Last chapter, Falyn found out that Taylor slept with someone else during their we-weren’t-on-a-break-or-were-we situation. It was pretty much all Thomas’ fault that this came to light (fuck off, Thomas). Oh, and Matthew even enjoyed some of the writing that chapter! It was a wild ride.
Beautiful Sacrifice Chapter 21:
Falyn slips out in the morning to head down to the beach because it’s time for some quiet reflection by the ocean that will make for a nice shot in a film, Jamie McGuire hints to any directors reading this story. On the way she bumps into Travis who tells her how happy she makes Taylor. It wouldn’t be a love story without a family member of one love interest coming in and telling the other love interest how much they mean to their partner.
Wisely, Falyn flees from Travis and goes to relax on the beach. I actually also like the scene where she tries not to think about Taylor sleeping with someone else. He texts her, and she says he can come join her on the beach.
Eventually, they are surrounded by other Maddox bros and Camille and everyone sits in sad silence. I think Travis has just been given that ultimatum from Beautiful Redemption where he’s got to join the FBI but keep it a secret from Abby. Thus starting him down his path to dual wielding his glocks, which is still the best part of this entire series.
Falyn has a confusing conversation with Cami:
“I ran into Travis this morning,” I said to Camille.
“You did?” she asked. “Where?”
“He was on his way to Thomas’s room. Think it has anything to do with that?”
“Thomas?” she paused, pensive. “No,” she said. “I don’t.”
I could tell by the finality in her voice that she was lying. She had dated Thomas before. She knew things, including what had happened in that room.
That is some pretty sound logic. Once you’ve dated someone, you are given the sixth sense of knowing what goes on behind your ex’s closed doors. You can’t pull one over on Falyn!
“Is he okay?” I asked.
Taylor seemed concerned. “I don’t know. He wouldn’t say anything.”
Camille was pretending not to be listening, so I said exactly what I wanted her to hear.
“For a family who looks so close on the outside, you all sure have a lot of secrets,” I said.
I weirdly love this subtle shade Falyn is throwing at Cami for no reason. Cami is for some reason my least favorite of our female protagonists. I think it’s because she lied to me, the reader, for a whole book for no fucking reason about the fact that she dated Thomas. I can never forgive her.
Falyn tells Taylor he’s the only honest one.
Camille turned to me, incensed. “Just because you love someone doesn’t mean you have to spill everything you know.”
“I guess it depends on who the secrets affect, don’t you think?” I asked, still unable to extinguish my anger.
They then fight to the death, and Cami begs me Falyn for forgiveness for whatever beef they have.
She didn’t seem particularly angry with me. It was more like she was frustrated with whatever secret she was keeping.
Same, though.
The conversation continues to be confusing and convoluted and also names so many Maddox bros in one sentence that I can’t keep track of who is who. Ultimately, Falyn makes a speech about not keeping secrets that will hurt others (HUH?)
Camille watched me for a long time, and then her eyes returned to the ocean, filling with salty tears.
“What the hell is going on around here?” Taylor asked, his head moving back and forth between Camille and me.
Honestly, Taylor, I don’t know. I really don’t remember this scene from Beautiful Oblivion, I have failed everyone as a blogger.
With that they leave Cami to go grab some breakfast. Oh, okay then. Glad we all had this talk?
Falyn unleashes some of her well-placed anger on Taylor. I actually like this scene. For once, I can actually follow the characters emotional arc.
I sat back in my chair, fuming, and at the same time, the guilt and anguish in his eyes was hard to watch. He already felt bad. He already knew it was wrong. He was already sorry. I was angry with him for all of those things, too. I deserved a guilt-free moment of anger, and he couldn’t even give me that.
That is frustrating. This is all makes sense! What is happening!
They head to the airport together, and it’s very depressing. Falyn says they need to play all of this by ear because she doesn’t know how she’s going to feel about it from one minute to the next. Again, totally fair and makes sense. Instead she insists they talk about Travis. You were doing so well, Falyn, why must you ruin it?
It’s pretty boring to read about them speculating wildly over what happened with Travis when we already know.
They circle back to discussing them, and the conversation is actually very mature, and Falyn communicates her needs and Taylor tries to articulate why he made the mistake he made. Not bad.