Page 24 of Beyond Oblivion

“We good?” I asked, glowering down at him.

“Hey… listen… I know who you are, all right?” Aaron stammered, his hands shaking. “She told me she’d talk to me, that there was a chance you’d show up here, and… fuck me, I love her, okay? I’m just trying to understand what’s happening.”

“Aaron, don’t you dare lie,” Madison shot back.

“Lie about what? I just wanted to talk, you promised—”

“Just stop it!” Madison yelled, cutting him off again. “Trent isn’t susceptible to the manipulation you used on my parents!”

“What are you talking about?” he asked, confused.

“Here’s what’s happening,” I said, taking a step toward him.

He turned slightly, eyes squinting like he was prepping for an impact.

I touched my index finger to his chest. “You’re going to get into that toaster on wheels and drive away. Starting the second you leave this property, if I hear you’ve even thought about flipping your turn signal in the direction of this apartment complex, the next time I see you, I’m going to pull your femurs from your hip sockets. Instead of finishing your degree, you’re going to be learning how to walk again. Do we have an understanding?”

Aaron nodded, looking with pleading eyes to Madison.

I leaned into his line of sight. “Don’t look at her, shitbag. Look at me.”

He obeyed.

“Leave, and don’t come back. Don’t ever talk to her again. Don’t approach her, don’t call her, or you’ll be dealing with me, and next time we won’t just talk.”

“Okay,” Aaron said, walking backward. His eyes glossed over as he tried to look everywhere but directly at Madison. “Okay, I’m sorry, I just… She told me she loved me and… Never mind. I’m sorry.”

Aaron pulled away in a hurry, and Madison pushed through her door.

“You were perfect! He was absolutely terrified,” she gushed, practically bouncing on her toes as the words spilled out.

Seeing the thrill in her eyes after Aaron’s humiliating retreat felt like I was watching her high-five herself for tripping a toddler. It made my stomach churn. She’d used me to win a game no one else knew they’d been playing.

She sighed in relief, leaning her head against the edge of the door, practically batting her eyes at me. It was just for a second, but the crack in her performance had betrayed her, the abrupt shift back into character too sharp. Whatever plan she’d cooked up was now spilling out faster than bad chili.

“You saved me. I knew you would,” she said, her voice tender. She looked at me expectantly. “Come in out of the rain, silly.”

“Maddie,” I said, annoyed. “What was that?”

She smiled and blinked, trying too hard to look confused. “What?”

“C’mon, Maddie. I have four brothers. I’ve seen that look. He was heartbroken and confused. Did you tell him to come here? Did you set him up?”

“Are you serious? No!” she said, her voice rising an octave. “Ask my parents. He’s manipulative. He’s fed them lie after lie. Wow, I thought you, of all people, would’ve seen right through him. You're really choosing to believe hisperformanceover all the pain he's put me through—the pain I've trusted you with.” Her tone teetered on the edge of accusation. “After everything I’ve been through—after everythingwe’vebeen through? God, Mackenzie would besodisappointed in you.”

For a moment, I just stared, the sting of her words settling in like a slow, festering wound. She’d done it again—used Mackenzie like a weapon, twisting the knife where she knew it would cut deepest.

I let out a sharp scoff, shaking my head. “You almost had me. You can’t play that card twice. I’m not an idiot. I took one look at him and knew the situation.”

“If that’s true, why did you say all those things to him? Why go through with it?”

I thought about that, unable to come up with an answer.

“I know why,” she said.

Her expression was one I’d seen a hundred times before. Back when I was a single, arrogant prick who only thought about getting my dick wet, I’d tell myself that my reputation was warning enough, and what happened next was the result of an educated guess. I never made promises or even alluded to commitment. I didn’t have to. The misguided hope that they were the outlier about to land me and change my whore ways did all the heavy lifting for me in those days. Madison’s eyes reflected that same knowing look as the women who’d been on the wrong end of my single-use charm. She was convinced there was some steamy romance simmering between us, but this time, I wasn’t even in the kitchen. Hell, I hadn’t so much as turned on the stove.

“Just… please come in, we’re getting soaked. I’ll make us some tea, or I’ve got a few beers left in the fridge.” She waited a beat. “Oh, c’mon. I can prove it to you. I have hundreds of text messages from my parents detailing his tactics.”

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