CHAPTER 20
RICHIE
Daine walked out of his room in his boxers with Blaze and Fox falling soon after.
“You’re up early,” Daine said. “Did you make coffee?”
“Yep, help yourself,” I said.
“Is that bacon I smell?” Blaze asked.
“Did someone die? Why are you even awake?” Fox asked.
“Nobody died,” I said. “Just thought I’d make you guys breakfast.”
“Are you sick?” Daine asked. “Dude, please don’t tell us you have some terminal disease, I can’t handle that shit this early in the morning.”
“God, y’all are fucking morbid.”
“We’ve lived together for years. You’ve never gotten up before us.”
“Yeah, well, things change.”
“Dude, seriously, what’s up?” Fox asked.
“Why does there have to be an explanation?”
“Because pigs don’t fly and you’re ten feet in the air,” Daine said.
“Are you calling me a pig?” I laughed. “Damn, can’t I do something nice for you guys?”
“Nope, spill it,” Blaze said, grabbing a slice of bacon from the plate.
“Fine, for fuck’s sake,” I said, shaking my head. “Sit your asses down. I’ll explain everything.”
“I knew there was something,” Daine quipped.
They gathered around the table and dug into the food I’d prepared. I sat at the end of the table and nodded, folding my hands and taking a deep breath.
“Oh, god, you really are dying, aren’t you?” Daine asked, his eyes filling with concern, his fork frozen in mid-air.
“God! No!” I insisted. “I do have a bit of bad news.”
“I knew it,” Fox said.
“Nobody’s dying. I just haven’t been completely truthful with you.”
“About what?”
“Well, first I want to say I really appreciate the offer you made yesterday. It means the world to me that y’all are willing to do that for me, for us.”
“Of course, man,” Fox said.
“The thing is…Barry asked me to keep my mouth shut, but like Daine, I’m not so great at that. I told you he wouldn’t let me invest in the club. That he said I could buy it, if I could get the financing. But there’s more to it than that.”
They looked at me expectantly and I felt a wave of dread wash over me. I hated having to ruin their day with this news. But keeping them in the dark was just wrong.
“The thing is, Barry told me he’s going to sell the club. Well not sell it, but close it down completely.”
“What? When?” Fox asked.
“That asshole!” Blaze growled.
“Cocksucker!” Daine cried, dropping his fork.
“I know, I know…the lease is up in six months and he’s not renewing it. But I wouldn’t put it past him to do it sooner. I was pissed he wouldn’t take my money. The only option he offered was buying the club, that part was true. But, guys, I really don’t think it’s going to happen. My credit fucking sucks. I know nothing about writing a business plan and there’s no way a bank will lend some schmuck like me that much money.”
They stared at me in disbelief.
“I should have told you that yesterday, but I felt terrible. I’m sorry. Don’t tell Barry I told you. But I thought you should have the information, so you can start looking for other jobs.”
“Shit,” Fox said, wrinkling his brow and shaking his head.
“That sucks!” Blaze banged his fist on the table, rattling the dishes.
“Fucking Barry,” Daine said. “What a tiny little, thumb-sized tool!”
“There’s always The Man Cave. We could probably get jobs there,” I suggested. “I might be able to pick up a few more shifts at the Revue, too. Maybe I can get y’all in there, too.”
“I don’t know, man,” Fox said. “I’ve got a buddy who works at the Cave and he says they’re inundated with applications, turning dancers away left and right.”
“We’ll figure it out together, okay? I don’t want y’all to worry.”
“There’s gotta be another way to save Cowboys,” Blaze said.
“Unless you’ve got a hefty inheritance coming your way, I don’t see it happening.”
“You’ve gotta try, dude!” Daine insisted. “I’m going to do some research today on the business plan. Maybe if we do a bang-up job, we can find a sympathetic banker.”
“A sympathetic banker? You’ve been watching too many fairy tales, brother.”
He shrugged, undeterred.
“You miss all the shots you don’t take, right?” he asked. “We have to at least apply for the fucking loan. If they say no, then we can reassess our options.”
“Fucking Barry,” Fox said, shaking his head.
“Yep. Fucking Barry,” Blaze growled.
“Nobody’s fucking Barry!” Daine cried, shaking his head. “Stop putting that image in my head!”
“We’ve given so much to that damned club and he’s going to pull the rug out from under us?” Fox asked.
“Over my dead body,” Daine said.
“Let’s not go that far,” I replied. “Nobody’s allowed to die.”
“I gotta go,” Daine said, standing up and taking another piece of bacon with him. “I’m going to the library. Maybe some hot librarian can help me with the business plan. I’ll see y’all at work later.”
“I’m off tonight. I have a date, actually.”
“What?” he asked, stopping in his tracks. “With whom?”
“I met a woman. Her name is Tillie. She lives in Los Angeles.”
“That hot MILF I saw you leave with last night? The blonde? I thought you’d have banged here and set her loose by now,” Blaze said.
“I’m not you, dude. And, she’s not a MILF! In fact, she doesn’t even have kids. And she’s not that kind of woman. She’s pretty cool, actually. I’m a little smitten.”
“Well, it’s about time. I was beginning to think that ship has sailed. I haven’t seen you go out on a real date in years,” Fox said.
“Just a dry spell,” I shrugged.
“Good for you, dude,” Blaze said, just as a woman’s voice called out.
“Blaze!”
We all looked over at him questioningly.
“Last night’s chick is still here,” he said, standing up with a sheepish smile.
“Of course she is,” I replied. “Only one tonight?”
“The other two left earlier,” he said.
“Damn, brother, don’t you ever slow down? What about sleep?” I asked.
“I’ll slow down and sleep when I’m dead,” he winked, disappearing down the hall, cocky as a bull.