Expiration Date (Books 1 and 2)

58 The Group Chat

Bently: I think I saw it in the lounge.

Sebastian: My head is killing me. I hate you all.

August: Thank goodness. JoJo would have killed me.

JoJo?

"Who's that?" Brydan asks.

"My cousins."

"Is there anything new on Erik?"

"No, they're just talking."

Percy: You all ditched me in the maze.

Sebastian: Seriously, I'm not doing this again with you all.

August: Stop whining and come inside.

Eli: Really, no comment on my comment?

Riley: I didn't make you do anything. It was Enzo.

Bently: I found it amusing, Eli.

Enzo: Don't blame me. I already get shafted as it is.

Percy: IM LOST. SERIOUSLY HELP

Am I supposed to respond to this? I have a terrible feeling I know who it is Eli called a tramp, and if I'm right, I'm going to have to get involved.

Tobias: I was hoping for a little more action, Eli.

August: Fine I'm coming out after you, Percy. Where are you?

Bently: Personally I was pining for something more dramatic, Eli.

Percy: Oh I don't know...What part about being lost in a maze isn't clear???!!!

Tobias: Erik driving her off a cliff wasn't dramatic?

I wanted to believe otherwise—that they weren't talking about Iris, but I was wrong to believe the best of my cousins, my Order.

The waitress checks in on us, and Brydan orders two more beers for us. I don't say anything to her or Brydan, too busy deciding how to handle my cousins.

August: Can you not get your panties in a twist? I have half a mind to not come after you.

Percy: Riley, save me. August's too drunk.

Riley: You're too drunk.

Eli: I think Erik was hoping that Jonas would have killed her himself.

I slide my finger across the screen of my phone, unlocking it. They're drunk texting each other. It's discouraging I'm not surprised in the slightest. They've done it in the past, and in the past they've forgotten to make sure I wasn't on this group text. History repeats itself. Should I send a terrifyingly vague text or call them on a conference call and yell their ears off? Both seem appropriate.

Jonas: Next time you decide to have a drunken run through the maze, maybe you shouldn't start texting each other.

I click my phone off. I'll call them in a few minutes. They need to sweat since they seem to have developed a talent of garishly describing Iris's uncertain death.