Page 50 of Fighting a Riot

“There’s nothing going on there, Trixie.”

Trixie scoffed. “Peddle that shit somewhere else, Nora. I saw him lay that kiss on you. He knew your family was here, he knew shit was getting real for you, and he avoids you? I’ve known him a long damn time. That isn’t like him.”

I aimed a small smile at Trixie. “I love that you’re looking out for me like that, Trixie, but I don’t expect anything from Yak. I’m just a woman he took pity on, and now I’m his neighbor.”

The fact we made out and he finger-fucked me wasn’t any of Trixie’s business.

Mallory swiped the music app closed on my phone. “I don’t know what happened in the beginning, but there’s no way Yak ‘took pity on’ you. If one of these guys pities a woman, they find some other way to deal with it.”

Trixie nodded. “More like they find someone else to deal with her, but Yak did just the opposite.”

Before I could refute them, someone knocked on my door.

“Speak of the devil,” Trixie muttered.

I narrowed my eyes at her. “It might be someone else.”

“Nora, is Trixie in there?” Yak’s muffled voice asked.

I grinned at Trixie. “Seems the devil is looking for you.”

Mallory choked on laughter. “More like he’s concerned about what Trixie’s doing to corrupt you.”

“I don’t corrupt… much,” Trixie said.

My body stilled when I opened the door. “What did you do to your hair?”

His hand went to the back of his head. “I didn’t think it looked that bad.”

It didn’t. It looked so good I actually wanted to put my fingers in his hair more now that it was short than when it was long.

I shook my head. “No, it looks good. Never realized you had such a huge diamond stud in your ear because of your hair.” I paused, then whispered, “Impressive.”

Yak’s eyes closed and he gave two short shakes of his head. He opened his eyes and looked past me at Trixie. “Can you come out here for a moment, Trix?”

Trixie assumed a stubborn woman stance with her arms crossed and a foot jutting out at an angle. “Pretty sure whatever you need to say can be said in front of these two.”

Yak’s tone became deeper, almost darker. “Not when it concerns my rent.”

If Yak had taken that tone with me, I’d have scurried out the door.

Trixie smiled coyly. “You should be talking to Roll about that. Not me.”

“Trixie.”

Her smile widened. “Love the haircut. When was the last time you cut it? Ten years ago?”

Mallory hung her head and whispered, “Oh, man.”

Yak ignored Mallory. “Stay out of other people’s business, Trixie, or we’re gonna have problems.”

This had become uncomfortable. “Is that all, then? Thanks for dropping by Noah.”

His eyes locked with mine. “I’m glad your surgery went well and that your family was here for you.”

I heard footsteps and realized a car door had slammed a moment ago, but had been too engrossed in Trixie and Yak’s conversation.

“Who are you?” my brother Evan demanded from behind Yak.

---