Page 3

Chapter three

Feral Squirrels Group Chat

Maddox

Sam: Maddox, don’t forget—Saturday night, we have plans.

Maddox: I know. Are you going to tell me what we’re doing?

Callie: IDK if we should tell you.

Maddox: What did you guys do?

Sam: If we tell you, then you have to promise not to cancel.

Callie: And you have to promise not to be mad.

Maddox: Okay, now I’m worried. Should I be worried?

Sam: We aren’t telling you anything until you promise.

Maddox: Fine, I promise. Now spill!

Callie: Remember, we love you and we’re just trying to help.

Maddox: What the fuck did you guys do?

Sam: Do you want to tell her, or do you want me to tell her?

Callie: I don’t care. I can go either way unless you really want to—or unless you really want me to be the one to tell her.

Sam: Nah. I don’t care. Do you want me to pick, or do you want to pick?

Maddox: Somebody better fucking tell me.

Callie: Okay. I’ll tell her. Hold on. Incoming…

Callie: So, IDK if we should tell you.

Sam: OMG, you’re such a chicken. Fine, I’ll tell her.

Sam: No. I don’t want to tell her either. Sorry, Maddox, we’ll see you tomorrow.

Callie: I don’t want to tell her face to face.

Sam: Good point.

Maddox: I hate you guys.

Callie: But not like actually hate, right? Because you promised not to get mad.

Maddox: Debating. I never promised not to hate you.

Sam: Don’t be a brat. We did you a favor, and we paid for it.

Maddox: So you’re going to tell me what the favor is?

Sam: Undecided.

Maddox: I’m going to bed. One of you better tell me in the morning.

Callie: Good night, love you.

Sam: Night, love you

Maddox: Good night. You’re lucky I still love you both. I better wake up to a confession.

***

T he next morning:

Sam: We signed you up for the masquerade speed dating night at the bar and paid for your ticket.

Callie: We figured, since as far as we know, he’s single, maybe he might be participating.

Sam: Since you won’t let us follow him home or stake out at his house in order to learn everything about him.

Callie: We can come help you get ready around four, and we’ll bring Indian food from our favorite place.

Sam: And you better answer the door. Don’t make me break a window.

Maddox: I hate you guys. But I accept the food sacrifice. At this point, you’re buying my forgiveness.