One: I Love You

Gianna

My phone buzzed in my hand and I groaned. Diane again.

Diane: What do you think about this?

I opened the message and instantly rolled my eyes. A photo of a half-naked catgirl outfit. Ears, tail, and absolutely nothing left to the imagination.

I swear, that woman’s brain runs on desperation and bad decisions.

I get it — she wants my account to grow — but hell, this wasn’t part of my dream. I had a future to think about, and flashing skin online wasn’t in the plan.

But here I was.

On girlgonewild.com.

I was desperate when I started the account. Still am. I’d overheard some girls at school bragging about how easy the money was and thought, why not?

Could anyone blame me? I was drowning in debt, barely keeping my head above water.

So I created kittenxo — the dumb, cute, nerdy blonde who cosplayed for fun.

Just like that, one tiny trial turned to thirty trials and I got pulled into the world of a hundred thousand subscribers, despite my earnings being low, i still got assigned a manager, Diane.

She's as sweet as they come but when it comes to business she becomes a real pain in the ass, like now, she expects me to show more skin, like be semi-naked.

Yeah, not happening.

I stared at the photo again and slammed my phone shut before my brain melted.

There was no way I was wearing that.

If anyone from school found out I was kittenxo, I’d be done. Goodbye law school. Goodbye reputation. Goodbye everything.

Maybe I’d end up like my parents, broke and too poor to even afford coke.

Yeah, the assholes died of an overdose leaving my brother and I to settle all of their impending debts.

I shook the memory away, stuffing my things into my back ready to bolt out the class before my mind exploded from these fucking thoughts.

Before I could get to the door, a tall figure shifted in the corner of my vision.

Shit.

I shoved my earbuds in, not even bothering to turn on music.

“Gianna, wait up!”

I ignored him and kept walking, headphones in, nodding to a playlist that wasn’t even playing.

Just a few more steps and—

His fingers brushed my shoulder. I froze, eyes rolling so hard it hurt.

“Oh, Kev. You nearly gave me a heart attack,” I said, tugging an earbud free with a smile that didn't reach my eyes.

He grinned boyish and stupidly sure of himself. “You walk so fast.”

People at school called me a man-hater. I didn't mind the nickname to be clear, it kept the fuckboys away.

Well, all of them except one person.

Kevin Greyheart.

He didn't understand the word no, and personally I feel he enjoys being rejected.

Every single no I've told him ended with him coming back with more and more determination.

I mean, Kevin wasn't bad on the eyes, and if we were talking about types, he was fully mine— blue eyes, perfectly curled hair, chiseled jawline and of course, the cherry on top, he was senator Greyheart's golden son.

I forced a smile. “I’m sorry, I’m just in a hurry. You know… work?”

He chuckled, stepping closer until his fingers brushed through a strand of my hair. “Sike. I already told you, date me and you’d never have to work a day in your life again.”

I scoffed softly, pulling my hair from his touch. Sure, the idea sounded nice—given my current trainwreck of a situation—but being someone’s pretty little ornament?

That wasn't something I'd sit for.

“You know me, Kev,” I said, flashing a sweet, practiced smile. “I like my life hard.”

He grinned, that cocky, all-American-boy smile that probably made every other girl melt.

“And that’s why I can’t seem to stop wanting you.”

“Too bad you’ll never get me,” I said, slinging my bag higher on my shoulder.

Kevin smirked, unbothered as always. “Yeah, yeah. Still doesn’t mean I’ll stop trying. Anyway, I wanted to invite you to a party tonight—my place.”

I groaned under my breath. “You know how much I hate parties.”

“It’ll be fun. Music, food, drinks, me—what more could you possibly want?”

“Peace and quiet,” I shot back, already stepping away.

He chuckled, walking backward to keep up. “You’ll show up. I can feel it.”

“You feel wrong a lot.”

“Then prove me right this once, Gianna.”

“I can’t—”

He pressed a finger to his lips, shushing me. “Don’t say no. If you want, I’ll pay you for the shift you’ll be missing.”

I bit down on my lower lip. Was I seriously considering this?

The idea of getting paid to party didn’t sound half bad—but still.

“Just think about it, okay?”

By the time I got home, I was already rehearsing the long speech I was going to give the universe about leaving me the hell alone. I pushed the switch on the wall, praying the lights would come on like a miracle for once.

Nothing.

I thought Alec said he'd be handling the light bill this month? perfect.

I stood there in the dark, backpack sliding off my shoulder, staring at the dead lightbulb like it personally hated me. Maybe it did. Maybe everyone did. Maybe I hated myself too, because the first thought that crawled into my brain was the one I’d been avoiding for months.

Explicit content.

Real explicit content.

Diane's words flooded my mind again as I stood hopelessly in the room. I was already knees deep into this shit, why not just go the whole ride?

From the pitch she gave, I could be earning real money and not $500 per sub, thousands of dollars.

That alone could handle the debts.

I dropped my bag and rubbed my face. I really didn't want to this but fuck, there was absolutely nothing in here.

The fridge was practically empty and working two shifts was barely doing anything.

Alec on the other hand, God I love him but he was I don't know part of my problem now.

He didn't work except it was a race, and I have to bail him almost all the time.

I pulled out my ring light and set it on my desk. At least it still worked, powered by my laptop. The glow filled the room with a soft, artificial warmth. I could almost pretend my life wasn’t falling apart.

I changed into one of the kitten outfits Diane had sent, the one with more coverage than the one she sent today.

Pink lace, a cute bow collar, my blonde wig and the only important piece of clothing. My mask.

I stared at myself in the mirror and barely recognized the girl looking back. I guess I'm doing this.

I hit “Go Live.”

The screen lit up, chat exploding instantly.

“Kitten’s back.”

“She looks stressed.”

“Spin for us.”

"We missed you.”

"Is that a new suit?”

I gave them a wave, they knew the rules. Not talking from me, except need be and not asking for my mask to be removed.

I took a breath and moved slowly, fingers trailing up my arm, eyes half-lidded.

My mind screamed to turn the live off but I couldn't, Nicholas Bonnin’s Shut Up & Listen came up and I felt the song flowing through my body.

I wasn't going to strip, just a little tease to get these little paypigs to actually pay.

I watched as my viewers count increased the second I dropped the little jacket added to the outfit.

My hands caressed my breast softly, playing with the little strings along when a notification blinked across my screen, bold and bright.

A tip of $12,000 has been sent by kittentamer.

My heartbeat slammed against my ribs.

Twelve. Fucking. Thousand. Dollars.

My hand dropped to my chair, shaking around the edge of my chair.

A private message followed.

“End the stream. Now.”

I blinked at the screen, unsure if I was supposed to laugh, cry, or pack my bags and move to another planet. Twelve thousand dollars to stop? People usually paid that to see more, not less.

Rockforyou: Kitten?

Xxxzaddy97: You ok?

Tillnight: Why’d you freeze?

Tillnight: I was enjoying that

Rockforyou: Come on.

I swallowed hard and forced a slow, sultry smile, even though panic was clawing up my spine. I couldn’t end the live, just like that and not yet either.

I needed more money, if someone was willing to pay 12 grand for me to end it, how much would others pay for me to continue?

I traced my fingers down my neck, ignoring the knot forming in my stomach.

Another message from kittentamer.

“I said stop.”

Disobedience flowed through me, what was he going to do, ground me? Please. I’d dealt with worse men than a bored rich creep online and oh, darn I could feel my shorts get wet from just disobeying him.

I lifted a leg onto the chair, letting the lace slip a little higher without revealing anything.

As I basked in the compliments from the chat a deep, familiar rumble rang outside.

A fucking motorcyle.

My brother’s motorcycle.

My soul left my body, Alec was back!

“Oh my God, no, no, no.”

My heart jumped straight into my throat. I scrambled off the chair so fast my camera wobbled. The last thing I needed was my brother walking in on this.

“Okay, guyssss,” I said, after turning on the voice changer. “Thank you for the gifts, you’ve all been—uh—amazing tonight, but I really have to go.”

I lunged for the keyboard and hit “End Stream” so fast I nearly snapped it. The screen went black.

I yanked a hoodie over my kitten fit and tried to get my breathing under control, but it was too late. The front door opened and closed.

“Gianna?”

His voice echoed down the hall.

He knocked once on my door before pushing it open.

“Hey, are you good? The lights were out when I came in and—”

His eyes landed on the set up, the camera, my laptop and ring light on.

His brows pulled together. “What are you doing?”

“Nothing.” My voice cracked. “I was just filming something for… class.”

“Class.” His eyes narrowed. “With a ring light and is that a lingerie you have under your hoodie?”

“It’s not lingerie. It’s a costume.”

“Gianna.”

The disappointment in his voice burned hotter than any humiliation. I turned away, biting my lip so hard it stung.

“I said it’s nothing. Drop it.”

“You’re lying. You eyes is twitching right now."

I stiffened. “So what if I am? You’re never here anyway. Why do you even care?”

He stepped forward. “Because you’re my sister.”

“Then act like it. Pay the damn electricity bill once in your life or at least part of the debts.” I said, my chest rising with anger.

His jaw clenched. “I’m trying.”

“Try harder.” I regretted the words the second they flew out of my mouth and I watched my brother turn his back to me.

Shit.

Guilt filled my entire veins, Alec sacrificed everything for me. I know, I know he's trying, I'm just, I didn't want him to find out this way.

I ran down the stairs without the care in the world.

"Alec?"

The room was pitch black, but I could make out the outline of his figure.

"Look, Al,” I said, breathless as I crossed the room. “I’m sorry about earlier. I’m just… tense, and—”

I couldn't bring myself to finish, I messed up badly.

My arms slipped around his torso, hugging him from behind.

“I love you,” I murmured.

A low, gruff laugh rumbled from his chest. “I never thought I’d hear those words from you, kitten.”