“Uh-huh. That’s Trevor.”
Electric blue nails drummed on the counter. Hazel narrowed her eyes. “He doesn’t even look like a goddamn Trevor.”
Eunjae wondered why Denny hadn’t confiscated this butter knife yet. The boss was usually so stringent about the weapons policy. Meanwhile, Max replied, “Told you. That can’t really be his name. It’s a lie.”
“Don’t worry, baby. I’m taking care of this. A fake name can’t save him.” Hazel let the knife drop, its blunt edge catching the light. “Said a lot of mean shit about me, didn’t you, Trevor?”
“It was for the narrative,” he said, fidgeting. “Please don’t take it personally, Miss Lim.”
“I take everything personally. And did you know I do a lot of my own stunts?”
“I… I did know that…”
“I’ve got fantastic fucking aim, too.”
“Right… the scene with the axe throwing…”
“It’s all in the wrist.” Hazel kicked his bar stool. “Sit up. This is a job interview.”
It was here that Max felt compelled to intervene. “Why?” he demanded. “What do you mean, a job interview? We just need him to release the rest of that footage—”
Wrapping her arms around him, Hazel crooned, "You're so pretty when you're mad at me. I deserve you." And then, while Max squirmed out of her grasp, she got back to Trevor. “Here’s what I think, Trevvie. I could kick your ass, but that would be over so fast, if we’re being honest. I think my manager’s right about it being a waste. You should have a better punishment.”
“A better punishment,” Trevor mumbled, faintly.
“Awww!”
“Yeah. You made me look so, so bad. You should have to make me look so, so good to make up for it. That should be your main job. Amazing idea, right?”
“How? How is that an amazing idea, this guy’s literally the ringleader of a fucking archvillain association—”
Hazel retorted that Max should stop pretending to be prettyanddumb. She’d never known him to be dumb. In fact, he could stand to be a little dumber sometimes, like when he’d beaten her at Crossword Clash ten times in a row and she needed a goddamn morale boost. Could he be a little more sensitive, please?
Brothers chimed in with their unsolicited opinions, unable to contain themselves any longer. Kei unveiled his latest laundry list of reasons for hating it here. Then they all looked on in horror as Jungwoo made the mistake of saying, “Hazel, don’t. This is crazy.”
Max rounded on him. “Why the hell are you telling her what to do? Who do you think you are?”
“Right? Why don’t you fuck off, Jungwoo?”
Caught up in this whirling tempest, Eunjae missed it when Jiyeon quietly slipped away. She stood near the front windows with her brother, deep in discussion over something on Denny’s phone. But those were the tracks of tears on her face, he realized. She’d been crying. For how long?
His legs moved of their own accord. “What happened?” he asked, rushing to her side. Ten different scenarios played out in his head like movie trailers, cinematic, complete with ominous soundtracks. At least Eunjae could openly offer comfort now, right when she needed it, instead of having to hide how much he cared.
Up close, he saw that Jiyeon wasn’t upset. In fact, she couldn’t stop smiling. She showed him Denny’s screen.
“Eunjae, it’s Vivian. We found her.”
Epilogue
Seven Months Later
At the jump park, Max pays $18.99 for a pair of neon green socks with rubber grips. He scrawls an unrecognizable version of his autograph on a gummy touch screen, signing a waiver that absolves Bounceland USA of any potential sins. He contemplates his own sins. There are many.
First, he allowed Jungwoo to cut the bridge from the song that will soon be playing on the screen above his head. Fuck, why didn't he fight him on that?
Second, he shoved Keiichi into the ball pit and ran. Now his brother will cry and squeal about infectious disease for hours. He'll leave the party in a snit, self-diagnosing dengue fever, dysentery, cholera. Admittedly, Max would push him again if theopportunity came up. It was very satisfying. Sometimes he gets why Nicky is a certified psycho.
His third sin is ongoing. Max pushes it down before it can bob to the surface like a dead body.
