Page 33 of Beyond Oblivion

“Beck! Sylvie!” I called.

They stepped around the corner, wide-eyed and clearly trying to piece together what the commotion was about.

“Did you book this?” I asked.

Both leaned in, eyes locking onto the name on the monitor before shaking their heads.

“Not me, bro,” Beck replied. “I’m not tryna get fired.”

“When have I ever not asked first?” Sylvie shot back.

“CAL!” I yelled, my voice echoing through the shop. “God dammit!”

“It’ll take you fifteen minutes, ya fuckin’ baby!” Calvin yelled from the back.

Hazel crossed her arms, confused. “I hate you for making me say this, but he’s right about both: it’s a quick one, and you’re being such a pussy right now. It’s like your balls just saw a shadow and declared six more weeks of winter.”

“It’s Maddie!” I pointed all my fingers at the screen. “Her cheese has fallen off her fuckin’ cracker. Ijusttold her to leave me alone, and she makes an appointment. Today. Like sheknewCami wouldn’t be here. Cami would’ve shut this shit down in two seconds.”

Hazel raised an eyebrow. “Wait, you were all sunshine and rainbows when Maddie was here. What happened? And more importantly, why haven’t I gotten the tea?”

“Wait a sec,” Beck interjected. “Who’s Maddie again?”

I sighed, irritated.

“Trenton was a passenger in really bad accident, and Maddie’s older sister was killed.”

I winced. “Don’t make it sound like I was driving, damn.”

“W-w-wait,” Sylvie said, pushing past her brother. “Maddie’s older sister was in the car with you and Cami? And you were dating her, too?”

“No,” I groaned, rubbing my face.

Hazel shook her head. “When Trenton was in college, he was in a different car accident, with his then-girlfriend, Mackenzie, which is Maddie’s older sister. Mackenzie was driving. She didn’t survive.”

“Wasn’t Cami driving when y’all got in your wreck?” Beck asked.

“Yeah,” I said flatly.

Beck scoffed. “You gotta quick riding with women, bro.”

I blinked slowly. “Tell me about it.”

“I’m telling Cami you said that.” Hazel said it casually, filing her nails.

I ran my hand over my buzz cut, hoping for a calm that never came. “Hazel, I’m not playing with you. If you repeat any of this to Cami, I’ll never speak to you again.

“Fine,God,” she said, eyes widening for a moment. “So, what’s the deal with Maddie?”

I laid it out for them—how Maddie had gone full-onSingle White Female. By the time I finished, they all looked like they’d just watched a horror movie in 4D.

Hazel shook her head. “Dude, there’s no way that’s a coincidence that she schedules something when Cami’s out. And something small to fly under the radar? That’s creepy as hell. I’m calling her to cancel.”

“Bless you,” I muttered.

Hazel held the phone to her ear, twirling the cord like she was about to order a pizza instead of pissing off a pint-sized pledge princess who likely had an allergy to holy water. “Maddie? Hey, girl, hey! It’s Hazel from Skin Deep. I saw you’d scheduled a five o’clock with Trent Maddox? Yes. Oh. Oooh, that sounds so cute, you’re going to love it! But, yeah, Trent can’t do it. Oh, I know, but… no, there won’t be any rescheduling. Trent can’t do it at all. No, Cal just wasn’t aware that you’d been fired as a client. What do you mean what do I mean? You’re benched, blocked, banned, getting the ol’ flusharoo.” She waited patiently while Madison vomited a string of high-pitched protests. “Okay, but biscuit… that’s not gonna fly with me. You’ve been told. You’re not allowed here, so don’t call again, m’kay? Bye, now.”

She hung up, then laced her fingers together, her black nails fanning out. “The dishes are done.”

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