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“That’s possible,” I admit.

“You in the front or the back seat?” he asks, and Ryan chuckles.

“The front. Why?” I answer.

“Because Dad used to make us sit in the back when he was pissed off at us and?—”

“I did not. Your little asses climbed in the back when you did stupid shit.”

“I don’t remember it that way,” Luke states.

“I’ve had this conversation with your sister. Apparently, I have a killer look of disappointment when I have a reason to be disappointed.”

“Lo?”

“Yeah. Said she saw it the first time in fifth grade when she removed her braces.” He smiles. “Regardless, you climbed in the back; that’s on you.”

“Yeah, maybe.” He sighs. “So, what am I facing when she gets home?”

His answer: “She needs a new bone to chew on.”

I still, because that’s not what I was expecting, not at all.

He continues, “Just tell her about the suspicions with the league.”

Different bone completely …

“You’re not leaving us, are you, Grimes?”

“No plans to.”

“Good,” Luke says. “Fuck the noise and lock in.”

“Will do.”

“Daddy, you can’t say fuck. It’s a bad word,” comes from left field. “Swear jar. Pay up.”

Ryan shakes in laughter, and hearing that sweet little voice sayfuck, I have to hold back my own.

“Hope, you can’t tell me not to say a bad word using a bad word,” Luke says quietly.

“I heard her say the F-word. You don’t need to whisper it,” comes from right. “Put the money in the jar, Dad.”

Ryan laughs.

“Shit’s not funny,” Luke whispers into the phone.

“Daddy, you can’t say shhhh—” She squeals. “Stop tickling me!”

She laughs, the kind that comes right from the belly for a few seconds, and then Luke says, “There, you two little extortionists. Happy now?”

“Gonna need a bigger jar.” The little girl laughs.

“Give me a minute, yeah?” he asks.

Laughter fades as I assume they take off.

“I’m back.” Luke groans, and Ryan laughs. Hell, so do I. “Look, I need to go deal with that, but did you get the text that we’re sending the practice team home?”