Page 88 of Faithful

Doughnut Slayer: it’s catching fire

Below, the text contains the link to an article in another popular celebrity gossip rag. The article is about Kai. In it, the writer provides “irrefutable evidence” (with a lot of images and doodles highlighting certain parts of those images) that Iodine’s front man has been seeing someone in secret and it’s serious and “Kneel” is the song he wrote for this girl.

Fuming over the fact that it’s assumed right away he’s into girls, I return to my message exchange with Leigh and text her back.

dude who wrote this drivel is not wrong it’s my fucking song

She knows anyway. She just kinda guessed and I didn’t see the need to argue. As a matter of fact, we discussed my trip to Vegas at length after Leigh spotted my new tattoo. Not the sexy bits, though.

Doughnut Slayer: i figured just please spare me the details

A gazillion eggplant emojis follow.

That draws a laugh out of me.

“Care to share?” Val shouts from across the room, apparently taking notice that I’m distracted from my work by something funny.

“Not really.”

“Whatever,” she says in a singsong voice. “You and your secrets, kid.” She gets up from her chair and walks over to the drink station to pour herself more coffee.

Yeah, it’s one of those days here at the office when we need fuel even after lunch.

* * *

By the end of the week, Kai is all over social media.

Again. Just a different angle.

Facebook. Twitter. TikTok. Instagram. I don’t know, fucking Patreon or something. You name it–if there’s a platform, the photo of his inked wrist is there along with an endless string of comments. Many (the ones dreaming of fucking/dating/marrying Iodine’s lead singer) express disappointment. But for the most part they are curious.

Bloggers and fans alike are speculating about his love life as if he’s a member of the royal family and it fucking sucks, watching the world do this to him, spinning tales so far from the truth that it’s no longer about the music.

It’s about their obsession over their idea of him.

I would lie if I said that it didn’t upset me.

It does.

I’m just not sure what to do about it except for ignoring this nonsense and thinking about something pleasant. Like Kai returning to Seattle tomorrow, which means we’ll get to see each other more often. At least, that’s my hope. He didn’t deny that he missed me either when we spoke on the phone last.

It was actually kinda sweet, hearing him say normal, tender human things for once.

Iodine has only one show left and it’s happening later today. It’s supposed to be streaming live via the band’s Instagram and my agenda for tonight is to take advantage of Leigh being gone and watch Kai’s performance on the TV in the living room.

Yeah. That’s how I spend my weekends.

My plans are ruined by an unexpected knock on my door when I’m in the kitchen microwaving popcorn. I had to go into the office to help Gin with a side project she’s been working on and I’m hungry as shit and a little anxious.

Leigh and I don’t really host parties or hang outs. When we’re not shooting the shit and drinking beer in the living room, we’re both pretty busy and keep to ourselves. I don’t think she’s ever had anyone but her family and Paul–who’s out of her life for good now–stop by our place.

I mean who actually shows up unannounced these days without texting prior?

My first thought as I walk over to the door is that the reporters found out about Kai and me. Then I remember that the apartment complex is private property and they probably can’t step foot inside. They’d call first. Just like they did when Ava died.

An unpleasant memory of my phone and my socials being attacked by random people wanting a comment on the death of my sister flashes through my mind.

I feel jittery all of a sudden.

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