Page 31 of Racing Dirty Trilogy Box Set

Xavier

present day

“Xavier, you with us?" Izzy asks, snapping me out of my memory.

“Yeah.” I clear my throat. “Yes, I’m here,” I answer. My face burns with embarrassment. Izzy gives me a knowing smile.

“Did you hear what Nolan said?" She asks me. Izzy knows damn well I didn’t but loves teasing me.

We’re all sitting at a round table, laughing and relaxing after a long night. There are only a few other patrons here, sitting at booths scattered around the restaurant eating and going about their business.

“Nope,” I say popping the p at the end. Izzy breaks out into a fit of giggles.

“I didn’t think so,” she says after she composes herself. I pull her chair closer to mine and wrap my arm around her shoulders. She leans into me letting out a satisfied groan. I look at Nolan. “What did you say?"

Nolan barks out a laugh, “Bro, you’ve got to stop fantasizing. You know that shit is unhealthy right?”

I throw a balled-up napkin at his head, but he ducks at the last second laughing. I flip him off with a smile.

Nolan composes himself. “I said it’s nice to have us all back together again. Like the old days.” His seriousness shocks me. Ever since Izzy’s life has been in danger a new side of him is showing, a dangerous side I’ve never seen before and I’m grateful for having him by my side.

“Yeah, it is.”

Mia and Christian are whispering to each other, ignoring the rest of us. I try to listen in, but their voices are too low. Mia looks pissed.

“Mia,” I hiss, getting her attention.

She turns her glare to me. “What?" She barks out.

I raise my eyebrow at her. “Everything OK?"

“Yes, just annoyed. You know how I get when I’m Hangorny.” Mia huffs out. Izzy bursts out laughing, her body shaking uncontrollably.

“What the fuck is Hangorny?" Nolan asks Mia, confusion all over his face.

Mia takes a frustrated breath. “Hangorny is when you’re hungry, angry, and horny all at once.”

We all laugh at her just as our waitress, who is the owner, comes up to take our order.

She looks at Mia and rests a hand on her shoulder.

“Oh Hunny, don’t get me started on that.

" She points to Christian who has his arm around Mia’s chair, “Son, you better get on that.

When a woman is Hangorny, there is no telling what she will do.

She might stab you with that fork and then lick you afterward. "

Mia sighs dramatically and I brace myself for her crazy shit she’s about to explode on us.

“It’s about fucking time someone gets it!

That’s what I have been trying to tell you, but no, you keep making me wait.

I don’t like to wait, I have no patience.

" She throws her hands up in the air. Christian is trying not to laugh.

“Can we discuss this later?" He asks.

“No, we can’t fucking discuss,” She makes air quotes, “this later. We can talk about this now. I know Nolan isn’t gettin’ any.” Mia points her finger at Nolan like we don’t know who he is.

Nolan throws the balled-up napkin at Mia, I threw at him, hitting her in the side of the head.

“Hey, don’t fucking bring me into this, I’m gettin’ plenty, fuck you very much,” Nolan grunts.

Mia rolls her eyes at him. “No, you’re not.

” She states. “Izzy and Xavier have been all over each other for weeks now, which I’m happy for because it’s about damn time they both pulled their heads out of their asses.

But you and me,” She points between the two of them.

“Nope, fucking nothing." Mia turns her crazy glare on Christian. “Ever since that night we met, and Izzy raced like her ass was on fire, all I get is kisses here and there. Maybe some groping. Don’t you know that it isn’t nice to make someone wait? "

Izzy holds up her hand, there’s a glint in her eyes. “Wait, wait, wait. Back up a minute." She looks at Nolan and I groan, knowing where she’s going with this.

“Nolan, are you gay?" She asks him with a serious face, “I mean if you are that’s great."

Nolan’s face turns red. “What?! I’m not gay. Far from it. I love tits and ass, fuck you very much."

“Then why haven’t you gotten any in a while?" Izzy asks him. She is still looking at him seriously, if I didn’t know her as well as I do, I wouldn’t know she is rattling him. Nolan takes a deep breath and pinched the bridge of his nose.

“Honestly?" He asks.

Mia and Izzy both nod their heads and say yes at the same time. It’s scary how they’re so in sync with each other.

“Well, since this fucker,” Nolan points to me. “Started getting serious with you,” Nolan points his finger at Izzy. “None of the ladies are looking for a hook up. They all want me to put a ring on it before I put my dick in it.” Nolan shudders at the thought.

Izzy still serious says. “So, what you’re saying is,” She pauses for a dramatic effect. Then she breaks out singing Beyoncé’s, ‘Single Ladies’ song. Mia joins her, and they sing off-key laughing as they belt the famous singer’s lyrics.

Nolan flips them off and turns his attention to the owner. “I’m sorry for my rude friends here." He glares at Mia and Izzy still singing away. “I’ll have the farmer’s omelet, white toast, and extra bacon, please."

The waitress takes the rest of our orders and puts a hand on Nolan’s shoulder. “Hun, maybe it’s time to find someone to put a ring on it.” She laughs and Nolan shudders.

“Nope, no way. Not for me nuh-uh," Nolan says dramatically.

Our waitress walks away to put in our order. Nolan is still shaking his head and he glares at Izzy. “I can’t believe you thought I was gay!" He screeches, his voice jumping a few octaves higher.

Izzy laughs, the sound is music to my ears. “I didn’t really jackass. I was picking on you like you pick on me." She smirks.

“Funny fucker, just a funny fucker aren’t ya,” Nolan pouts.

Izzy shrugs her shoulders, “Ya know, it takes one to know one." She winks at Nolan.

“Yeah, I guess I had that coming." He turns to Mia and Christian. “So, what’s your excuse fucker?" Nolan asks Christian.

Mia turns her head at Christian, cocking an eyebrow at him. “Yeah, what’s your excuse? You’ve got someone who wants to give it up and you leave her high and dry.” Mia says as Christian is taking a drink.

He chokes on his pop and Nolan slaps him on the back. After Christian can breathe again, he takes Mia’s hand.

“Ok, I have to figure out how to word this without offending you,” Christian says to Mia.

Izzy gasps, her eyes are wide, and she blurts out. “Are YOU gay?"

Christian looks at Izzy shocked. “What. No, I’m not gay. Far from it too."

Nolan throws another napkin at Izzy, barely missing her head. “What the fuck is it with you and a guy being gay?" he asks.

Izzy shrugs her shoulders. “I’ve been around gay guys for five years. It’s a natural question now,” she says nonchalantly.

Christian is whispering to Mia as Izzy and Nolan are bantering back and forth.

I catch part of gay people and living that way.

I don’t know, I tune them out. Mia is nodding her head at what Christian’s saying, a smile spreads across her face.

She touches his cheek affectionately and Christian breathes a sigh of relief, taking her hand and kissing the back of it.

“I thought you were in L.A., not San Francisco.” I hear Nolan ask Izzy.

Before Izzy can answer, Mia interrupts. “It’s OK, we’re all good now." Nolan and Izzy give Mia a questioning look. They missed Mia and Christian’s private conversation while they were bickering with each other. Mia shrugs her shoulders.

“A total misunderstanding. It’s good.” She smiles brightly at Christian. “I’m still hangry though. No longer hangorny. Just hangry. Ok maybe a little horny, but mostly hangry."

“Mia,” Izzy interrupts, “You’re rambling." Mia shuts up.

A few minutes later our waitress brings out our food and we all eat.

I look around the table. Nolan is laughing at something Christian said.

Mia and Izzy are talking quietly to each other.

We’re all relaxed, having a good time and I’m grateful.

Something in my gut tells me this is the quiet before the storm.

Something bad is headed our way, and I’m going to be powerless to stop it.