Page 57 of Darling Beasts

Talia balked. She looked between him and me and back again. “Gabby and I talked about this—”

“And what’s ‘temporary’?” Ozzie said. “It doesn’t feel very temporary when you’re eight years old. When she misses your ninth birthday. And your tenth, eleventh, twelfth, et cetera.”

Talia gaped, suddenly made speechless from these truths, from counting the missed birthdays. Talia was a Fourth of July baby. She was with Mom for every one of hers, ages zero through twenty. For us, it was a different tale.

“She missed your birthdays?” Talia managed to spit out. “I never knew—”

“Yeah. But, hey, it’s chill,” Ozzie said, jumping down from the bar. “We had Dad, and Diane, and Daphne was obviously going through some stuff. You remember her as the greatest woman in the world or whatever, and I’m glad you have that. But, like, other peoples’ experiences are different?”

Talia remained bug-eyed as his words worked their way through her brain. “I hope you didn’t think I was... Jesus.” She swallowed. “No wonder everyone thinks I’m a bitch.”

Ozzie laughed. “Hey, that’s not true.” He slung an arm around her, and she melted into his hold. “I’m not trying to rock your world or anything. You keep your narrative, and we’ll keep ours.”

He winked at me and I smiled back, grateful to be part of Bags and Oz again.

“We all have our stories,” he said. “Sometimes it’s what we need to get by. Anyway.” He released Talia and spun around. “Who’s up for some air hockey? Gabby, swear to God, I’m not going to let you cheat this time.”

Chapter Thirty-Seven

Ozzie

Ozzie was starting to sweat it. No one had RSVP’d, and he was the only one here aside from the balloonist, the crew, and two sad, deflated hot-air balloons laid out across the ground.

“Not sure what’s happening,” Ozzie said, checking his phone. Gabby and Taliahadto show up. And Dad. It was a meet-the-candidate event, for the love of God. Ozzie had finally won everyone over—his greatest and now confirmed only skill—but ruined it in one fell swoop. Talia would never shut up about this.

“We need begin lift-off prep in the next ten minutes,” one of the guys said. “Or we won’t be able to take off at all.”

“Yes, I know!” Ozzie winced. He hadn’t meant to snap, but he was on edge—because of this impending piece-of-shit event but also the call he’d received from Barclay on the way over. Ozzie had to come up with $400K for the IRS in thirty days or... what? Barclay hadn’t said, and he was too afraid to ask.

“Sorry, buddy,” he said to the balloonist. “I’m a smidge stressed. I appreciate you.” They exchanged a fist bump.

The dude’s name was Brody, and he was a real crusty, sunburnt type. The kind of guy who lived life at the beach, surfing a million waves and purchasing zero bottles of sunscreen. It was upsetting how little respect he had for his complexion.

Suddenly, a black SUV screeched around the corner. Ozzie exhaled in relief as Tony pulled onto the lot, kicking up dirtand rocks. One of the back doors opened. Out hopped his sisters and that Indian fella. Raj something. Ozzie didn’t know where he’d come from.

Ozzie waited. He looked around. “You’re it?” he said. “Where’s Dad?”

“Driving separately. Where are the voters?” Talia said, looking around.

“Uh. They’ll be here any second,” Ozzie lied.

Gabby twisted up her face, visibly straining to conceal her judgment. Sometimes Ozzie wished she’d take a hint from Talia and be more open with her feelings. It’d save everyone a lot of hassle.

“Hey, guys?” Tony said, leaning out of the car. “I received a text from the chief. Apparently he’s just learned this was a hot-air balloon excursion and has opted out. He gets motion sickness and is afraid of heights.”

“Sincewhen?” Talia said.

Tony swung his gaze toward Gabby. “Your dad wants you to text him if anyone shows up. He’ll come by at the end, say hello to everyone.”

“Why am I in charge?” Gabby squawked. “This is very specifically Ozzie’s thing!”

Ozzie glowered. Gabby was on one lately, and he’d tried to be nice. Organizing an impromptu happy hour, for example. Forgiving her for all the tiny slights. But it was like every time Ozzie turned around, she did some new thing to undermine him. Then she’d smile and tell everyone they were BFFs.

“How did you advertise this?” Talia asked. “Not on social media, I hope.”

“Uhhhhh...”

“Do you even have any followers in San Diego?” Talia tossed up her hands. “This is insane!” And in this way Ozzie learned that neither sister followed him on the socials. Millions of fans online, but none IRL.

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