Page 85 of Buried Beneath Sin

“You’re a good listener,” I tell her before I climb out of the car and slam the door shut. “I like that. It’s not a trait most people have.”

Too bad the ingredients I’d been talking about that first night didn’t have anything to do with store-bought items. I keep my mouth shut about that now, though. Thatcher’s worried my unique appetite for a particular type of meat might freak her out too much. She’s impressed me so far though but I guess everyone has their limits.

“It’s not hard, you’re interesting.” Starr Girl grabs a cart, and together we walk into the store.

I scoff. “Interesting? I’m better than that. I’m fucking titillating and extra?—”

“Beatrix?”

We both look over to find an older woman and her daughter—who must be near Beatrix’s age—staring at us. The older woman is heavy set with early two thousands blonde streaks in her hair. Her original chin is non-existent as it disappears into her second one. That massive two-chin situation quivers as she stares incredulously at Beatrix.

“Darlene, how are you?” Starr Girl says pleasantly.

The woman purses her lips as she looks over Beatrix and then at me. Judging by the flare of her nostrils and the disdain in her expression, she’s not a fan of either of us. Her daughter, on theother hand, shoots me a seductive smile. I wink at her and it earns me a flustered giggle.

“Me?I’mfine. I want to know howyou’redoing. The service for Patrick and Lauren was lovely, by the way. I didn’t get a chance to share my condolences, there were just so many people there,” Darlene says. “I’m so sorry you lost both of your parents.”

Beatrix doesn’t reply right away. Her knuckles turn white as her grip tightens around the handle of the cart.

“Thank you,” she mutters. “If you don’t mind, we need to get a few things?—”

“But I must say that this is highly improper, you know,” Darlene says, her tone so condescending that nuns could learn a thing or two from her. “You shouldn’t be out gallivanting around town, nor should you be working. You should’ve closed Bright Starr for at least a week so that you had the time to quietly pray for your mother’s poor soul. By the looks of things, you’re not even grieving properly?—”

“Who says she’s not?” I ask, shooting her my best smile when Darlene looks back at me. “You can’t mourn on an empty stomach though.”

The woman only gives me a dismissive look before her attention returns to Starr Girl. “Who’s your friend here? I haven’t seen him before.”

“Mom,” the young woman beside her whispers loudly. “You don’t know if he, I mean ifthey, use the he or him pronouns. You have to be careful about that type of thing!”

The thinner, younger version of Darlene shoots me an apologetic smile. I want to roll my eyes so badly, but I hold them still. Thatcher would be pissed if I was purposely disrespectful to potential clients.

“My pronouns are whatever you want them to be,” I assure her, forcing myself to hold my smile. “I’m Knox, Beatrix’s new BFF, by the way.”

I might as well have spoken Chinese. Darlene pulls away from us, looking bewildered.

“Well, Beatrix, make sure you make this trip quick. You don’t want people to think you’re not being respectful of your parents, trouncing about town and having fun and all.”

“Right, sure,” Beatrix nods, not bothering to hold eye contact as she stares down at the empty cart. “Let’s go, Knox.”

I step closer to Darlene’s daughter, unable to help myself. I both hate and enjoy the horror on Darlene’s face at my approach. She pulls away as if I’m a contagious disease. I ignore her and reach for her daughter’s hand. She lets me take it as she bats her eyelashes at me.

“It’s not fair that you know my name, but I don’t know yours.” I hold her gaze as I lift her hand to my lips.

The young woman giggles and turns beet red. It’s a blotchy ugly blush that covers her face and neck.

“I’m Becky,” she says.

I lightly brush my lips against the back of her hand, causing another giggle to escape past her lips. “Maybe I’ll see you around, Becky.”

The flirtatious act gets the reaction I’m looking for. Darlene snatches her daughter’s hand away from me before I can let it go.

“I want you nowhere near my daughter!” Darlene snaps and yanks heradultdaughter away from me. Becky looks over her shoulder and mouths “I’m sorry” before exiting the store with her mom.

Beatrix doesn’t stick around, she immediately begins to push the cart down the nearest aisle, scurrying away from the confrontation. I follow her.

“God, she seemed like a bitch,” I say, coming up to her side.

Starr Girl says nothing to this. I glance at her face to find it beet red beneath her warm brown skin. Before I can tell her to shake it off, two people round the corner up ahead and stopabruptly at the sight of us. They physically recoil before turning their cart and disappearing.

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