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I preened at that revelation.

Me: Really?

Ari: I just scoffed out loud. Blake just gave me the look. The idea that you could be the stuff of nightmares is hilarious.

I frowned.

Me: I can be scary! And I definitely got under his skin. Did you see his face? I was in his head.

Lincoln: You are also inches away from being out of the lineup for Game 2.

Well, yes, that was unfortunate.

Ari: Is this a “just the tip” joke?

Ari: Honestly, I don’t know what’s worse—your unhinged behavior or the fact that you didn’t even get the girl.

Me: It’s early, my dude. The good ones always take more than one try.

Camden: Did you just call him, “my dude”?

Walker: Disappointed in you, Rookie. Very un-circle of trust like behavior.

Me: …

They were almost making me feel bad.Almostbeing the operative word. While I didn’t want to let down the team, the feel of her lips…

I’d gotten off three times today just remembering them.

Better not tell them that, though.

Me: No more grand gestures. Noted.

Camden: I think, and correct me if I’m wrong, gentlemen, that we’re saying get a better grand gesture. One that doesn’t leave us a man down for a majority of the game.

Ari: Or Geraldine’s dogs. I would like those wild beasts kept out of all future grand gestures.

Lincoln: It wasn’t that bad.

I raised an eyebrow.

Ari: I almost died, Golden Boy! I could have frozen to death.

Camden: Would that have been before or after you lost your big toe?

Ari: I feel like you’re mocking me right now. And I don’t appreciate that since you owe me for the rest of your life.

Me: Which is significantly less than the rest of us.

I gave myself a mental high five. I always liked when I could get a good grandpa joke in on Camden.

Walker: That was a good one, Rookie.

Ari: You still aren’t forgiven.

I scoffed.

Me: Can I remind you all of the sacrifice I made that night! I stood there posing in my briefs, in her living room, for hours.