 of The Endowment Effect

“No,” Grant replied, eyes narrowed. “Why?”

“Just asking.”

Mia twirled back and forth in her seat, taking in her surroundings, and Lucas couldn’t help but feel self-conscious.

His house was rather humble compared to where she had been living in Boston. He knew that because before turning out the light last night, he grabbed his phone and did a quick search on Birdie’s husband and Mia’s father, Marshall Shepherd.

Marshall was a good-looking, strapping… older man. As in, quite a bit older than Birdie. Early articles implied she was interested in him for more than his swarthy good looks.

Lucas was further shocked to learn Mia was raised with an exorbitant amount of wealth.

Then, he read where Birdie had started her own real estate company, the stories depicting Marshall and Birdie Shepherd as a power couple in the greater Boston area. However, later on, those stories turned on Birdie, casting her, once again, as the villain.

Eager to prove his fatherly skills, Lucas said, “Made bacon and eggs, if you’re hungry.”

She paused her chair. “I’m vegan. Remember?”

Ah, shit. How could he forget? They choked down bowlfuls of cauliflower mash the night before, which she claimed to be a vegan masterpiece of epic proportions.

Lucas thought it tasted like ass but he smiled through the entire dish, thinking he might hurl when she plopped another dollop of the white bland goo onto his plate.

Okay, regroup, Santos.

“Will toast work?” he asked, lifting the loaf of bread by the plastic tie.

“Sure.”

He began to pull butter out of the refrigerator before she stopped him.

“No butter though. Vegans don’t eat animals or anything that comes from an animal. Like butter or cheese.”

Both men stared at her dumbfounded.

Grant murmured, “How do people live without cheese?”

She further explained, “So basically, I don’t eat anything that was once, or came from, a living, breathing animal and had a face.”

Grant asked, “What’s the matter with drinking milk?”

She answered, “Haven’t you ever heard the saying, ‘Not your mama, not your milk?’”

“Nope. Never heard that,” Grant responded.

Neither had Lucas.

She went on, “Dairy products are nothing more than gratuitous commodities harvested from nonconsenting animals for commercial gain.”

“How old are you again?” Grant asked, one hand on his hip and the other on the coffee cup with more cream in it from nonconsenting cows than coffee.

“Fourteen. My mom says I’m evolved.” She chomped on the piece of toast covered with jam Lucas set down in front of her. “Then again, she also says I’m insubordinate.”

Another inherited trait.

Lucas asked, “So, is your nanny vegan?”

“Angus?” she asked with a chuckle. “No way. Angus loves meat. Get this, his favorite meal is a pudding made from a sheep’s heart, liver, and lungs.” She made a face. “Disgusting.”

“Was your dad vegan?” Lucas regretted the question. Afraid of coming off as insensitive.

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