“Okay, what’s up?”
“You’d tell me if something was going on, right? Like something that everyone else was keeping from me?”
He leans back in his chair and just stares at me for a second. “What makes you ask that? You think someone is hidin’ something from you?”
“No. I don’t, but I know the vibe feels off at the club. Last night I could see just how free everyone was at the party, but sometimes it feels like when I’m around, people are just on their best behavior if you know what I mean. They don’t seem to be acting how they usually act,” I explain to him.
“Beretta, you just came home. Everyone’s trying to take it easy on you. They want to make sure that you’re not too overwhelmed at one time. The last thing anyone wants to do is harm you,” he tells me, and I guess deep down, I know this is the case.
According to everyone else, I’m still not at a hundred percent. I hate that they’re treating me like I’m broken or something, but I guess I understand it.
“I know it. I can trust you, right? I mean, you’d tell me?”
He looks down for a second before he talks to me. “Beretta, I’d never do anything to hurt you.”
I smile at him and pick up the fork for my food. I don’t know why I’m even questioning it. I know Muffler. I know how much he loves me. I’m a fool to even think that something more is going on. I need to just relax and let my man take care of me.
* * *
When Muffler and I make it back from the diner, the club’s already in full swing getting everything cleaned up from last night. I tried to help, but the guys basically shooed me away.
While I wait for them to finish with that, I take the dogs up to the roof so I can give them some exercise. Just because I’m okay being stuck in a small room for most of the day doesn’t mean that they are.
The physical exercise makes me feel good as I play fetch with the two of them. After about twenty minutes, I hear the door from the stairs open up.
A woman that looks familiar steps out, but she stops when she sees me.
“Uh, sorry. I didn’t know that anyone was up here,” she says, and I wave her over.
“You don’t have to go. They don’t bite or anything like that.” I smile and hope that she stays.
It’s nice spending so much time with Muffler and all, but sometimes I wish I had someone else in here that I felt more comfortable talking to. Someone who didn’t seem so worried about how I was feeling.
“Oh . . . um, okay.”
“I’m Beretta. I’m sorry if we met before. My memory is a little wonky right now.” I put my hand out to her.
“Yeah, that’s okay. I’m Iris.” She shakes my hand. The woman has the most beautiful natural red hair I’ve ever seen in my entire life.
“I’m assuming Muffler didn’t send you up here to check on me?” I ask, just to make sure.
“No, not at all. I actually just wanted to get some air,” Iris says as she sits down next to me on the floor while the dogs play together with one of their toys.
“Everything okay?”
“Yeah. Everything is fine. Just all that cleaning, I’m not one hundred percent from last night,” she admits and stretches her head from side to side.
“Ah, I get it. I tried to help, but they wouldn’t let me.” I shrug, and Hattie comes running up to us with the toy in her mouth.
Hattie drops the toy in front of Iris, and she picks it up and throws it for the dog.
“You don’t need to be doing any work. You didn’t make that mess down there. Besides, I think Muffler would have a coronary if you hurt yourself,” Iris laughs.
“Yeah, he’s being a little bit overprotective.”
I can tell Iris wants to say something, but she looks away.
“So, what are their names?” she asks, changing the subject.