Page 83 of The Beta Test

80085 [Me]: Sure. But I’m giving you my phone number in class tomorrow so we can stop with this name confusion.

55378: Ok.

55378: Plus, I don’t need Holden Lovell reading my messages.

80085 [Me]: Right. Because he definitely is. I’ll see you tomorrow.

Dad: Hey, sweetpea. I have tomorrow off and I was wondering if you and Hunter wanted to ditch school to have a day together.

Me: Did you run that by mom?

Dad: Of course.

Me: Ok. Sounds fun.

Dad: Love you.

Jake: You feeling ok? I noticed you weren’t at school today.

Me: Who is this?

Jake: ….

Me: Kidding!

Me: All good. Hunter and I spent the day with our dad. Can you send me the calc assignment?

Jake: Of course.

Jake: And how come I wasn’t invited?

Me: I mean, that would have been a little weird?

Jake: I’m sure Hunter would disagree. We’re tight.

Jake: And your dad too, actually. I think I won him over with my Avery shirt.

Me: Sigh. Yeah, that tracks.

March

Braden: Hey, Av. I just got back from hiking through the Appalachians and thought we could hang out?

Me: (read)

Me: I didn’t realize you were REALLY going to wear that shirt to all my home swim meets.

Jake: You love it.

Jake: I’m thinking of designing another one actually.

Jake: Bigger. Better. Bolder.

Me: That won’t be necessary.

Jake: Oh, I think it is. Unless…

Me: …?