“I have one more,” Jace said, undeterred. “It’s a new one. What’s the difference between a tire and three-hundred and sixty-five used condoms?”
“Jace,” Matty warned, fighting a grin.
“One’s a Goodyear,” Jace beamed. “The other’s agreatyear.”
Everyone was still laughing as the plates hit the table—a greasy, glorious parade of burgers, fries, pancakes, and things that probably violated a few FDA guidelines. Natalie kept peppering me with questions between bites, and I was finally starting to relax.
A shadow fell across the table, and Natalie stopped mid-sentence.
I looked up, expecting Mildred back with refills…and I immediately understood why everyone had gone still.
A girl stood at the end of the booth.
She was pale, almost translucent under the diner’s fluorescent lights, with stringy brown hair that hung flat around her face and wide-set, haunting eyes. She stared at us silently, and I realized…she wasn’t blinking.
“Emma,” Riley greeted, visibly forcing a polite smile. “Hi.”
Emma’s head tilted a fraction. “My roommate moved out,” she said in a voice too calm to be casual. “If you ever want to move back in, Riley. She didn’t like me watching her sleep.”
The entire table froze.
Jace’s arm clamped tighter around Riley, pulling her flush against him. He slid her over his lap until she was seated on his other side, farther away from Emma. “Yeah,” he said. “That’s a really nice offer. But she’s going to have to pass.”
Emma didn’t acknowledge him. Her gaze drifted to Matty…and somehow she still hadn’t blinked.
I had the urge to throw myself in front of him so she couldn’t stare at his face. He wasmine.
“I had a beautiful dream about us, Matthew,” she said sweetly.
Matty’s throat bobbed as he swallowed. “Oh…um, that’s nice?” he said nervously.
Her lips curved in a delicate smile. “We were getting married.”
I resisted the urge to launch myself at her.
“Oh,” he said weakly.
“In our graves,” she added.
The silence was absolute. Even the buzz of the diner seemed to pause.
Natalie blinked first, sitting up straighter with a too-bright grin. “Cool! Love a theme wedding. Can’t wait to see the invitations.”
Jace coughed into his napkin to cover a snort. Parker buried his face in his hands.
Emma just smiled again…still not blinking. “Sweet dreams.”
When she finally turned and walked out, the whole table seemed to exhale at once.
Jace leaned back, eyes wide. “Well,” he said. “That’s one way to kill a vibe.”
I blinked at him, still trying to process what had just happened. “Who…who was that?”
Riley groaned, rubbing a hand over her face. “My old roommate.”
“And one of Matty’s stalkers,” Jace added helpfully, picking up his fry again like we hadn’t just witnessed something out of a horror movie. “He’s got a whole collection for some reason—though, if we’re being honest, I’m obviously more stalk-worthy.”
Matty didn’t miss a beat. “You want me to remind you about Ms. Three Nipple?”
