Chapter 4

Nicole had always claimed she loved to paint, and that her hands, which had never made it past amateur-hour sketching, were too precious to waste on peeling shells and cracking crab.

Turns out that had nothing to do with her hands and everything to do with who was asking. It wasn't that she couldn't do it. It was that I wasn't worth the trouble.

Satisfaction gleamed in Freddy's eyes, and he couldn't resist pushing further. "But the crab here is so good, Nicole. Are you sure you don't want..."

I cut him off. "It's fine. I had this with a client on my trip and overdid it. I probably won't want to touch crab again for a while."

Nicole smiled. "Didn't you always say you'd rather skip it than peel it? Unless..." Her expression shifted, just slightly. "Someone peeled it for you?"

I nodded. "The client was insistent. Hard to say no."

Her hands went still. "Was it a man or a woman? How old?"

"A woman, early twenties or so. Why does it matter?"

Freddy put on a show of hesitation. "I just don't think it's great, letting some man who isn't your boyfriend peel crab for you..."

I brushed it off. "It's just a crab. No need to make a whole thing out of it. Nicole won't mind, right, Nicole?"

Nicole dropped the crab straight onto her plate and said icily, "If you have something to say, Scott, say it. Don't dance around it like this."

For a moment, the whole table went still.

Someone tried to smooth it over. "I'm sure she's just jealous. Come on, Freddy, peel him one too."

I smiled, wiped my mouth, and stood, grabbing my bag. "No need. I'm full. Go ahead without me."

Nicole shot to her feet. "Are you done making a scene?"

Then she took a breath. "I know you're still upset, but listen to me. Sit back down. We'll go home together after this and talk it through properly, okay?"

The others chimed in too.

"Come on, Scott, sit down. Talk it out."

"Freddy's her college junior. It's normal for her to look out for him a little."

They were saying all the right things, but there was more than a little impatience showing through in their eyes.

Nicole's tone sharpened. "Listen to me, Scott. Tonight, Freddy's going to explain everything to you himself, not just me."

I raised an eyebrow. "Explain what? Are you bringing him home with us?"

She nodded. "That's actually what I wanted to tell you. Freddy's had some trouble, a break-in and an assault, so it isn't safe for him right now. I'm letting him stay with us for a while until we find him a new place.

"Besides, you're there too, so with two men in the house, no one will have anything to gossip about.

"Sit back down. I'll drive you both home in a bit."

"No thanks," I said flatly. "It's out of my way, I'm afraid."

Nicole's chest rose and fell a few times before she finally snapped, "Do you have to fight with me in public like this?

"Fine, out of your way? Then get yourself home. And don't bother going back to Rayen Court either!"

Her friends went quiet at the outburst, though not one of them bothered hiding how pleased they looked at my expense.

I nodded. "That's exactly what I was about to tell you. I already moved out. So no, I won't be going back."

Nicole kicked her chair over and stared me down. "Moved out? When?"