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Camden: And…

Ari: I’m never going to be able to finish this story if you keep interrupting me.

Camden: I was trying to act engaged.

Lincoln: A man above men, Hero.

Me: I feel like you’re interrupting yourself here, Lancaster.

I found myself blocked for that one.

I stared at the phone, waiting for someone to let me back in.

I waited…

And I waited…

After fifteen fucking minutes, Camden added me back into the chat.

Me: That was cruel and unusual punishment, gentlemen.

Ari: The fact that you’re back in here is cruel and unusual punishment, actually.

Me: …

Camden: Excellent use of that, Rookie.

I preened at the compliment.

Me: Thank you.

Ari: …

Ari: As I was saying…

Me: You still haven’t told us. What have you been doing?

Ari: My finger is on the remove key…don’t make me do it, Rookie.

Walker: My child is going to be two before this conversation goes anywhere.

I scrolled back through the messages, trying to see if I had actually missed something. But it was mostly just pictures of Disney’s daughter, Isabella, the cutest child on Earth, that had somehow entered the chat. A worthy distraction.

Ari: I posted a thirst trap. DO NOT RESPOND TO THIS UNTIL I’M DONE SPEAKING.

Ari: And that’s when I realized…

A minute passed, and it hit me that I was still staring at my phone in anticipation of what he was going to say.

Lincoln: Please tell me Blake didn’t give you the look right in the middle of the story.

Ari: Oh, are you still there?

Walker: …

Me: Keeping us on our toes, Lancaster. I like it.

Camden: Why can I picture him preening right now?