Page 33 of The Book of Luke

“Strongest guy, my ass.” Hartt leapt to his feet, a new edge in his voice. “You honestly thought we’d bow down because you were hot shit ten years ago? That’s not how this works. But, hey, wewantyou to win. As long as you keep going in, the rest of us sit pretty.”

“What if I throw the Tribulations like Vanessa threatened?”

“You might think you’re the Big Bad Wolf, but all I see is a broke-asshousewife with bills to pay. You’ll pull your weight whether you’re on the bottom or… actually, I guess you’re always on the bottom, huh, buttercup? At least according to your hubby.”

I glared back, refusing to cede a reaction, all too certain it could haunt me in a divorce court after this aired. After one last smirk, Hartt marched his pack of Devils out with the cameras in tow, leaving only Melange. “Thanks,” I finally said. “For having my back.”

“All good. Chrissy’s gonna send me in first chance she gets, but I’ll raise hell until then.”

“You’re definitely better at speaking up than I’ve ever been.”

She shrugged ruefully. “Well, we can’t all be Imogen Cuthbert.”

“What do you mean?”

“Girl power isn’t exactly what keeps the lights on here. The network makes it clear:Endeavoris a ‘sports drama.’ So, the dicks bring the sports, the chicks bring the drama. No one cares I was all-state in track. They care when I throw drinks in Chrissy’s face.”

Sadly her assessment wasn’t inaccurate. “Whydoyou despise each other so much?”

She ran her fingers through her gleaming hair, looking off wistfully. “It’s a long story. A Southern Gothic melodrama tracing back to the oil baron husbands of two feuding sisters, their hatred now bound in the blood of both families until they reach mutual destruction.”

“That’s… a lot.”

“That’sthe logline forMason Dixonon all streaming platforms. It’s not the real reason.”

“Which is?”

“I get paid to hate the bitch,” she replied. “It’s just economics.”

A few hours after the deliberation, Troy grabbed me for my next video chat with the kids. My frustration with him was reignited after the vote, but if I was heading to an Italian prison for killing a reality TV producer, I wanted to see my kids first.

I was relieved they were settling into a routine with Jenny. Andie even asked questions about the show, the only thing to make me smile that awful day.

“How are the munchkins?” Troy asked afterward, but I only grunted. “Luke, are you still upset about last night? Bal might have done you a favor. You being such a class act will really endear you to the fans—”

“Spare me the platitudes, Troy. I don’t need my hand held.”

“Wow. Sorry, did I do something?”

I couldn’t let it go. “Maybe start with Erika?”

“Luke, she’s been onEndeavorfor a while now. How was I to know you hadn’t watched TV since Bush was in office?”

“You could have told me she was Arjun’s sister.”

“Wait, you didn’t know she’d transitioned?” He stared at me, anticipating more but getting nothing. “Okay, I get why you’re pissed, but this wasnotsome ‘gotcha moment,’ not like that. We assumed you knew who she was.”

“I didn’t.”

“Have you talked to her? You might be surprised how it goes.”

“Don’t force that story on me, Troy. I’ll quit first—”

“Hey, I didn’t mean it like that. No one wants you here more than me.”

“Yeah, here on Team Devil!”

“We had one spot left in the cast. If I said the D-word, you’d never have agreed,” he replied, and I hated that he was right. “If anything, I’m pushing for your redemption arc.”