AN: Modern Cowboy!verse - this is a follow up to the 'Heartache's on Me' scene from awhile ago.
Burlesque Show
"Best job ever!"
"Erm."
"Seriously, what did you think?"
Keith's response is to take a long drink of the Budweiser he has in hand.
"Come on now, don't be shy!" All glitter and fish nets, Mina plucks the long neck from him and finishes the bottle, then passes him the empty container.
Gesturing with the bottle, he says, "I don't know anything about this stuff. You weren't wearing a lot."
"It's burlesque, what did you expect?"
"And who was that guy?" His voice takes a gruff tone. They are on easy territory here. Fighting is one the fundamental qualities of their strange relationship. After inviting her over the night they met, Keith ended up deciding Mina from Michigan wouldn't be so bad to have around. What has developed is a completely dysfunctional, sexually charged environment that he is sometimes afraid to go home to. She's turned his life upside down - from having to witness her thongs drying in the bathroom in the morning to the stray white kitten she adopted, his life is completely different to what it had been just a short time ago.
"Who, Jerry? I've told you a million times he's gay."
Keith realizes this fact, but can't believe any person – gay or straight, wouldn't have a reaction to Mina's performance. Hell, if he had been on stage... Shifting uncomfortably in his suddenly too tight jeans, he says, "So, this is really going to be your job?"
"Why? Don't you think I'm good at it?"
"Yeah, you're fine."
"Try not to sound too excited."
"I won't."
They look at the other patrons of the bar for moment, standing awkwardly. She says quietly, "Thanks for coming, by the way. I don't know too many people in town..."
Scuffing a boot on the floor, he asks, "Need a ride back to our place?"
"I've got another show at 11."
"Oh."
"You don't approve, do you?"
"It's your life." When it came down to it, Keith considered himself a relatively forward thinking dude. Still, he thought he might have to draw the line at having to watch his roommate take off the majority of her clothes while others watched.
"Well, this girl from Detroit doesn't have a lot of options when it comes to steady employment. Anyway, I thought you'd be happy. I owe you tons of money and at least two months rent."
"You're having a hard time. It happens to everyone. I've told you not to be stressed about it."
Rising on her 3 inch stilettos, she kisses his cheek and says, "You are so understanding. Hey! Want me to introduce you to some of the other girls in the group?"
"No thanks."
Blinking her eyes slowly, she asks innocently, "You want me to introduce you to Jerry?"
"No, I do not want you to introduce me to Jerry. Anyway, I'm going to jet. Try not to be too loud when you come home tonight, okay?"
"Don't worry, I will," she sticks her tongue out at him. "Oh, and can you feed Artie? I was so excited when I was leaving I forgot to give him some kibble."
"As you wish." He ducks out of the club and walks to his truck, wondering how it might be possible to un-complicate his life.