Part 54 (2/2)
”I can explain.”
”Seriously, Ethan, I don't care.” I fight against demanding answers, asking if she knew he was cheating too. But I don't.
He sits anyway, in the chair opposite. Nate's chair. ”Can I make it up to you?”
”What?”
Ethan turns on a rueful smile, accentuating his dimples. The smile and dimples on his lying, cheating face. ”I f.u.c.ked up, Fleur, but I've thought about this and ”
”Please leave me alone. I am not the kind of girl to fall for this c.r.a.p.” When Ethan reaches over the table, I s.n.a.t.c.h my hand away. ”I already fell for your bulls.h.i.+t once. Not again.”
A cup of coffee crashes onto the table between us as Nate appears. ”Dude, she told you to leave her alone.”
The tone of Nate's voice surprises Ethan as much as me, who looks between Nate and me. The dark expression on Nate's face challenges Ethan. What for, I have no idea.
”We're talking,” Ethan says.
”We're having lunch. You're interrupting.”
”You? And her?”
”Just lunch.” Nate stiffens at my words. ”But please go,” I add.
”Can I call you?”
”Fleur said leave her alone, didn't she?” Nate fixes harsh eyes on Ethan, towering over where he sits. ”Maybe you should p.i.s.s off.”
Whoa. ”Nate...”
The challenge continues as Ethan looks at Nate, fighting down a smile. ”Really?”
”Yeah. You're upsetting Fleur. I picked up the pieces the other night and I don't want you upsetting her again.”
Is Nate for real? Ethan shares my confusion. ”Picked up what pieces?”
”Nate!”
Ethan stands and picks up his cup. ”You're weird.”
”You're an a.r.s.ehole.”
”Nate!” I repeat voice rising.
The quiet cafe is now deadly silent, and I'm set to crawl under the table. Can't I go anywhere in public with Nate without him embarra.s.sing me?
Ethan sidesteps Nate and walks away, throwing me a confused frown as he does. Nate sits and picks up his coffee.
”What the h.e.l.l was that?” I whisper.
”What?”
”You. Ethan.”
”Just setting him straight. You want him to leave you alone; I'm making sure he does.”
”By making me look like I can't deal with the situation?”
”No.”
”What then?”
”Dunno. I saw your face and you looked upset. Because of him. I thought I'd help you.”
There's no point. He doesn't understand what he did wrong and I don't want to argue with him. The tables around have resumed their conversations, the encounter forgotten. Or is it? What if rumours start?
”Very chivalrous, Nate, but I'm a twenty-first century woman.”
”Suit yourself.” Is he pouting? Nate pushes the cup to one side. ”Nearly done with your kin-whatever?”
I refuse to admit I agree with him on my lunch's tastelessness. ”I'm full.”
”Uh huh.”
My chair sc.r.a.pes as I stand and grab my coat. The moment we step outside, Nate takes a huge breath as if he's walked out of a nightmare. ”Thank f.u.c.k for that. Weird place.”
”Don't be so dramatic!”
”Next time, I'll take you somewhere with decent food.” He sweeps a hand in my direction. ”You'd be too skinny if you lost weight. I like a girl with curves.”
I have no idea how to respond to that, instead I walk away.
We head back to campus and rain breaks from the dark clouds that gathered in the grey sky while we were in the cafe.
”c.r.a.p.” I'm wearing a jacket with no hood, leaving me unprepared for the changeable autumn weather.
We duck into a doorway as the rainfall speeds up and I shake water from my arms. My hair flattens against my head and I wipe raindrops from my face. ”Ugh.”
”Want to borrow this?” asks Nate, moving to shrug his leather jacket off.
”It doesn't have a hood.”
”Good point.” He runs a hand through his damp hair and peers into the sky. ”Maybe there'll be a break in the weather soon. We can make a run for it then?”
The situation is bizarre. Completely weird. Sheltering in a boarded up shop doorway with one of music's rising stars and he's checking out the weather. We're close, the doorway narrow, and I'm more aware than I should be of how close. I side glance him. ”Nate, why did you want me to spend time with you?”
”You owed me.”
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