Page 42 of The Weight Of Falling

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KENZIE:Please tell me you said no.

JOEL:Have you ever tried saying no to Tess?

KENZIE:Well, yes, but I thought you’d be stronger.

JOEL:You thought wrong.

KENZIE:So much for strong and silent. More like strong and compliant.

KENZIE:Sorry! It just slipped out.

JOEL:And this is why we’re fake engaged.

KENZIE:Seriously, why did you even agree to go?

JOEL:Consider it my penance for making you sit through Shadowlands.

KENZIE:See? When you’re put on the spot, sometimes your mouth moves faster than your brain.

JOEL:Not the same.

KENZIE:It’s a little the same.

JOEL:It’s trivia night, not a fake engagement.

KENZIE:Foolish man. Clearly you’ve never been to one of our trivia nights.

17

[GROUP CHAT: TRIVIA TITANS]

*Tess has added Joel Adams to the group*

TESS:Trivia night is ON, nerds. Saturday. Two weeks from now. My house. No excuses.

AARON:Who are you calling a nerd?

GIDEON:You wear glasses.

TESS:HOT NERD!

SOFIA:Try not to look tragic when I win. I’d hate for your faces to ruin the group photo.

JOEL:How did you get my number?

TESS:Joel, let me reintroduce you to Aaron, my husband in cybersecurity.

JOEL:Remove me from this group.

KENZIE:Joel, wait...

*Joel Adams has left the group*

*Tess has added Joel Adams to the group*

TESS:Nice try, dark and broody. You’re in.

JOEL:No.

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