Page 64 of Fighting a Riot

He wrapped his fingers around my bicep. “It’s been a while, and I’m not the dumbass sixteen-year-old I was when Dad had it, but I remember having to stay away from him. If he got a fever it was a problem, and schools are nothing but fuckin’ cesspools of germs.”

“Right, but—”

“Nora, don’t repeat this, but Platinum’s isn’t too far off from being a cesspool. I’m not gonna be the person who gives you some fuckin’ cold or ear infection that forces you to spend more time in a hospital or any of that shit.”

Oh my God. That was both the most unromantic thing anyone had said to me and the most romantic thing anyone had said to me. My heart swelled at the conviction in his tone.

“Yak, it’s my first treatment. My white blood cells aren’t going to die instantaneously. It’ll take time, which is why I have another eight treatments to go.”

His eyes widened. “Fuck. Eight? Did it get into your lymph nodes?”

I exhaled quietly through my nose as I closed my eyes for a moment, then focused on him. “Just one, but the oncologist would rather be aggressive.”

He nodded. “Yeah. That’s good though.”

“It will be once it’s all done assuming it works.”

He stared at me. “Don’t be negative, Nora. You gotta have faith. The treatment is going to work. The more you believe that, the more likely it is to happen.”

My brows arched. “You’re sounding very Zen, there Yak.”

He scoffed. “Whatever. Set the table, smarty.”

I frowned. “Do you mind if we eat on the couch? I really don’t feel like eating at the table.”

As soon as the words were out there, I regretted speaking. It sounded like a manipulation tactic. Maybe it was in some small way, but really, I just wanted to slouch on the couch with a cup of soup in my lap.

The fact Yak would have to be mere inches from me was an added bonus.

“Whatever floats your boat, princess.”

I set out two bowls with handles, put spoons next to them and wandered back to the couch.

Even though Yak wasn’t wearing his cut, when he sat down next to me I swore I could smell faint traces of leather along with his soapy-citrus scent.

Half-way through my bowl of soup, Yak announced, “I’m givin’ you space for a reason.”

I turned my head to him. “Because I’m ill?”

His head tipped to the side a touch. “More because you’re dealing with major life issues – more than one, when you think about it.”

I swallowed a spoonful of soup. “If by more than one, you’re referring to Destin, I’m over it.”

He gave me a skeptical look. “No, you’re not. And if you are, I have to wonder why you’d get engaged to him in the first place.”

My brows shot up. “If he’d only cast me aside because of my health diagnosis, that would have been one thing. It happens to a fair number of people facing dire health issues. The spouse can’t handle the upcoming changes, bills, whatever. Not that I think that’s any more forgivable, but, Yak. He was cheating –maybe not physically, but there’s no reason Mia should have been able to dive right into his bed like she did. Not unless there was open communication happening between them already.”

“She was at your bachelorette party… Wasn’t she going to be in your wedding? Wouldn’t that force the two of them to be on talking terms? And what I want to know is why did she insist on taking you bitches to Platinum’s? That is such an odd choice, though your party wasn’t the first batch of women to come through our doors.”

After a single deep nod, I smiled. “Exactly. She dragged us to Platinum’s because she met up with Destin while we were there. At a minimum, Destin had to have been flirting or giving Mia some sort of signal that things could go there because that’s awful fast for things to progress –even if they did date before I came along.”

He shook his head. “I’m giving you space because you need a different kind of man in your life.”

A mirthless laugh bubbled out of me. “Oh, we’re back to this except, instead of it being what I deserve, you’re going to tell me what I need.” I shook my head. “Yak, I like you… as a person. Am I also attracted to you? Yes. But, what little I know of you, I like you. That shouldn’t mean you have to give me space.”

He stared at me for a long moment. “I won’t be around while you’re having your treatments.”

I set my bowl on the coffee table, then threw my hands up in the air. “For heaven’s sake, why? That sounds like you’re scared and you don’t strike me as a coward, Noah.”

---