The crowd staggered and parted at the sight of me, covered in cake and trying not to slip on whatever was stuck to the bottoms of my shoes. I held a sticky hand up and whistled for a cab, scraping dredge from my pants as best I could as a taxi pulled up to the curb. The cabbie eyed me, offended, as I got in.

Trust me, I am too, buddy.

And with a lurch, we were off.

14

Because, Reasons

KASH

I looked up from my sketchbook, smile on my face at the sound of the hotel room’s door unlocking.

That smile probably should have fallen at the sight of Lila walking through the door, covered in cake and frosting, but it didn’t. It spread despite my attempt to smooth it.

“Don’t laugh,” she warned as the door shut, heavy and loud.

She strode in on those long legs, tossing her bag and coat—which was inside out, I deduced to keep the wool clean of icing—on the desk. I brushed my lips with my fingertips to wipe my smile away and stifle the laugh she’d predicted.

“I wouldn’t dare,” I said lightly. “Wanna tell me what happened?”

She turned, peeling off her clothes in layers, ruined suit coat first. “The Felix sisters happened. Natasha specifically.”

At that, my smile disappeared in earnest. I swung my legs off the side of the massive bed and stood, heading for her. “What did she do?”

Lila sighed, softening as I neared, as if my proximity alone dropped her shields. As if she’d been holding it all together by force and sagged at the knowledge someone was there to help.

“Nothing surprising,” she said, looking up at me with those gray eyes of hers, her hair lank with muck. I smoothed it, not caring there was icing on my palm. “The girls got into a battle royale that devolved into disaster. I was caught in the crossfire.”

One of my brows rose, and she sighed again.

“Okay, she was aiming for me, I’m sure. But it would have happened one way or another. That shop was too small for four Femmes to chuck cake without there being casualties.”

“But still. Fuck her a little.”

A chuckle. “Fuck her a little,” she echoed. “And that’s not the worst of it.”

I frowned. “Oh God.”

“You can say that again. The church found out about Angelika’s exhibition in the confession booth and turned them out. So if you need me for the next month, I’ll be dying under a to-do list I’ll never complete.”

“Don’t worry,” I said, reaching for her. “Everything will fall into place.”

“I hope you’re right.” She started to slip her arms around my waist but stopped, stepping back instead. “Ugh, I’m filthy. I’m sorry.”

“Usually it’s me who’s filthy. At least you’ll taste good.”