Page 35 of Beyond Oblivion

I walked through the door, across the living room and bedroom, smiling the moment I saw her. There she was—standing at the bathroom sink, curling her hair casually as if she wasn’t a fucking goddess. She looked a little tired, but still had that sparkle in her eye. The one that confidently said, Yeah, I’ve spent the day writhing in pain, but I’m still hotter than all your exes combined.

“Hiya, baby,” she said with a wink.

I stood in the doorway, unable to do anything but stare.

“What?” she said with a small giggle, already knowing the answer.

I crumbled to the floor. Naturally, she erupted into this glorious, evil cackle that echoed off the bathroom tiles.

“You areridiculous!” she wheezed between fits of laughter. If sunshine and serotonin had a sound, it’d be that laugh.

I put my hand over my heart. “I… can’t handle it.” I sat up. “How in thefuckdid I get you to marry me?!”

She gave me that little tucked-chin smile, the one I only get when I’m being an absolute idiot, but just charming enough that she lets it slide.

“Sweet, sweet man of mine,” she said, shaking her head, probably questioning her decision not to leave me at the altar. “How was your day?”

I pushed myself off the floor and pulled off my shirt. “Lonely. But we held it down, somehow, without you.” I slid behind her, wrapping my arms around her waist, pressing a kiss to the poppy tattoos blooming across her shoulder. “You feeling better, boo thang?”

She pulled in a deep breath, exhaling like she just purged an entire day’s worth of nonsense. “Yes. Thank God. I really didn’t want to miss dinner.”

“So…” I started, dragging the word out like a kid asking for Roblox money.

“Oh God,” she groaned, already bracing for chaos. “What? Did Cal mess up my fucking computer again?”

“Nah. But, Madison called while Cal was up front. Tried to schedule something with me at the end of the day. Cal didn’t know, but Hazel called her and canceled. Told her she wasn’t allowed at the shop.”

Camille frowned. “Not to be an alarmist, but she’s getting creepy.”

“She’sbeencreepy. She was hitting Send like her phone was a fucking slot machine.” I kissed her shoulder again. “Didn’t want to turn off the ringer in case you called, so I blocked her.”

“I’m sure she took that well.”

“I don’t know and I don’t care.” My voice sounded as tired as I felt about the whole situation.

“Honestly, I should send Hazel flowers. That girl deserves a medal.”

“Hazel doesn’t want flowers. She wants our eternal respect and possibly a lifetime supply of tequila.”

Camille laughed, turning into my arms to kiss me on the cheek. “Well, she’s earned it. And you do care, Trent. I know you do.”

“Well, I mean, yeah, she’s Kenzie’s little sister, and that screwed me up for a long time. I feel bad for her, but… boundaries. Damn.”

“You did the right thing.”

I winced. “Did I?”

“You did.”

And just like that, my heart did its usual somersault, because being married to that woman? It’s like winning the lottery every single day—but with more poppies and fewer lawsuits.

“Thanks, baby.” I kicked off my boots and unbuttoned my jeans, pushing them over my hips and letting them fall to the floor.

Camille looked down. “When is dinner again?”

I laughed, turning to open the glass door. “God, I wish. You didn’t marry a two pump chump.”

“No, I sure didn’t,” she said, slapping my bare ass before I could get into the shower.

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