The Benefits

LANCE

Chapter Sixteen
The Call

I do it out of spite after seeing that stupid article.

And even then, I don't even call him. I call Ali. It would be too awkward, and I wouldn't even know the right words to say to him.

The phone does that dial noise on the other end.

“Hello?” she asks. She sounds older, it's weird.

“Ali?”

“Yea? Who is this?”

I clear my throat. “It's Lance.”

There's a pause before she talks again. “Lance? Why are you calling me?”

“I have to tell you something.”

“Oh my God.” It doesn't even take her two seconds to figure it out. “Is the kid his?"

“Yea.”

"Thanks." She hangs up, and I know my work is done.