“You say he, maybe, it’s not even a guy,” said Duncan.
We all looked at him.
“I’m just saying,” he said, playing with the sugar packets. “It could be a female. Don’t count a woman out.”
I glanced at Duncan and wondered if he knew who’d killed Susan. It wouldn’t have surprised me if it was Celeste. Unfortunately, I couldn’t read anything in his expression because of his sunglasses. I reached over and snatched them from his face.
“Hey,” he said, trying to take them back. “I was up late and my eyes hurt.”
I scowled. “Tough. Have some manners.”
He sighed and looked up at Rosie. “Sorry.”
She smiled. “It’s okay. Can I get you guys something to drink right away?”
Nathan and I ordered sodas and Duncan ordered a glass of water.
“How’s your wrist?” she asked me.
I raised and moved it around. “Better. I meant to call you, actually. I can start back whenever you want me to. It’s a little tender, but I’m sure it’ll be fine.”
She nodded. “Hate to ask but, how about tonight?”
I nodded “Yeah, sure, what time?”
“Four?”
“I’ll be here,” I answered.
“So,” said Nathan, after she left. “Duncan, I have some questions for you.”
Duncan’s look was stoic. “What’s up?”
Nathan leaned forward. “First of all, what the hell is going on with you?”
Duncan rubbed a hand over his chin and smiled bitterly. “Had a rough week, man.”
“So I hear,” replied Nathan.
“Tell him,” I prodded Duncan. “Tell Nathan, because he doesn’t believe me.”
“Tell him what, exactly?” he asked, turning towards me.
My jaw dropped. “You’re kidding me, right?”
“Let’s start with Celeste,” said Nathan. “What’s going on between you two?”
Before Duncan could respond, Ethan walked into the restaurant with a blond woman. With his long, black leather jacket, sunglasses, and lazy grin, he reminded me of a musician who’d just gotten done pulling an all-nighter. If that wasn’t shocking enough, when the woman turned around, my blood turned to ice. It was the nasty woman from the other day, Faye Dunbar.
“Oh, my God,” I whispered, as Ethan removed his sunglasses and led the woman over to the other side of the diner. They sat down in a booth together, face to face. She had a flirtatious grin on her face, and from the sensual smile on his face, he also appeared to be enjoying her company. Then, when I saw him grab her hand and place it in his, I wanted to throw up.
“What the hell?” I hissed, clenching my fists as Faye leaned forward and kissed Ethan’s lips; the same ones that had been all over my body only hours before.
Nathan turned to see who I was staring at and almost choked on his water. “Holy shit.”
“Let me out, Duncan,” I demanded, my blood boiling.
“Don’t,” he said, holding my arm. “You don’t want to disturb them. In fact, that woman isn’t who she appears to be.”
I stared at him. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
His face darkened. “I met her yesterday.”
“Yeah, well, I met her a few days ago. She’s an arrogant bitch,” I said.
And now she was with Ethan! What the hell was going on?
Duncan’s eyes moved to Nathan and then back to me. “She’s a very powerful shape-shifter. Don’t fuck with her.”
“A what?” I whispered.
“A shape-whater?” asked Nathan.
Duncan sighed. “Her name is Faye and from what I’ve been told, she is not someone you want to mess with.”
“First of all,” smiled Nathan. “You’re both insane; seriously, insane. Second of all,” he said, turning towards me. “Nikki, it’s obvious that Ethan and this woman have something going. So, just get over whatever it is that you feel for him and grow the fuck up. He’s a no-good asshole who obviously, likes a variety of women. He’s a little too old for you, anyway.”
I shook my head. “You don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“I agree,” said Duncan. “Stay away from him. You’re just a toy to that guy and Faye, well, you need to avoid her at all costs. She’ll kill you without a second thought if you make her mad.”
I looked back over to Ethan’s table and our eyes met. The shock registered on his face was priceless. He quickly turned away.
“He just saw you, obviously,” said Duncan.
“I want to go over there,” I mumbled. “Duncan, move please.”
He sighed and got out of the booth. “You’re making a mistake by interrupting them. I can tell you that right now.”
I took a deep breath and let it out. “Listen, I just don’t want him to think that I’m bothered by them being here,” I said, although I was mad as all hell. “I’m just going to go over and say hello, that’s all.” Then I reached up and gave Duncan a kiss on the mouth, hoping that Ethan had witnessed it. I knew it wasn’t fair to Duncan, especially since everything that had happened, but I wanted Ethan to know that I wasn’t anyone’s play toy.