Page 65 of Beyond Oblivion

Abby raised an eyebrow. “What does your dad call this? Payback?” She crouched down, bringing herself to the twins’ level. “We don’t use our fists to fight words. Now, if someone lays hands on you, that’s a different story.”

“That red-headed kid shoved James down,” Olive volunteered.

Abby and Travis traded glances.

“He did?” Abby asked.

The twins nodded their heads in unison, both pairs of eyes begging to be believed.

“Oh, then that little shit got what he deserved. Carry on,” Abby said, returning to the dining table.

“Pigeon!” Travis said, holding out his hands. He sighed, defeated. “Just… try to deescalate first from now on.”

“I did,” Jessica insisted as he walked away. She looked to me. “So, am I grounded or not?”

I ruffled her already messy hair. “Not this time, my little warrior princess. Go play.”

She smiled, and they raced up the stairs, stomping like a herd of buffalo wearing moon boots—each step a little louder than the last, as if they were on a mission to test the structural integrity of the entire house.

“I’ll go with them,” Olive said with a sigh. “You know how Jess is when she’s all amped up.”

“Good idea,” I said, watching her cross the room and ascend the stairs.

I rejoined the adults, and there was Travis, still looking like someone had just asked him to solve quantum physics with a crayon. His brow was furrowed, his mouth hanging open just enough to show he was deep in the land ofWhat the hell just happened.Honestly, it was kind of fun watching him short-circuit.

“I had nothing,” he said. “How do I tell her not to act like me?”

Abby and Camille laughed; Dad just shook his head with a knowing grin.

“I’m so fucked,” Travis said, half bewildered, half amused.

“Yeah, you are,” I said, prompting everyone to burst out laughing for the second time.

Dad leaned back, resting his hands on his belly like a smug Buddha who just hit the jackpot at the karma casino. “Hmm.”

“Satisfying?” Travis asked, only slightly bitter.

“Hmm,” Dad repeated.

Chapter Fifteen

Camille

The living room was dim, lit only by the flickering light of the TV, shadows cast on the walls as the movie credits rolled. I snuggled deeper against Trenton’s chest, his skin invitingly warm, even through his hoodie. The movie had been a mindless distraction, one of those action flicks where the plot didn’t really matter, but the explosions were entertaining enough.

As I reached for the popcorn bowl on the coffee table, my phone buzzed. I glanced at the screen, but it was just a text notification. Honoring our No Phone Rule during movie night, I ignored it, turning my attention back to Trenton, who sat quietly staring at the lists of names, strangers we’d never met with job titles for tasks we’d never understand.

“You’re wondering if you could get Stanza out of the hole and still save Gerald?” I asked, already knowing the answer.

“I could’ve!” he said, turning to me. “All he had to do was hang on for a few more minutes! The Jesuits were almost there!”

“But he didn’t know that.”

Trenton pushed his back against the couch cushion in a huff. “A little hope goes a long way.”

“The hot oil would’ve got her first,” I insisted. “Beck couldn’t chance it.”

Trenton scowled. “I would’ve figured out a way.”

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