Helene made another notation.“Maybe not.”
Amka didn’t have any knowledge about the motel fire.“Jarod and I weren’t even dating at that time.”
“So you say.”Helene zeroed in.“You know the better story?”
“I have no idea.”
The woman pursed her pink lips.“What if that anger was real?The whole town saw you punch him right here in your tavern.I believe a few of the influencers even posted about it and how wild it can get here in Alaska.”
Amka placed her list on the ledge beneath the bar.“I don’t follow.”
“What if the two of you have one of those psycho, dark romance type relationships?”
Amka frowned.“What are you saying?”
“What if you burned down his motel because you were pissed, and what if he decided to return the favor and burn down your building?You’re not working together and are actually in some sociopathic but sexy fetish?That involves fire?”
Amka’s mouth dropped open.
Helene pressed on.“I ran my theory by the two Alaska state troopers, and they were very interested in it.I think I’m on to something.”
Amka couldn’t breathe.That was insane.
Nixi came in from the kitchen, her purple hair curled into spirals of purple and now pink.“Sorry I’m late.I told Daisy I’d be here a while ago, but I got caught up videoing the basin of Tomalley Falls.It’s gorgeous.”She paused right by Amka and looked around the tavern.The color slid from her face and she wavered.
“Nixi?”Amka grasped her arm.“What’s wrong?”
Nixi turned and headed through the doorway to the small bedroom instead of the kitchen.
Amka looked wildly around, only seeing the Osprey brothers and the influencers.She turned and followed her, ignoring Helene's sputtering.Upon reaching the back room, she paused in the doorway.“Are you all right?”
Nixi sank onto the bed, her purple hair too bright against her now pale skin.“Sorry.I haven’t eaten, and sometimes when my blood sugar gets low, I lose control of my limbs.”Her hand shook when she raised it to her face.“I feel like a dork.”
The door burst open and Steve Coltrap hurried in.“I’m sorry, I know I shouldn’t be here, but I saw you almost go down.Nixi, what’s wrong?”He sat next to her and patted her hand.
Now there was a man who could share his emotions.
Nixi coughed out.“I’m an idiot who forgot to eat.”
Steve slipped an arm over her shoulder.“You can’t sacrifice health for this business, no matter how successful you are.Let’s go back out there, sit by the fire to warm up, and get you some protein.”With his blond hair, he looked like a young attorney.A hot one.
Apparently Nixi thought so, too.She leaned into him.“I’m so glad we found each other on this trip.I know you’re in the middle of that live video with those guys from New York.Go back and do that, and I’ll meet up with you later.Right now, I think I’ll jump over to the Green Plate.I heard they have homemade chicken noodle soup today.”
“It’s fantastic soup,” Amka agreed, concern filtering through her.“I hope we haven’t been overworking you.”
“No.”Nixi waved the thought away.“I just forgot to eat.”She pushed to her feet and nudged Steve back the way he’d come.“I’ll go out the back door.”She winced.“Please keep this totally embarrassing moment between us.I don’t want any of the other influencers to see me losing it.That actually might make for a good post.”
Steve grimaced.“You’re not wrong.Okay.I’ll go cover for you.How about we meet up tomorrow morning for a sunrise post?We could catch some spectacular footage.”
Nixi stretched up on her calves.“That’d be great.I think you have a great eye for posts.You’re going to grow fast.”
Steve patted her arm, his lips curving.“Thanks.I’m definitely seeing the draw of this kind of lifestyle.”He turned to Amka.“If you change your mind about that interview, let me know.I’d love to reveal your identity.The woman the hot-bodied Alaskan rescued.”
Amka paused.“Now that you bring it up, why hasn’t anybody identified us?All of you know our names by now.”
Nixi snorted.
Steve flushed.“Let’s just say that Alaskan threatened death, and nobody thought he was joking.”He pushed open the door and returned to the bar.
