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“Who’s that?” Jesse asked.

“Larissa.”

“Aw, sweet, send her a picture,” Jesse said.

“We are not doing that,” I said, setting my phone in the drink holder.

“What? Dude, what fun is it if we can’t fuck with him?”

“He didn’t want her to see him like this, so she’s not gonna see him,” I said, starting to drive us home.

Jesse made a disappointed noise. Then he twisted in the seat with his cell phone on record. “Say hi, the marathon’s televised.”

Mike looked glazed.

“Knock it off,” I said.

“Do you think sheths gonna be proud of me?” Mike asked from the back seat. “Because of the orpnaths?”

Jessie snorted.

“Who?” I asked, looking at him in the rearview. “Larissa?”

“Yeah.”

“She will if you run fast enough,” Jesse said.

“I have to streth,” Mike said around his gauze.

“Yes, definitely stretch. We can’t have you pulling a hammy,” Jesse said. “You’ve been training for this moment your whole life.”

“Laritha’s gonna be there, right?” he asked.

“Oh yeah,” Jesse said. “Everyone’s gonna be there. Even the pope.”

Mike nodded like this made total sense.

“Mike?” I said, glancing at him in the rearview. “You in any pain?”

“I don’t thinth so.”

“I’m playing this at his wedding,” Jesse said, still recording.

“You thinth sthe’ll marry me?” Mike asked. “I like her stho much. Do you guyths like her?”

“Larissa? She’s great,” I said.

“Too good for you,” Jesse said.

“Fuck you,” Mike slurred from the back seat.

“Should we get him something to eat?” Jesse asked, looking at me.

“I got him stuff. He can’t have anything he has to chew.”

Jesse twisted in his seat again. “Mike, you want some baby food?”

Mike raised a single middle finger and Jesse laughed and sat back again.