Panic-texting your sister during your parents' Fourth of...

Conversation

1. He's at the door; it's Tom Reynolds.
2. No way, Tom Reynolds is at our party?
3. Who is Tom Reynolds?
4. My high-school bully who tormented me.
5. Bro, he's literally on the national team's lineup.
6. Wait he plays for the country?
7. He's wearing his captain jacket and sunglasses.
8. He's taking a selfie with Dad right now.
9. He used to shove me into lockers, Maya why?
10. I didn't know he bullied you like that.
11. He just smirked and mouthed my old nickname.
12. He's pointing at you and laughing, heading this way.
13. Don't let him sit by Mom, she'll gush.
14. Stop overreacting, I'm talking to him.
15. You invited him, Maya, explain.
16. I thought he'd be a quiet guest.
17. He posted a story tagging our house.
18. Check it now; he wrote 'small town reunion'.
19. Comments blew up; he's trending nationally already.
20. Oh no his DMs are open; he's texting you.
21. I didn't read it yet; too many notifications.
22. He just said 'remember the bleachers' to her.
23. Okay fine, we dated in junior year briefly.
24. You dated him and didn't tell me?
25. It was months, I thought it ended cleanly.
26. He's standing behind you whispering something now.
27. He whispered 'you changed' where everyone could hear.
28. Why would he say that to you here?
29. He called me 'little rat' loud enough for neighbors.
30. Uncle Greg just clapped and called him impressive.
31. Dad's offering him the patio grill position now.
32. Tom just leaned in and asked for you alone.
33. He asked me to step outside with him.