Perish: Book Three (bxb) ✔️

7. Oh, stuff it, Kitty Kay.

Kayax Adler

My worst nightmare came true, and oddly, it had nothing to do with my Dad. Or maybe it had everything to do with him. I wouldn't be in this situation if not for him, and I was swallowing mouthfuls of anxiety, so I didn't give myself away. August wouldn't even look in my direction right now, and I had a feeling he didn't want to give away what his true reaction was to the situation we'd been presented with. 

I was sick to my stomach.

I realized that maybe I had zero reason to be upset with August anymore. Every defense I held wasn't bound with enough dynamite to keep him away. I was well and truly fucked from every direction.

Holly turned to face me with a look of concern that I didn't deserve. "Are you alright, Kayax?"

I nodded as I fisted my hands together behind my back, shining a smile that I didn't feel. "I'm perfect."

I looked at the offender next to me, who was giving me a smile of reassurance. Why was he here? "It's okay, Kitty Kay. Are you pumped for the challenge? I am! Bestie's day!"

Salem Luna was standing beside me after throwing his arms in the air with an excited screech. I thought he went home. It had been a week, so why was he here? It was best friend's day, and I could assure every living soul that I had not spilled that I was friends with fucking Salem Luna. I couldn't explain this one away, and I was a little pissed off that Salem even showed up here to do it.

Why the fuck would he do that to me?

Holly gave me a look, waving her hand toward the back of the house. "Why don't you and Salem go take a breather? You can come back out when you're ready. We need you on your top game today! We have two challenges for you to complete."

No one would accuse me of running unless I was on stage trying to get to a group of fans before I left to the back, or... that was it. I didn't run. I wouldn't even run if my life was in danger. But I bolted out of that fucking room, and that little fucking monster was on my heels the entire way until I slammed that door shut.

"Salem, what the fuck?!"

Salem laughed nervously. "So, listen, uhm. I heard your Dad was out of jail, and he was kinda on the sidewalk when I was walking by. I heard him say something about the show being bullshit and that you shouldn't be here. Then I heard that the show was stressing that they couldn't find a friend for you, and they were asking for his help. So, I... Listen, I didn't want someone to show up and do you dirty, Kayax. I wanted you to have someone here that is on your side. Who knows a good deal of what you've been going through. Not someone who could potentially mock you."

My shoulders sagged as I fell onto one of the chairs. "You were... trying to do something nice for me."

He rushed in front of me, putting his chin on my knee like a dog. He even had those bright blue eyes opened wider for good measure. "Kay, I don't want you to be alone. I know you don't want to tell people, but the world thinks you're dating August anyway. I felt it wouldn't look out of place for me to be here, even in front of the cameras. But if it were a different situation, I wouldn't have done it."

I frowned as I started picking at my press-on nails, where a little bit of remaining glue lingered. "I know, Salem. I just, I know it's going to make things more complicated with August. He already hates me enough. Hell, he's barely tolerated me the entire time we've been here. And..." My vision started hopping around as my disassociation took over. "My entire... team... They quit." 

"What?"

"Davis is out of jail. I guess they gave him a bond. I don't know; he didn't elaborate. But he told me I better figure out what I was going to do with my staff because they were all gone. Then he told me he'd be taking an extended vacation, which I knew meant he'd try and outrun his eventual warrant. I... don't have anyone to organize things for me right now. I don't have the money to do it. I have nothing. I'm getting paid to do this, but does it matter? Davis will take it all, or well, most of it."