Page 19 of Beyond Oblivion

“How am I supposed to stop caring that you’re hurt?”

“It’s not your job to care, Thomas. It’s Trent’s.”

“Are you saying you wouldn’t care if I’m hurt?” he asked, only half-teasing.

“I care, just not the way I’d care if it were my husband. And it’s our responsibility to make sure Liis and Trenton never feel otherwise, because we’re the ones who messed everything up and they trust us never to blur the lines again.”

“Oh my God, Camille. It’s not as if we cheated. We were before them.”

“Trent and I started before you and I officially ended, and you know that. No sense in rewriting history to make ourselves feel better.”

“We hadn’t seen each other in months, and you ended it when you realized you were in love with him. Listen,” he said, sighing. “The reality is that I know you on a deeper level than I know Abby, Falyn, and Ellie. I’ve loved you differently. I can’t just—”

“You can, and I have work to do.” I looked to the client, realizing who it was. I ducked my head, speaking quietly into the receiver. “I’ll let Trent know you called,” I said, lifting my head as I hung up the phone.

Becca Kostas smiled at me and then down at her daughter. “We have an appointment.”

I rested my elbows on the counter and smiled down at the doe-eyed beauty below. “Hi, Cassidy. Today’s the big day, huh?”

“Yep,” she said, touching both ears. “Again.”

Hazel strolled out, already happy to see who was waiting for her in the lobby. “There’s my girl!” she said, leaning down to hug Cassidy. Hazel lifted her off the ground a few feet, growling like a bear, and then stayed leaned over once she lowered Cassidy to her feet. “Third time’s the charm, ya know. And if it’s still not the right time, it’s not the right time.” She grinned and winked.

Cassidy beamed while Becca was busy checking her in on the kiosk. She’d done it twice before, and both times Cassidy had decided—as badly as she wanted her ears pierced—that she was too anxious to go through with it.

Hazel’s patience and knack for making Becca’s little girl feel brave anyway was why, each time Cassidy wanted to try again, Becca kept bringing her back.

Becca and Cassidy had become surrogate family since Cassidy’s father, Brandon Kyle, had been arrested and incarcerated for his role in the underground fights all the Maddox brothers had once participated in. Brandon might’ve gotten away with it, had he not turned on Travis in an attempt to make an immunity deal with the FBI. Trenton and Travis helped her move, I took her to her OB appointments, and we all visited her when Cassidy came into the world. We also attended Becca’s wedding when she married the man who bought the gym she’d owned with Brandon, Lachlan Kostas. I couldn’t blame her. Lachlan was wealthy, kind, and a perfect male specimen with light blond hair, ice blue eyes, and a near Hulk-like physique. His Australian accent, confidence, and charm didn’t hurt, either.

Lachlan didn’t blink an eye that Becca had a newborn, and he and Cassidy shared mutual adoration for each other.

“Look who it is!” Beck said, strolling into the lobby with Sylvie.

“Hey, Casstastic!” Sylvie said. “How are you, beautiful?”

“Good,” Cassidy said, smiling up at her.

“Lach couldn’t come this time?” Hazel asked Becca.

Becca shook her head. “He wanted to. He dropped us off. I thought I was going to have to sneak Xanax into his protein shake. He can’t stand to see his baby cry,” she said, her eyes turning soft as she looked down at her daughter. “He’s practically staked out at the gas station down the street. I’m supposed to text him when it’s done, and he said he’ll be right in.”

“Oh, you a daddy’s girl, huh?” Beck said, gently booping Cassidy on the nose with his index finger.

Cassidy nodded and giggled again.

“Okay, all checked in,” I said, pushing a few buttons on my touchscreen monitor. “You can do it!” I said, my fists in the air.

As Hazel guided Becca and Cassidy down the hall, I heard Trenton greet them, cheering Cassidy on.

He appeared from the hallway, all smiles. “She’s so damn cute. Looks just like Becca.”

“She does,” Sylvie agreed, still staring at the hall.

“Well, she’s not going to look like Lach, now is she?” Beck said.

Sylvie grimaced at him. “I’m just glad her mama doesn’t have to stare into the face of her thug ex every day, that’s all I’m saying.”

“Brandon’s a waffle dick, for sure,” Trenton said. “But he’s a bigger idiot for losing those girls.”

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