Page 58 of Burning Ember

“Now to start it, push that button there.” The sound of the washer starts up.

Lil’ Bird makes a surprised sound. “Is it supposed to do that?” Lil’ asks.

“Yeah,” Doll laughs. “Now add the soap. About a half cup, maybe a little more depending on the load. There’s a line right there. Yep, just like that. Dump it in but try to spread it around in a circle.”

“Like this?”

“Yeah, like that.”

I hear clapping and girlish giggles.

“Wow, look at how fast it’s filling up.” Another laugh, Doll’s. The sound runs through me and it’s soothing, like a nice cold beer on a hot day.

“Okay, now shut the lid and in about an hour we’ll come put everything in the dryer.”

I hear a huff, then . . .”Easy. I can’t breathe,” Doll says.

“Thank you so much. Goose is gonna shit a brick when he’s sees me doin’ this.”

I open the door and see Lil’ Bird pull away from hugging Doll.

They both turn their heads toward me when they hear the door open. Upon seeing me, Doll’s smile fades.

What?Are her smiles only for Dozer? The jealously rioting through me makes me say stupid shit like, “I was going to do a load of my stuff, but since you’re already in here, I’ll just leave this with you.” I drop my hamper down beside the door, and add, “Make sure you bleach the whites, and let me know when they’re done. Oh and . . . fold them before they get wrinkled to shit.”

She bites her lip to stop herself from giving me a sassy retort. I can tell it’s killing her to do so because her little freckled nose twitches.

“You got somethin’ to say, Doll?”

This time she smiles as she places her hand on her hip. “I’ll get right on that.”

“That’s what I thought.” I back out of the room and grin like a fucking idiot. Sassy fuckin’ mouth. She just can’t help herself. And secretly, I love it.

It’s all fun and games until it’s not.

EMBER

I’m gagging, dry heaving every time I come across another clump of God only knows what on this nasty floor. It’s rancid and I’m not entirely sure I have enough cleaner left to get the job done.

Although I’ve thought more than once that it might be better if I was blissfully unaware of what it is I’m scrubbing off the floor.

Uh . . .My skin crawls when I think about the germs I have all over me.

I’m sweating like mad. I’d give anything to be done and be able to take a shower. But I decided to tackle this project next, now that I’m done with the kitchen, and I’m not one to leave anything half done. Though I’m regretting my decision to get the most disgusting and difficult task out of the way first, before moving on to the easy stuff.

I have rags wrapped around my knees and gloves on. I’m balancing on my left hand, while relentlessly scrubbing with my right.

Taz is watching me work. He’s my babysitter for today. I can tell he’s getting a kick out of my discomfort. Every so often, he’ll complain about the smell, and point out a spot on the floor that I’ve supposedly missed. I just bite the inside of my cheek and keep cleaning.

Bodie is sitting on one of the leather couches and he’s stuffing his face with popcorn. Which couch depends on which way my ass is facing. He’s been moving from couch to couch to get the best view, like my butt is a damn blockbuster movie. It makes me a little sick to my stomach to think he has a wife and kids at home waiting for him,and yet here he is, acting like he has nothing better to do than watch my butt wiggle with each movement I make.

Dozer’s at the gym. Has been all day. He owns it. Or well, the club does. The club owns a half-dozen or more businesses around town, including a tattoo shop, an auto body shop, a real estate office, and Goose runs the strip club, while Griz and Cap manage a small casino. Yeah, casino. But not the same one Lily and I passed on our way to the clubhouse, which was enormous. None of the guys really work full time. Most of them leave after lunch and are back around six or seven.

Lily is the club’s shopping guru. She’s the go-to person if anyone needs anything. Clothes. Groceries. Alcohol. Smokes.Condoms.She also helps Goose part time at the strip club, Wet Tips. He won’t let her on the stage anymore since she became his old lady, but he’ll let her work a few day shifts at the bar.

It’s where they met and why she started hanging around the club.

“Missed a spot.” I look up and see a half smile on Taz’s face. He’s pointing to a spot about a foot to my right.