“What’s the other part?”

She took a deep breath until she was sure her voice wouldn’t shake. “My mother—she threw me out.”

His face fell. “I wish you’d told me that, too. You could have stayed with me.”

She wagged her eyebrows at him. “Sounds like your apartment is kind of crowded.”

“Don’t do that. Don’t joke. Are you okay? Do you have a place to stay?”

She hedged, worrying that if the wrong person overheard her, they’d call social services or something. This paranoia was ridiculous, but she’d rather sleep on a street corner than be forced into a group home or wherever they’d shove her. “I’m staying with Tyler right now. I’m just waiting out my mother.” She made her voice casual, easy. “She needs a few days to dry out is all, and she’ll forget what happened.”

Or maybe she’d throw out Jake’s trophies.

Adam was still studying her.

Quinn moved into another stretch, hoping he’d take this as a cue to change the subject. “I’m fine,” she said. “Really. I’m fine.” Motion in the mirror caught her eye. Tyler had definitely moved closer to Nick.

She’d taken Tyler at his word when he’d said Nick had picked a fight Friday night, but now, watching them, it made her wonder. Tyler had compared Nick’s abilities to a rogue lion. Had he poked the lion with a stick, just to watch it break out the fangs?

With a flash of guilt, she remembered Nick’s fear in his driveway. He’d hidden it under a layer of self-defense and aggression, but she’d seen it.

She was seeing it now.

Adam glanced over. “Nick said their families are fighting.” “He told you that?”

A nod. “That’s why he didn’t want you seeing Tyler.”

“That’s not all of it,” she said. “I think Tyler used to beat the shit out of him when he was younger.”

Adam froze. “He didn’t tell me that.”

“He barely told me. I had to drag it out of him. I almost didn’t believe him. I mean, you look at Nick and you’d think anyone would be an idiot to pick a fight with him, but—”

“It doesn’t matter what it looks like,” Adam snapped. “All that matters is what it really is.”

“I know,” she said quietly. She hesitated. “Tyler isn’t a bad guy, either, Adam.”

Adam glanced at where Nick and Tyler were sitting. “I hope you’re right, Quinn. I really hope you’re right.”

Nick wondered if he could suffocate Tyler right here and get away with it.

At least it would make this douche bag shut up.