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“Some people were just born villains,” Lake said. “I told Mum the second you were born that there was something wrong with you. Your face was so wrinkly, and you cried so much it was like watching the episode ofThis Is Uswhen Jack dies on repeat. What does a baby have to cry about?”

“And you were a perfect baby,” Avery said sharply. Lake could practically hear the eye roll.

“Obviously,” Lake retorted. He’d been themostperfect baby, and why his parents had decided to have another child was beyond him. Why keep going when the pinnacle had been reached?

Grady snorted as he slowed at a set of red lights. Lake stuck his tongue out at him, and Grady raised an eyebrow. Lake glanced down at the way the corner of Grady’s lips curled as he judged the fuck out of Lake.

“Who was that?” Avery asked suspiciously.

“You remember my good friend, Grady,” Lake said.

“The cop,” Avery said. “Guess it explains the blocked phone number. Did you get yourself arrested?”

“That is a rude and unfair question.”

“Are you eloping?”

“What kind of question is that?”

“I’m going down my list of options.”

“And eloping was second?” Lake squawked.

“Have you met yourself?”

“Yes, and I would never elope. Could you imagine? Mum would find me because she’s scarier than a federal agent, with more contacts to boot. Grady and I will have a quaint wedding in the park, thank you very much. The one with the nice pond and those ducks that tried to kill you when you were a kid? They’re my favourite. We’re thinking the first of March.”

“That’s not far away,” Avery mused.

“Sometimes you just know when they’re the one,” Lake replied.

“Did you even send out the invites?”

“Yeah, look for it in the mail.”

“Do I get a say in this?” Grady asked dryly as he tapped the wheel impatiently, waiting for the red light to turn green.

“No,” Lake and Avery said in unison.

“Anyway,” Lake said before they could get any more off topic, “I just wanted to let you know that I’m fine, and that you can’t contact me on my number because I need to get a new phone.”

“So you did lose it.”

“Not… exactly?” He glanced at Grady, but his focus was back on the road as he navigated the busy Sydney streets with ease.

“Why are you saying it like that?” Avery asked sharply.

“A car hit me?” Lake said, his voice elevating a fraction at the end. There wasn’t really any other way to say it except to just say it. Rip that Band-Aid off. Luckily, he was fine, so at least Avery wasn’t getting a call from the hospital or something. Well, it would be from their mum since she was Lake’s emergency contact, but it was all relative. Either way, it wouldn’t have been a fun conversation. Lake was glad they didn’t have to have it.

“Are you asking me or telling me?” Avery sounded angry, but Lake knew from experience that it wasn’t directed at Lake.

“You can decide,” Lake said helpfully.

There was a pregnant pause, and then Avery said with pained surprise, “Wait, you wereactuallyin a car accident?”

“Despite the fact that I am clearly the best driver in the whole world, accidents happen. Besides, this one wasn’t my fault.”

“Did you get hurt? Are you at the hospital? Do I need to come and get you?”