Page 73 of Property of Yak

“Yeah? Are you sure about that? Because before you, cops didn’t just waltz in here like they had a cause for concern,” Liz quips.

“Are you sure about that? Because this isn’t the first time I’ve seen one walking around here when they shouldn’t be,” he retorts.

“Enough!” I yell, making both of them look my way. “I will not have two people I deeply care about going at each other’s throats. You two need to stop pointing fingers at each other and talk like reasonable adults. If you can’t do that, there’s the door.” I point to it.

I watch as the wind leaves both of their sails at the same time, and their tempers drop.

“Thank you. Now let’s sit and talk,” I say, waving toward the couch.

Liz flops down into the spot she was occupying earlier. Yak walks over to the chair and pulls me into his lap.

“How disgustingly sweet,” Liz mutters under her breath.

“Tell me about the cop,” Yak demands.

Turning, I look at him, raising an eyebrow.

“Please,” he mutters after a moment.

“Thank you. I appreciate the manners. As for the cop, his name is Ray Overstreet. He’s my dad’s right-hand man. He’s been around for a few years,” I tell him.

Liz makes a noise, and Yak looks at her. “And you don’t like him.”

Liz shakes her head. “Never have. There’s something about him that I don’t like. I know he’s a snake. I just can’t prove it, and the way he looks at Julie isn’t right. It’s downright creepy.”

I roll my eyes. “He doesn’t look at me.”

“She doesn’t realize it,” Yak says, referring to me.

Liz shakes her head. “No, she’s oblivious to his interest. Always has been.”

“Sure, talk about me like I’m not in the room,” I mutter, tossing my hands up.

“She always this dramatic?” Yak asks.

“Always,” Liz sighs.

“Pot meet kettle,” I toss back at my best friend.

“Do you remember how we met?” Yak asks, rubbing my lower back.

I look over my shoulder and share a moment.

Somehow I know he’s asking me if I remember the events that lead to us meeting, not the meeting itself. He’s asking if I remember not realizing I was in trouble until it was too late.

Does he think that this is the same type of situation?

That I’m oblivious to others’ interest in me until it turns dangerous?

The thought has my stomach rolling.

“Uh, I don’t know how you met. In fact, I know key details have been left out that I’m dying to know about,” Liz cuts in.

“That’s between Yak and I,” I tell her, not looking away from Yak. “I don’t think Ray is dangerous, though. Sure, he might be a little eager to please my dad where I’m concerned, but I think it ends there. I think you both are seeing it wrong.”

“You’re wrong, Jules. So fucking wrong,” Liz says.

“I’m going to have to agree with your best friend here. Sometimes we don’t see what’s in front of us until it’s too late.” He raises a brow, once again, reminding me of the past.