Page 19 of Fighting a Riot

He shook his head. “I’ll let Blake know you’re working from home.” He paused, then whispered, “Wink, wink.”

I nodded. “Well, thank you, sir.”

He groaned. “What’d I tell you about that ‘sir’ business? Get to work, Ms. Ellis.”

I got to work, but from the moment Mia arrived it was much more difficult than usual. She wasn’t sabotaging me –at least not in a way I could prove it– but she had passive-aggressive tendencies I’d underestimated.

Topping it off, my other coworkers were whispering about things behind my back. On the rare occasions I caught them, they looked at me like a lost puppy.

Whatever.

I had to keep my head down and do my job. Keeping my health insurance was paramount.

I parked my car, noting that Yak’s bike was gone. Part of me wished he were around, but our schedules were literally night and day from one another. At this point, that was undoubtedly for the best. I didn’t need a rebound and I definitely didn’t want another relationship.

Tonight my plan was to make shrimp scampi, have one glass of chardonnay, and unpack three boxes. Then I was going to read for an hour-ish, and go to bed early.

Someone knocked on my door, then I heard it open.

Trixie’s voice filled the small space. “Yoo-hoo. How’s it goin’, Nora?”

I came out of the small bedroom as she closed the door behind her. “Hi, Trixie. What brings you by? Did something go wrong with my paperwork?”

She shook her head. “No. Yak says you need a wing-woman tomorrow.”

I pressed my lips together. “He shouldn’t have done that.”

Her brown eyes widened. “You should have called me, Nora. I know we just met, but you need someone at your side. And he already told me what you said about it being a consultation. That doesn’t matter, woman.”

I took a deep breath. “I don’t want to waste anyone’s time.”

She crossed her arms under her ample breasts. “Let’s get something straight right now. You are not wasting anyone’s time, lady. This is serious shit. What time do I need to be here?”

“My appointment is at two, but they want me there early, so… one-fifteen?”

“Done,” she said, then she peered into the small kitchen adjacent to the living area. “What are you doing for dinner?”

“I was going—”

“Wait, I said the wrong thing. You want pizza or Mexican?”

I shook my head. “Um, I was going to cook.”

She threw a hand out like she was swatting a bug. “Screw that, Nora. We’re heading out for dinner. So, what’s your preference, Carmine’s or LaNopalera?”

“Carmine’s, I guess. I was going to make pasta tonight.”

She nodded and pulled out her cell phone. “Done! Let’s go, lady. If we’re lucky, Abby will meet us over there, maybe Jackie too.”

“Who are they?” I asked.

She waved her hand at me. “I’ll tell you in the car, get some shoes on, woman. I need a beer and a Chicago beef sandwich. In that order.”

Chapter 4

Nurse Trixie

Yak

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