“Aren’t you going to ask me what happened?” I growl into my already half-empty mug. I polished off my first two servings like they were water.

She sits across from me, shaking her head.

“I think I know what it’s about, and it’d only gut me to learn more. I’m exercising self-control.”

“Glad one of us can,” I mutter, thinking about the stupid letters.

I’ll never live them down. Now I truly know I’ll never sell a song. The risk of becoming known and having her leak those letters is simply one I cannot take.

“You don’t deserve this.” Kiki leans forward and rubs my shoulder.

“Trust me, I do.” I laugh to the ceiling. “I made a fool of myself. That’s on me.”

“You could never be a fool, Mal. You’re the smartest, most talented man I’ve ever met.”

“You should change your social circle then, milady.” I raise the mug in the air, tossing its remaining contents into my mouth in one go.

Everything is spinning—white and slow and sluggish. The air is heavy, stuffy, suffocating. I feel like I’m at the bottom of a murky pool.

At first, I don’t notice when Kath slides onto my lap. It’s only when her arms circle my neck, heavy as a noose, that I blink and rear my head back, away from her mouth.

“Kiki,” I groan. “No.”

“Shhh, Mal. Let me take care of you.”

She grabs the back of my neck and squeezes my face to her chest, pushing her tits together. It’s nice. She has big tits. Bigger than Rory’s. They’re soft and warm against my nose and mouth. They smell of a flowery perfume and a bit of sweat.

Kath runs her fingers through my hair, kissing the top of my head. My ear. My cheek.

“Your sister. I love her,” I grunt into her rack.

Her cleavage is wide open for me. I dip my tongue in the crack between her tits, tasting her salty skin, how wrong it is in my mouth, and it reminds me why I haven’t bedded anyone since Rory left.

Kathleen doesn’t say a word. She pops one of her tits free of her bra and moves her pebbled nipple across my cheek.

“I don’t want to fuck you,” I say bluntly, pulling my head back.