Page 34 of Vows We Never Made

I was supposed to go out on one of my many summer dates. Instead, I was stuck at home with nothing to do but play Xbox and text my friends.

So, being the little bastard I was, I decided to get revenge.

If the girls were intent on ruining my summer, I’d set theirs on fire like a flaming bag of dogshit.

From my prison in the house, I watched them on the warm beach, spending the afternoon building pyramids and sphinxes in the sand. Hattie had some book about Egypt for inspiration.

Their creations were impressive, honestly. At the time, I thought it was lame.

When they were finally done, I managed to sneak past bulldog Holden and crushed their little wonders.

Every last one.

Stomped them into the ground like King Kong on a bender.

Sweet revenge.

For all of five minutes.

After I was done, I hid behind the rocks, waiting for the girls’ reactions. I guess I thought they’d go into a wild rage or something.

I never expected the sadness.

Definitely not the way Hattie burst into tears.

She fucking cried her eyes out.

God.

Even as a teenage punk in perpetual victim mode, I knew I’d gone too far.

That’s why I woke up at the ass-crack of dawn the next morning so I could build them the grandest beach pyramid ever crafted.

Gramps and Holden caught me in the act.

The old man was always an early riser, starting his morning walks before sunup. But a squall came in and so did the tide, melting the pyramid before the girls ever saw it.

One more lesson I learned from Gramps—it’s a hell of a lot easier to unleash havoc than it is to set things right.

Sometimes, the universe itself is stacked against you.

If only that lesson could’ve sunk in.

I might’ve checked my attitude with no one getting hurt—nobodykilled—blissfully ignorant to knowing this world doubles as Satan’s pop-up carnival.

I chuckle bitterly and finish my drink.

Over in the corner, Ares lets out a low, discontentwoof.

“Yeah, okay, big guy. You’re right. What’s this trip down memory lane getting me?” I slam the album shut.

I wish my life lessons had been kinder, but Portland was a savage teacher.

When I fled this town, not long after the happy photos ended, I only knew two things.

No good deed goes unpunished.

And karma is a cruel motherfucker.