“It’s a fact,” she shrugged. “And here’s another one. With your brother being a multi-millionaire, I’d say you don’t really need to win this show.”
“It’s my brother’s money, not mine.”
“Yeah, but it’s not like a necessity for you.”
“It’s not for you either, Marsha,” Kyle lambasted. “You inherited a town from your father.”
“My money is all tied up. Your brother is beyond rich.”
“That doesn’t mean anything,” Dale stepped in. “Kyle has as much right to play as anyone else. And as much right to win.”
“Well, I wouldn’t vote for him.”
“Me neither,” Bobby added.
“I’m right here,” Kyle protested, waving his hand around.
Dale could see Kyle’s stress as plainly as I, and he stepped in for his friend. “Everyone needs to lay off Kyle right now.”
“Okay. But first, I have one thing to say about this,” Carl blurted out, unexpectedly. He hadn’t said a word since Kyle’s big reveal, but now he turned his giant body toward him and said in the giddiest, fangirl voice he could muster, “This is really exciting for me. Music frees me, and your brother’s songs… they just speak to my soul.”
Kyle’s eyes bugged out in surprise. He looked at me questioningly as if to ask,Is this guy for real?I shrugged.
“Are you being serious?” he asked Carl. “I can’t tell.”
“Have you ever known me to joke?”
“Good point,” Kyle said, shaking his head. “Wow.”
“What? I’m a huge fan.” Carl grunted, instantly morphing back to his normal, disengaged self.
“Well, I’ll be sure to let him know,” Kyle said, and then stood up abruptly. “I need a break.”
I watched him walk away and jumped from my seat to follow him. He stopped when he heard me coming. Without turning around he said, “What do you want, Kenzie?”
“Just checking up on you.”
“Promise me you’ll never become a double agent,” he said, turning to face me.
“I wasn’t trying to be sneaky. Are you doing okay?”
He fidgeted back and forth several times, and then stated, “Well, shit… that really wasn’t fun.”
“Sorry. Bobby was being a dick.”
“And Marsha too. I’ve always stood up for her, but she just gleefully chucked me under the bus.”
“I know. She’s got an evil streak in her. We need to watch our backs.”
“So what was that whole thing with you and Bobby yesterday anyway?”
“Nothing. I was pissed at you.”
“I got that.”
“I thought I could drown out my embarrassment with a double dose of Bobby, but damn, he’s just such a tool.”
Kyle laughed. “Don’t I know!”
