Page 168 of Lucky 14

“Down the hall to the right.”

Whoever it is disappears, then comes back clucking. “Nasty.”

My heart is racing. I can’t ask them who they are. I won’t force another alter to face reality without their consent. I still feel horrible for doing that to Ky, and despite the fact that he’s forgiven me, I still try to make it up to him by worshiping him every chance I get.

“I’m Nellie.” The alter sits at the counter, grabbing a pancake.

Nellie? Like…a girl?

She eyes me with familiar dark eyes. “You’re Oakley. Ky and Wyatt’s man.”

I try to keep my mouth from dropping open. “You know?”

“Course I know.” She rolls her eyes.

My mind races. Ky hasn’t said anything to me about her. I wonder why?

She gently rips the pancake, taking little nibbles. “Please tell him to stop with the piss.”

I blink at her. Did I hear her right? “Piss?”

“Yes, the piss.” Nellie screws up her face. “Could lead to infection.”

“No one’s pissing…”

“You sure about that? Want to ask Holli?”

“Holli?” My voice rises an octave.

“Is there an echo in here?” Nellie looks around. “Holli pissed on them. Don’t let them do that if they have any open cuts.”

“Holli pissed on my man?” Now my voice is a screech.

Nellie winces. “Volume? Anyway.” She pops the last bit of waffle in her mouth. “Some foul-mouthed asshole is trying to shove me out.” She goes to the sticky notes by the fridge and scribbles something down. “Make sure Ky sees this, will you? Trying to talk to them is like trying to put your hand through mist.” She hands me the note, and her face goes blank. I recognize this look. This happens sometimes when they’re switching.

Slowly, they shake their head and turn to the oven. “Damn, something’s burning.”

Shit, my sausages. I dart over, shuffling the blackened links. “Not the baby weiners!” Ky’s playful voice mourns. “Oh shit, this looks good.” He helps himself to another pancake while I find a hot pad.

Holli steps into the kitchen, stretching. “Damn, I’m starved.” She plops next to Kyan and swipes a pancake.

“Uh, plates?” I motion at the dishes I’ve stacked up, but neither of the heathens seems to care as they shovel food in their mouths like they’ve been fucking for hours.

Fucking. Pissing. Oh my god. I can’t get the thoughts out before Kyan gives me a weird look, and I realize I’m standing in the middle of the kitchen, still clutching the note that Nellie gave me.

“What’s that?”

“I…” I glance down at it. Oh fuck. If I give it to Ky, he’s going to know there’s another alter. Will that hurt him just as much as telling him he was a system would? But she asked me to give it to him.

“Mousey?”

I look up, and there’s concern in his dark eyes.

I can’t keep it.

“This is for you?” I pass him the note.

Ky frowns and reads it. For a second, his face is blank. Then it softens, followed quickly by something like a wince.