Perish: Book Three (bxb) ✔️

21. Well, there go my plans to finally feel you up.

Kayax Adler

After the massive amount of socialization I did last night, I came back to Mama's house and crashed on the couch. I hadn't meant to, but once I was asleep, I was usually gone for the rest of the night. Brutus and August stayed next door with Sally, but they would be here tonight. Mama fussed about it not being ready for guests before she promised them the following day it would be.

People were hovering around the yard, and Mama made breakfast this morning while my nosey family, made up of town patrons, brought over delicious food as well. August and Brutus joined us for breakfast, and yes, they were still fawning over August. I had told him last night that they had no idea his family hated me, and I didn't want to tell them as such. 

I was slouched back against the dining room chair, my leg resting over August's knee. I stuffed my face happily, but I knew that extra hours in the gym were in my future. There were a few stray conversations happening while Mama rushed in and out of the open door, and even though it was still cold outside, she made sure she took care of everyone.

Because everyone in the town would do the same if it happened at their house. It didn't happen often, but with my arrival home after six years and August showing up--I knew they'd hover until I had to leave. And I... already felt the homesickness kicking in at the thought. I loved being home, but now I was trying to get my life started in Los Angeles.

Once everyone left, I helped Mama in the kitchen as we cleaned up from the massive overload of people. August and Brutus even chipped in, and holy hell, my heart did a backflip when watching August do the dishes. I had a lot of issues that I wasn't willing to address with anyone except a licensed professional.

I should probably get one of those.

When we finished, Mama stood in the middle of the living room with her hands on her hips. I was sitting on the couch, nestled against August's side, while he had his arm over the back of the couch. Brutus was scrolling his phone from the chair on our right. Mama was getting ready to say something; I just didn't know what it was.

She was likely going through a list of things in her head that she needed to get done, and--

"Kayax, baby, can you go into your room and make sure everything is done up for you to sleep in there tonight? August, go with him, baby. Be a dear."

I was about to roll off the couch, prepared to do what she asked, before I froze as I was about to stand up. I pressed my hands to the carpet as I looked up at Mama. "Uhm, Mama?"

She looked down, her brows furrowing with confusion as to why I was on my hands and knees and not standing up. "Now, what're you doin' down there for?"

Clearing my throat, I popped up to my feet with a nervous tick in my stomach. "I mean, did you, perhaps, pack up my room?"

She waved her hand at me. "Heck no, baby. Everything is exactly the way it was. Get on, Kay. I'll start a load in the wash if I gotta."

Brutus hummed as he rocked back and forth in the recliner. "Gotta love a good southern woman who puts her foot down on the superstar. I love it. Say, Lucy, could you teach me some of your tricks?"

"Shut up, Brutus!"

Mama pointed her glare at me. "That's not his name."

I stormed past her, stopping in front of my bedroom door. I always said decorating my room was going to bite me in the ass one day. I was more referring to the time it was going to take me to pull everything down and take it apart, but alas, it still bit me in the ass.