Page 37 of Beyond Oblivion

Audible gasps came from different corners of the restaurant.One of them was from Camille.Shit.

“For fuck’s sake!” I shot to my feet, grabbing Madison by the arm and yanking her toward the door. Plates clinked, the whispering louder than a Taylor Swift concert.

I caught glimpses of stunned diners as we powered through—some scandalized, others shamelessly entertained, everyone living for the drama unfolding before them.

Out the door we went, into the cool night air, Madison stumbling along behind me like a chaotic kite I couldn’t reel in.

I didn’t stop until we were beyond ear shot of the crowd of people waiting for tables.

“What the fuck do you think you’re doing?” I snapped, my voice growing louder with each word, just shy of yelling. “Why would you show up here looking like that telling me you’re pregnant? Do you have any idea how this looks?”

Madison swallowed, waiting for something. It wasn’t until Camille arrived that I understood why.

“It’s not his, Trent. The baby is yours,” she said, her bottom lip trembling.

My entire body caught fire, and I took a step toward Madison.

Camille grabbed my arm, and I stopped.

“Maddie,” Camille said. “I know what you’re doing. You need to leave. Go to your parents and tell them you need help.” The only expression on her face was compassion.

For half a second Camille’s calm reaction settled the boiling anger within me, but then thoughts of my wife having to set people straight for the next year enraged me again. “She needs a fuckin’ mental institution. You really thought Camille would believe I’d cheat on her… especially with you? You’re out of your goddamn mind!”

“Everything okay?” Lachlan asked, standing on the other side of me.

I glared at Madison. “I already told Camille what happened after I followed you home. Lach was there. He saw the whole thing. So, this was your big plan? They’ve burned witches for less, Psycho Barbie!”

Madison didn’t take her eyes off Camille. “Lach was there once. Not all the times before.”

Lachlan snorted. “Bloody oath. This moll’s a schemer.”

My eyes narrowed as I looked at Lachlan. “English, Dundee!”

Camille patted my arm, ready to translate. “He’s shocked at what a snake she is.”

I nodded once, then returned my attention to Madison. “How do you think this is going to go down, Maddie? Camille leaves me for cheating on her, I stay with you to raise the baby we don’t have?”

“Well, that’s… that’s what you promised would happen. How many times have you told me that’s what you wanted? It’s all you talk about!” Madison cried.

Camille exhaled as if the wind had been knocked out of her.

Of all the lies Madison could’ve told, she had to know that would hurt Camille the most. I stepped toward her. “Listen, you lying little bi—”

“Well, I came to surprise you, but looks like you already got one,” a voice said from just a few feet away.

She stepped to the left, out from behind Madison, her shoulder-length hair tucked behind one ear, her bangs falling slightly into her lashes. Her warm brown eyes bounced back and forth between me, her best friend, Madison, and Lachlan.

“Raegan?” Camille said, her voice broken.

That sad, small voice coming from my wife made my hand ball into a fist. I’d never punch a woman, but I wanted to punch something.

“What’s going on?” Raegan said, immediately sensing Camille was upset. Her face metamorphosed into anger, and that anger was immediately directed at me. “What’s going on?” she said, this time her voice deeper and insistent.

“Fuck it,” I huffed, pointing my entire hand at Madison. “This chick just announced to the restaurant that she’s pregnant with my kid, but that’s impossible, because we’ve never slept together!”

Raegan stood by Camille, hooking her arm around her middle. “Well, that settles it. Everyone knows Trenton would never do that, so…” she gave Madison a look that could curdle milk, scanning her from toes to hairline. “Whoeveryou are, you, your cheap sandals, and split ends can get the fuck on.”

Madison folded her arms, digging in like a toddler mid candy aisle tantrum. “I’mnotleaving until I talk to Trenton! I’ve been trying to get him alone to say this in private all day—he’s ignored me, blocked me. This was theonlyway!”

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