Page 27 of When The Noise Stops

Pink frosting. Leopard spots. Gold shit around the edges.

She frowned at me.

"Why'd you lock the door?" she said.

"You knew I was coming."

She pushed past me and walked in, talking a mile a minute. She was wearing a sundress again, this one green.

"Fucking bridesmaid cancelled this stupid cake. Said it was too expensive. Decided she was poor after I baked it. So I brought it to you. You eat anything."

She went straight to the kitchen, grabbed plates, cut a slice. Walked back and handed me one.

"Tiny tell you we're going to the night market in Clearwater tomorrow? You're coming."

She took a bite. Made a face.

Then she turned with a fork in her mouth and looked at my face.

Her smile faded. Just a little.

"What's wrong, Knox?" No Grizz. Just Knox.

I shook my head.

"Nothing's wrong. Now."

She just watched me for a second. Then she looked down at the cake.

"This really is fucking nasty."

I almost smiled. Didn't quite get there.

She set the plate down.

"You don't have to come to the market," she said quietly.

"Didn't say I didn't want to."

She watched me another second. Then she nodded.

"Eat two bites," she said.

"Then we can throw it away. I'll feel better about wasting the time and ingredients then."

I ate two bites.

She was right.

It was nasty.

Chapter 10

Lila

The night market was buzzing, even though it was hot as hell at seven.

String lights crisscrossed above the vendor stalls. You could smell different kinds of meat, sweaty people, and fried dough in the air. Families with kids. Couples holding hands. Old women bargaining over handmade jewelry.