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Edie turned to him. Peter always seemed totally in control, moving through theKeyworld with a restrained swagger that was clearly dangerous. Guys who were brash and authoritative, but also sweet and funny, were total sociopaths, and Edie knew she shouldn’t trust him. Seriously, if she’d seen Peter on a dating app, with his East Coast prep good looks, Ivy League pedigree, and big job, she would’ve thought he was a bot and immediately swiped left. Still, she found herself relaxing whenever he was around. There was this vibe between them, like they were the only adults in the room, and for that reason, Ediedidtrust Peter,and felt like he was the one who would take care of her through this insane experience.

“I have to admit—you’re good,” she said. “Maybe even better than Jessa.”

“That’s why they pay me the big bucks.” He grinned. “But, seriously, Edie, I think you’re great. You’re smart and funny and irreverent, and I like you a lot. But it’s not me you have to show. It’s him.” Peter pointed at Bennett looming over the volleyball court, the sun illuminating him from behind like Zeus himself, alight once again on the lifeguard chair. “And right now, you’re fading into the background. Get out there and make your mark. Don’t take no for an answer.” They locked eyes. “If you want to win this, then you have to go out there and show Bennett why you’re the girl he’s going to marry.”

And just like that, Edie was running back onto the court. She still had all these uncomfortable feelings—confusion, annoyance, embarrassment, doubt—but none of them felt like how shewantedto feel, which was happy, fun, chosen,loved, so she decided to embrace the optimism that had brought her toThe Keyin the first place. Of course, Charlie was distracted—The Keywas a fucking circus! A smorgasbord of naked women!—but Peter was right, if she lost her shit every time Charlie talked to another girl, she’d never get what she wanted, which was Edie and Charlie back in love, their life together about to begin.

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“Just do it like we said, and they won’t expect a thing,” Max whispered when Edie arrived at the net. “I’ll set you. You hit the ball over the net. That’s all you have to do. Make a fist and hit the ball over the net. Game over.”

“Wait,what?” Edie said, but already Max had a hand between Edie’s shoulder blades and was shoving her to the net where, once again, she came face-to-face with Zo.

“Just so you know, it’s going to be me and Bailey at the end,” Zo said, her voice dripping with faux concern. “I just don’t wantyou to be blindsided. Peter gave us contracts a week ago that guaranteed it.” Zo adjusted the clip at the center of her chest holding her bikini top together and laughed deliciously when Edie’s jaw dropped. “Don’t tell me you actually thought you were going to be more than a one-episode sideshow? Please.”

And then the ball was in the air. Edie stood paralyzed in the sand. Not since Brian had Edie whiplashed so quickly from love and hope to doubt and despair. Contracts? For the end? Edie scanned the beach and found Peter standing with Jessa at mid-court. He was holding his chin in his hand and staring at her, brow furrowed. She was so stupid, always so fucking stupid. Suddenly she could see herself as she really was—thirty-five years old and throwing herself around the beach in some Value Village swimsuit, ever the fool, chasing a volleyball for some man who did not want her.

“Edie!” Max screamed.

Edie snapped to attention just in time to see the ball flying directly toward her. All the anger and confusion and desire and shame and hope and embarrassment of the last week surged through her, and she balled her right hand into a fist and jumped. “Fuck you!” she screamed at Zo as she flew through the air and smashed the ball over the net and directly into Zo’s tits, which, upon impact, immediately popped free from their tiny restraint. Instantly Bennett was on his feet, blowing his whistle.

The ball boomeranged from Zo’s chest back into the air with impressive speed. Edie, who never did anything halfway, crashed into the net, which held for a second before—SNAP—and then Edie was falling with the webbing wrapping around her as she plunged toward the sand. The ball slammed into the net pole and began to ricochet toward an oblivious Bennett Charles, who, like a horny tween, was straining to get a better look at Zo’s tits.

“Bennett! Watch out!” Peter yelled.

SMACK!

When the ball struck him in the face, Bennett was wholly unprepared. Instantly he was falling—BANG CRASH BOOM PLOP—six feet down to the sand.

“Bennett!”the beach shrieked.

“She’s killed him! That stupid bitch killed Bennett Charles!” McKayla wailed as Edie took her final repose on top of Zo, her face nestling perfectly between the ballerina’s breasts.

And then everything went blissfully black.

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