Page 21 of Still Burning

Although they were trying to make things light, there was tension in the air. I’d walked in on something. They were trying to cover it up, but I caught the grim look on Nina’s face when she turned toward the stove.

What had happened? Was it why Rome had left so early? Was everyone okay?

Butch looked calm and relaxed though. If someone was hurt, he’d not be sitting here…would he?

Wanting to ask, but also not sure if that would sound nosy or not, I pulled out a stool and sat down. Normally, I would go behind the counter and make my own plate, but they seemed to want something to do. I watched them glance at each other several times with looks that didn’t sit well with me. Twice, Nina’s eyes flickered to me, and she’d paste on a fake smile that didn’t meet her eyes when she saw I was watching her.

Had I done something wrong? Or was I going to be sent home?

Goldie took my plate from Nina and made her way over to me. “I was gonna make apple dumplings this morning, but we areout of apples. I gotta make a run to the grocery. Anything you need? I can pick it up for you.”

I shook my head. “No, I’m good. Thanks.”

Another smile that didn’t meet her eyes.

It felt as if we’d gotten close enough that I could ask them what was wrong, but I hesitated when picking up my fork. The mood in here was so off that I didn’t know if I could even eat now. When silence continued, I glanced back at Butch and then at both of the women, who were trying to stay busy, but I’d helped them enough to know that they had it all done and were just creating things to do. They were avoiding me.

Putting my fork down, I decided to just ask. No reason to continue the awkwardness.

“Did I do something?” I figured I’d cover that first.

Both women turned around abruptly, wide-eyed and looking upset.

“Oh, no,” Goldie said, walking over toward me.

“Not you, honey. Sorry if we are acting strange. Just some things in the club that are…upsetting, is all.”

“But it’s not you. Definitely not you,” Goldie added emphatically.

“We’re just working through it,” Nina said, then smiled again.

This time, I noted sympathy in her eyes. What was that about?

“And you’re sure that this news has nothing to do with me?” I asked her point-blank.

She opened her mouth, closed it, and then glanced over at Goldie.

“It’ll take more than Jars and Brick to keep him from killing you both,” Butch called out from the sofa.

I scrunched my nose and looked back at him. He wasn’t even looking this way. He was still staring at his phone. Who would kill them?

“Shut up, Butch, if you want to ever eat in this kitchen again,”Nina snapped at him.

“I’m just warning ya to keep your mouth shut, is all,” he said with a shrug. “Ain’t my concern.”

“That’s right; it ain’t, so stay out of it,” Goldie told him, then shook her head, as if exasperated. “Ignore him. We do.”

I waited for one of them to answer my question, but they both said nothing.

“The fact that you aren’t saying anything means this is about me,” I finally said, watching their expressions.

Both were worried, and no fake smile was covering it up. Goldie fidgeted with her apron, and Nina looked frustrated as she chewed on her thumbnail.

The door to the kitchen swung open. Both their gazes shot up, and the alarm was clear on their faces. Hoping whoever it was would answer my question, I turned to see Nixie strutting into the kitchen, wearing a short hot-pink dress that hugged her body. Her makeup was already done, as if she were about to go onstage, although I figured she’d most likely just gotten offstage a few hours ago. Her eyes locked on me, and hatred flared in them.

This was expected. She’d been glaring at me for weeks. Ever since Rome had taken me to his bed the first time. She made no attempt to hide her loathing of my existence. I’d overlooked it because she was young, and if I’d lost Rome, I would be upset too. Heck, part of me hated her because she’d slept with him. I didn’t like knowing she’d been with him sexually. But most of the strippers who littered the place probably had. It was something I had been dealing with.

“Since when do you eat breakfast?” Nina asked her.

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