Perish: Book Three (bxb) ✔️

6. Aw, you look positively heterosexual, Dumpling.

Kayax Adler

"Did you invite my Dad?"

August turned his head to look at me after I closed the door to the safe room. I had a feeling he'd been waiting for me to come in here and talk to him. Yesterday, after we called the people we chose to invite, we had to go out and appear like the happy couple we weren't. Then, last night, we lay in bed, and we recorded some "pillow talk" to help give them the footage. They were kind of pressed for at least a little bit of talk after the lights went out.

August dropped his attention to the coffee in my hand. "How many cups of coffee have you had?"

"Does it fucking matter?" I spat at him. "Did you invite my Dad?"

The answering smirk on his face told me everything I needed to know. The dinner was about to be a fucking disaster waiting to happen. Lennox Luna and Davis Adler were in a room together when I knew Lennox was a step above "Papa Bear" and was about to make everything come crashing down.

Whatever.

I knew Davis was well versed in making himself appear to be this changed guy, but I did wonder how he was going to manage that after a DUI. Not my business, though. However, I did wonder why my Dad would agree, considering he was supposed to be taking a vacation. Those were his words when we spoke, and he didn't say anything more.

Which only served to freak me the hell out.

"Who did you invite?"

I shrugged, taking a sip of my coffee. "I played a little game. Eenie, Meanie, Miney, Moe. Lennox was the winner, so he shall be joining us."

August shrugged as if he didn't care either way.

Must be fucking nice.

I downed the rest of my coffee, releasing a satisfied sound. "It was my third, by the way." I wiggled the cup in my hand as my heart started to race a little bit. "On my way to make cup number four."

I dipped out of the room before he could answer me. If he wanted to hang out in the room all day, I'd make sure to not visit him. But I knew that wasn't possible. Holly would be around soon enough to give us our next challenge, so I had to make sure I was alert enough. Even if I was starting to feel a little twitchy from the coffee.

I'd do whatever I had to in an effort to maintain my composure. 

As I made my coffee, I checked my phone as Brutus made his way into the kitchen. He was always nearby, but there wasn't a threat around. I had no idea who August chose to bring with him aside from Valen, but the guy had a face that held no nonsense. And he walked in next to Brutus, both of them staring at me like I was committing a class three felony by making fucking coffee.

Yeah, no one trusted me.

"Can I help you two?" I looked at the security member that belonged to August, smiling. "I'm super sorry; I actually didn't catch your name."

"Jet. Make your coffee like I'm not here. I don't watch over you."

I snorted a laugh. "Don't worry, Princess. I know that. Brutus watches over me."

Jet glanced at Brutus with furrowed brows. "That isn't even his name." He returned his gaze to me. "You're such a peach, did you know that?"

Shrugging, I turned back to the coffee machine to stir around the creamer. "Yeah, well, August seems to like me just fine. I don't change to fit anyone's agenda of who they think I should be. If you have a problem, that sounds like something you should internally deal with, sweetie." Brutus huffed out what sounded like a laugh, and I basked in it. "Ha, even Brutus agrees. Plus, if he cared what I called him, he would have corrected me."