Perish: Book Three (bxb) ✔️

33. Did you know we've never had a conversation?

Kayax Adler

I wasn't sure why I was sitting in the middle of the empty greenhouse, but I was. I left so that August could continue speaking with his parents. Even despite his resistance, I knew he needed to talk to them about what happened here. Everything was okay, though. I felt like someone physically extracted all of the stress and left me floating in a new world that I had never discovered.

It was kind of difficult to cope in a world where there wasn't a threat lingering somewhere nearby. Whether it was Davis or someone from the Luna family discovering my relationship with August--I was afraid to turn corners. It was such a miserable existence, but I felt free now. Sure, my career was stressful, but it was the kind of stress I could handle most of the time. Though, I still didn't have a manager, but I could handle that as the days went. 

I had a home in Los Angeles now, and I could buy a house for my family to come down if they wanted to visit. If anyone from home wanted to visit, I'd ship them right up here. I'd make sure they had a comfortable place to stay. Whether it was here or the house I'd eventually purchase for them--they had a place. I wanted to show all of them what I did for a living. And I'd do it anytime they asked.

I smiled at the thought.

Even though I had to perform several hours from now, I knew that was going to be okay, too. It was one song, and even though I'd likely overexert myself, I could come home and crash for the rest of the night. My mind was too busy running marathons to allow me to sleep right now, and I needed to just run with it for a little while. 

My biggest monsters had finally been tackled.

At least, I thought they had.

Until I heard footsteps behind me.

No one freak out, whoever it was--they weren't a threat.

But I knew it wasn't August.

If it were Salem, I'd have known long ago before he'd even entered the greenhouse. I contemplated whether or not it was Raven for a moment, but I think, deep down, I knew exactly who'd found me out here. And I didn't want to admit it to myself because maybe I was a little scared.

My hidden thoughts were confirmed when I watched Elijah Luna walk in front of me as he glanced around the empty greenhouse. I silently wondered if I should leave, as it looked like he was reliving some old memories of his time here. 

Which was already insane to think about. I was about to start living in Elijah Luna's former house with his son. If that doesn't tell you how twisted reality and fate are, I wasn't sure what did. Plus, I still thought he was truly searching around for some old memories. I was thinking about an escape plan of epic proportions.

Maybe if I just slowly stand up when he turns his back, I could--

"Did you know we've never had a conversation?"

--sit here and meet my eternal fate.

Elijah was talking to me, and I wasn't sure what to do about that. Because... I knew we'd never had a conversation. Yesterday was the first time Elijah ever spoke directly to me, and I still dodged out of it. I didn't know what to say to him. More than that, now he was my boyfriend's Dad. That was awkward.

That was so awkward that I couldn't find a scale for it.

But I had to respond to him. 

What the hell was I supposed to say to him?

I shoved my hands into my lap, looking toward the opposite end of the greenhouse to find something else for my eyes to do. "There weren't exactly opportunities."