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Chapter Ten
.·:*¨༺ ༻¨*:·. 
tornado warnings
—by fifteyshadesofdylan
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Nathan watched Louisa while she paced back and forth in her living room. She had been freaking out since she had read the text she received. The Wuornos man couldn't make out much from the brief phone call between them before he had decided to come to her instead. It was all rushed when he had originally picked up the phone. So many words all at once, he could've sworn he felt her stress and panic from his side of the call.

Now he stood in the doorway of her living room while she rushed the words out again. He had slowed her down a bit so she could make the sentences understandable to him. He wanted to help but he could only do so if he knew what was actually going on.

"Are you sure this is who you think it is?" Nathan questioned. He looked down at her phone he held in his hand. The message was vague in a sense that he didn't have much to go off of. But clearly it was enough to leave her rattled.

"Yes. It has to be him. He even left that stupid fucking smiley face at the end. He always used it. And he's the only one from my past who would be angered that I left," Louisa told him.

Nathan reached out to put his hands on her shoulders to get her to stop moving. His eyes scanned over her face while her eyes darted around everything in the room that she could see.

"He really scares you doesn't he?" The Wuornos man observed.

"Nathan, he tried to kill me when I broke it off with him. Grant was a very deceiving man. He presented himself like he was a nice guy who would never hurt a fly, but then a moment later he could flip a switch like it was nothing. He was only away for a little because they didn't have much to hold him. His ex from before me refused to even testify on the shit he did to her because she was scared. The police on the case advised me that when the time came around that I could get a restraining order on him when he got out. But not even one of those made me feel safe. That message was from him, Nathan," Louisa declared.

It wasn't like Louisa was a weak woman. She had grown a lot from the crap she had gone through because of the psycho. She was someone who stood up for herself and others. But in the moment her walls had fallen down when she got flashbacks of the position she was in. The mess he made of her. Nearly dying on her bathroom floor due to all of his rage when the words slipped from her mouth that she didn't want to be with him anymore.

Grant was out now and he was looking for her. Somehow he had gotten her number. It was only a matter of time before he found out where she was.

"So he basically got a slap on the wrist for attempted murder? Was he like the mayor of town or something?" Nathan let out in disbelief.

"Just the son of one of the most well-known families around. They would help fund most of the stuff for the town," Louisa slapped her hands down to her side before sitting down on the couch in defeat, "Nathan, I don't know what I'm going to do if he finds me."

"We'll deal with that problem if and when it happens. But you don't have to worry. You know we won't let anything happen to you," Nathan tried to assure her but she shook her head. Her eyes watering the more she thought about Grant on her doorstep and then a repeat of what happened before.

"Nothing's going to stop him."

"Hey. Look at me Louisa," Nathan instructed the woman who was on the verge of crying, "I will make sure he doesn't hurt you again."

He hesitantly pulled her into his embrace. Slightly hiccuping into his chest. Nathan ran his hand over the top of her head. Though the 'feelings' thing was new to Nathan, he couldn't help but feel sad for Louisa. It was something he wouldn't have expected to find out. Sure he had a hunch there was more to it that caused her to move to Haven and stay there. But he didn't think one of the reasons would be because her ex tried to kill her.

"Once I get to the station tomorrow, I will start doing some searching. So we can try to be one step ahead of him and where he might be," Nathan told her.

"I don't want you to go out of your way to do that," Louisa shook her head, feeling like it was too much to even ask someone in the first place.

"Louisa, you're my friend. I'm not going to let anyone hurt you. If and when he gets here, I'll make sure that if he ever tries to hurt you again, it will be the last time he ever does."

Nathan looked off, catching his reflection in the window. The moment this Grant guy arrived, he was going to wish he never stepped foot in town. Louisa wasn't alone. It wasn't just Nathan who would be there to back her up, it was going to be half of the town too. And maybe if they were lucky a trouble would wreak havoc on Grant's life.

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Louisa had finished screwing in the last part to the new lock on the doors before she headed down to the Haven Herald. It had been a couple of days after she got the message and she was looking for a sense of security for the time being. After she had taken a trip to the hardware store in town, she had come back with many different locks for the house. A way to ease her mind even just for a moment. Nathan had offered to swing by and help her install all of them but the woman was quick to shoot him down. Telling him he had detective stuff to do and she would be fine. Life went on regardless and though she appreciated his help, she knew she could still do things alone. And as proven, installing the new locks wasn't a daunting task.

She opened the door with the bell chiming above her head. Dave had been sitting by his desk while Vince was nowhere in sight.

"What, did the other old man have something better to do this afternoon?" Louisa questioned, making her way over to her desk to put her things down.

"Oh, he went on a run to the store to pick up more paint for the back room. You were right about the paint chipping where the cabinets were. The more he looked at it the more he got irritated by it," Dave answered.

Louisa chuckled, shaking her head in amusement, "Of course I was right. It was also hard to miss when the rest of the walls were a mint green color and then above was an ugly gray."

"Your salad is still in the fridge. I would recommend you taking it before Vince because he has been eyeballing it," Dave suggested. Louisa nodded her head, almost forgetting about the salad she had bought yesterday and put in there for herself.

"Thank you for reminding me. Do you want anything from the fridge?" She asked the man.

Shaking his head, Dave looked back down at the computer in front of him, "No, I'm all set, Louisa."

Louisa did a little salute before heading into the back room. She opened the fridge up to grab the salad container and the salad dressing bottle. Placing them down onto the counter, she rummaged through the drawer for a fork before she paused hearing a new voice in the front. She inched towards the doorway to listen in. Somehow feeling the tension in the room that made her hesitate.

Dave had looked at the man, Max Hansen, in surprise seeing him in the Haven Herald. It was new news to him that he had been released. From time to time while Dave tried to work the conversation with the man, he would glance at the doorway to the back hoping Louisa stayed out of sight. Unsure of the loose-canon of a man and what he had up his sleeve.

"You're still singing that same old song, huh?" Max questioned Dave.

"What do you want, Max? Money?" Dave asked, trying to get straight to the point.

"No, what I want now is a job," Max replied.

Dave watched as he picked up one of the cards off the counter, "Well, I'm not sure I have anything. Pretty much just, uh, Vince and me these days– newspaper business, you know."

"I'd like to start in, say, uh, a week or two. I have a few things I need to wrap up first," Max stated. Louisa scrunched her nose up before walking out. Seeing the man standing in front of Dave looking at him like he was his prey.

"Excuse me, do we have a problem here?" Louisa spoke up, crossing her arms over her chest. Max turned around to see the blonde woman standing there. Dave mentally cursed at the girl in his mind. She had no idea what she was dealing with.

"Oh, I thought you said it was just you and Vince," Max looked at Dave, "Nothing to worry about here sweetheart, just looking for a job."

"That's unfortunate. We aren't hiring right now. Maybe you can try one of the grocery stores, I'm sure they're looking for more bagboys," Louisa said. Max clicked his tongue, feeling the girl getting under his skin already. "Now, if you could leave, that would be greatly appreciated. But if you need help, I'm sure I can give you a hand to the door."

Max looked from the blonde then back to Dave, "I'll be seeing you around."

Once the man had left, Louisa turned to Dave with an annoyed look.

"Who the hell was he?"

"Someone you shouldn't mess with. He's a dangerous man. Killed a few people," Dave told her.

"Well, I wasn't going to let him kick you around. Clearly he has something on the both of you, but that doesn't give him the right to stroll in here thinking he can call the shots. Now you could let me in on what the hell he has on you or you continue to leave me in the dark," Louisa looked to the man hoping he would give in finally.

Dave shook his head, "It's nothing of your concern, Louisa. And I can tell you right now Vince would probably say the same exact thing."

"Whatever. But Dave, you do realize the more secrets you guys keep, the worse it will get eventually when the truth comes out," Dave shared a look with her before turning back to his computer. She sighed and went back in to grab her salad that she deserted on the countertop. Men.

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Duke had made his way back to the Cape Rouge with a bouquet of flowers in hand. Coming from the florist around the corner from the harbor. He had been planning a small apology for Louisa. Finding that them not talking did put a damper on things especially when they would see each other out. Whenever she would be with Audrey or Nathan and Duke approached, the Gordon woman always found an excuse to leave. He was tired of the run around and he also just missed the woman's company.

What he didn't anticipate coming across as he approached his boat was a random man sitting in his chair looking out at the water.

"I don't know who you are, friend, but you need to get the hell out of my chair," Duke told the man as he stepped onboard.

"This your boat?" The random man asked.

"Damn sure not yours," Duke said, taking in how the man seemed to make himself at home. It irked him majorly. He placed the flowers and a pineapple down staring at the man.

"Then you're the man I came to see– Duke Crocker," He stated.

Duke looked down at the bald guy not liking him at all, "Well, now, you must've missed the part where I told you to get your ass out of my mother-lovin' chair."

"John Draft up in Shawshank said you might be the man to get me a job."

"Well, I'm very sorry, but I can't help you," Duke shook his head. Not wanting to help this strange man out in the slightest.

"He also said you owed him some money. And that if I wanted to collect it, that was fine with him," The man said in a threatening manner. Milking the thought it would scare Duke Crocker.

But Duke Crocker wasn't going to let some grubby old man rattle him, "Well, you tell John if he wants his money, he's gonna have to come get it himself," Duke told him before tilting his head. Realizing it was Max Hansen, "Wait, I know you. You got sent up for killing that family 20 years ago."

"25," He corrected, standing up from the chair and pulling his button up off, "You don't want to give me my money, then I'm gonna have to take it from you."

"Huh. Well, you do what you need to do," Duke shrugged, grabbing one of the broken metal pipes laying around.

"Now that doesn't seem fair to me," Max let out.

Duke smirked, "I'm not interested in fair. I'm interested in getting your ass off of my boat."

"You're probably about the third person today who tried to order me around. Between you, the chief, and that blonde at the Herald. It's really getting on my nerves," Max said. Duke glared at the man. The Crocker man wasn't even surprised Louisa told the man what to do, she probably wanted the man to be gone out of her sight like Duke wanted right now. Though something caught Duke's eyes when he glanced down. He saw the tattoo Max Hansen had on his forearm. The tattoo.

Duke placed the pipe down with a knowing look on his face, "You didn't come here to fight."

"That's a gamble," Max said, taking in Duke's cocky attitude.

"You just got paroled. You're gonna risk getting sent back inside for John Draft's money?" Duke subtly reached for the gun he had hidden under his chair.

"You're smart. Ballsy too," Max made note.

"Thank you," Duke gladly took that as a compliment, "Now, why don't you tell me why you really came here."

"I'll find you at the Gull," Max stated, moving to grab his button up, "Great shrimp, by the way."

Hansen went to leave, his eyes landing onto the blonde woman who was walking down the dock. When her eyes caught his, she instantly began to glare.

"Well, look at that sweetheart, twice in a day. Should I feel honored?" Max wondered with an amused look.

Louisa scoffed, "Sweetheart me again and I will personally drown you in the water."

"Is that a threat?" Max asked with a brow raised.

"It's a promise," Louisa declared, going to step towards him but Duke swooped in. He had gotten off the Cape Rouge to intercept the altercation.

"Okay. Let's go, Louisa. I'm sure he has other stuff he could be doing and we don't want to stop him from leaving," Duke gave her a look. She huffed out in annoyance before letting Duke lead her away from the man and to the boat.

"I had it handled," Louisa argued with the taller man.

He chuckled, "I'm sure you did. I guess it was me trying to keep you from taking a trip to Shawshank too."

The blonde stood across from the man as silence fell over them.

"So...," Louisa crossed her arms, "Why did you want me to come here?"

Duke paused before moving around to grab the flowers. Holding them out for her to take. Her hand hesitantly clutched onto the bouquet, peering down at bundle of flowers before looking back up at the man in confusion.

"I wanted to apologize,"She raised her eyebrow as if telling him to continue, "I was in the wrong for blowing up the way that I did when you were hanging out with Nathan and confiding in him. I don't know, it just made me feel weird. Like somehow you were tired of me and getting ready to throw me to the sharks."

It was true in a way. Duke might have been jealous and wanted to keep the woman to himself. But he also was a hypocrite by getting bothered that she could spend her time with Nathan but he was still out there doing the thing he did best. Pick up women. It was one of the reasons he had almost died the first time because he got into bed with Helena. He was out of line and he didn't want to mess up their friendship. And he didn't lie when he felt like she was getting ready to ditch him. It was something that happened to him constantly. One of the reasons he tried to be the first one to leave instead of the other way around.

"Duke...," Louisa looked at him with sympathizing eyes.

"I was a hypocrite. And I was out of line," He jumped back in. Trying his best to make sure that she knew he understood where he was in the wrong.

"Duke, I wasn't going to abandon you. Nathan's my friend and I thought it was fine to hang out with other people. I didn't want to have to rely on you for everything," Louisa began to tell him, "And there's just been some stuff going on with me that it's something Nathan could help with."

Duke's mind instantly was in the gutter when he processed what she had just said, he was about to open his mouth to say something when he paused. Knowing that it wasn't a good time to jump to a conclusion again when he was trying to patch up an issue between them already.

Louisa's hand landed onto his bicep before giving it a small squeeze, as if she was reading his mind she added, "Something he as a detective could help me with."

Duke nodded his head in an understanding manner. That made sense.

"So there's nothing going on between you two?" Duke couldn't help but wonder. Louisa laughed, scrunching up her nose slightly. An action that Duke couldn't help but adore.

"Oh goodness, no. Nathan is... he's like a brother to me." 

"Good. That's good," Duke let out, coughing when he caught the look she gave him, "Oh, umm, because—because Nathan doesn't seem like the best fit person for you."

"Is that so?" Louisa questioned.

Duke awkwardly shifted in his place, "Uh, yeah. Yeah. You know, 'cause him and Audrey seemed to have something between them and all."

She squinted her eyes slightly, "Yeah... they do."

"So, I was wondering if I could treat you to lunch tomorrow. As a part of my apology," Duke brought up. Louisa looked down at the flowers again before peering back up at the man. A small twinkle in her eye.

"I accept your invitation, Crocker. I'm hoping the food isn't a disappointment," Louisa tried to joke, knowing that he was in fact a good cook.

"Oh, trust me. It won't disappoint you in the slightest. Maybe the best thing you've had in a while," Duke cockily said with a smirk.

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Louisa jumped out of her truck after parking it. Making her way quickly down to the beach to see Audrey, Vince, and Dave surrounding the back of Nathan's truck. Audrey turned around to see Louisa who held a remorseful look on her face. Audrey nodded off to the side which made Louisa follow the direction to where she was motioning towards. Her eyes falling onto Nathan who was a little bit further down the beach sitting in the sand. Audrey had no luck when talking to Nathan because he wanted nothing to do with her at the moment.

Letting out a sad sigh, Louisa then made her way towards the man who stared off out at the water. The sand shifted underneath her feet with each step she took. Nathan had heard the sand moving but he made no move to turn and look. The blonde sat down next to him without saying a word. Staring out at the water and soaking in the silence until he was ready to talk.

"He said he loved me," Nathan spoke up. Louisa glanced at him as he let out a sad chuckle, "He had the perfect timing. Right before he died, that's when he decided to tell me. He was always so hard on me. And for a moment once I learned that he wasn't my father, it made sense. I thought it was because he actually resented me. But it was because he wanted to make me tough."

"He didn't want you to be like Max," Louisa said, grabbing his hand and giving it a squeeze, "And you're not. You're Nathan."

"If you told me I would've lost two fathers in a day, I would've said you were insane. But here we are," Nathan shook his head in disbelief. Life just wanted to throw many curveballs at him for some God-awful reason.

"The Chief had a shitty way of showing he cared. Though he tried his best when he could. It's not much closure that you can get now, but at least you know that he loved you. And some of his actions he had a reasoning for. He seemed to have the weight of the entire town on his back. Garland just wanted to protect everyone including you safely. But everybody has a breaking point and sometimes no matter what they're told, no one can change their mind when it's made up," She told Nathan. He just needed time, like anyone who ever was in a situation like that particular one. He blamed Audrey at the moment though he would eventually come around and realize he was angry. Angry at the world for the unlucky things happening.

Nathan let out a small sigh, "I just wished he would have stuck around a bit longer. Explained things to me," He instantly dug his palms into his eyes trying to cover them. Louisa was quick to pull him in closer to rest his head on her. Rubbing his back in a soothing manner. She didn't speak another word after as she felt him begin to shake under her. Knowing that he was letting it all out. Being comfortable enough to be vulnerable with the woman as she continued to rub his back and stare out at the water. Nathan felt so overwhelmed from watching his father die and turn to ash in front of him and now crying openly. Crying was such a foreign thing for him because he didn't feel. But in that moment, with Louisa by his side, it felt like the most normal thing in the world. So he let those salty tears flow down his face while his body shook with sadness.

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Holding her face up to the water, Louisa closed her eyes. Soaking in the hotness from the shower. Deciding to shower before she went to see Duke. The blonde felt more relieved and clean. Her muscles relaxed slightly from the heat. Once she turned off the water she had stepped out of the shower, covering herself with her towel.

She glanced down at her phone to see if she had any new texts. Only one from Duke saying he was also taking a quick trip out and that she could meet him at the Gull. Louisa felt a little relieved because it gave her more time to finish getting ready. She hated being rushed, especially putting jeans on after she got out of a shower. The feeling irked her.

Turning on the faucet to run the water over her toothbrush, she paused when she noticed something was off. Something was really off. Her eyes widened at the red colored water coming from the sink.

"What the hell?" She let out. It looked like the water had turned into blood. The town just loved to get freakier by the minute. She tossed her toothbrush back down in the cup before pulling at her phone. Dialing Duke instantly, she waited for him to pick up.

"Uh, hey, Lulu. Now's not the best time,"he told her.

"Well, I needed someone to have knowledge of me going crazy before I get thrown in the looney bin. My water from the faucet is..."

"Blood?" Duke finished her sentence.

"Yeah. How'd you know?" Louisa wondered. Watching the bloody water drop down the drain.

"Let's just say half the people in Haven are going to want to refrain from using their water at the moment," Duke said, walking towards Audrey and Nathan who were by a crash scene, "There seems to be something going on. I'm going to talk to our lovely detectives. I'll see you soon."

Duke hung up on the woman who pulled the phone away from her ear. Staring at it in surprise at him abruptly ending the call before she turned her faucet off. Shaking her head, the Gordon woman decided to just throw some clothes together to get going.

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"You keep thinking too hard you're going to get more grays," Louisa spoke up, walking around Duke. Her hand gently ran through his hair, "Oh wait, there's a new one right there."

Duke batted her hand away before going back to screwing part of the light in on one of the posts on the deck of the Gull. He took a quick glance at her as she sat down, "I thought you liked the gray hairs?"

"Oh, I do. You make it work. I just wanted to make fun of you a little," She sent him a playful smile before taking a sip of her strawberry lemonade, "Sip?" Louisa turned the straw to him before he drank some of her drink.

"I haven't started making us any food yet. I got sidetracked with this light," Duke informed her.

"It's all good. Maybe this time I can actually help," Louisa said.

He chuckled at her words before shaking his head, "Yeah, I'm going to have to say no for that one. When I cook, it's a one man job, not two."

"Ouch. Hurt my heart why don't you, Crocker. A girl wants to offer her help. Not that I mind the free meals that you make me."

"Wow! You serve umbrella drinks?" A new voice spoke up causing Louisa to turn her attention towards a curly haired woman who sported a bright red scarf with her outfit.

Duke froze slightly, knowing that this conversation could go one of two ways. He let out a sigh, "I have bouncers, Evi."

"Really? Here? Is this blondie one of them?" The woman, Evi, asked. Louisa's eyebrows furrowed as the woman walked closer to them.

"Please leave," Duke told Evi. The blonde looked between the two, piecing together that they definitely knew each other.

"You remember Macau. Think twice as big as Macau," the woman told him.

"Yeah, I'm still not interested," Duke told her. He wanted no part in this new 'job' that she was offering him. He just wanted the woman to leave.

Evi shook her head, not believing that he was taking the bait, "You owe me, Duke," The man chuckled in amusement, "Um, Korolov. I saved your life."

"And then you almost ruined it again," He recalled the memory.

"When did you get so sensitive? I know you still care about me," Evi said.

"I don't know how to make this any more clear. I don't want to be in business with you. I don't want to be in bed with you. I don't want anything to do with you," Duke stated. Though he said it with a smile, you could easily detect the distaste he had for the other woman.

Louisa continued to look between the two, trying to figure out how deep their 'relationship' went. Clearly they slept together if he said that. But this Evi woman made it so Duke Crocker wanted nothing to do with her at all.

"Can I finish my drink?" Evi asked.

"Suit yourself," Duke let out, turning towards Louisa getting ready to pull her away with him.

Louisa held up a finger to stop him before looking at the woman, "Hi, might I ask how you two know each other? It's rare seeing Duke openly showing his dislike for someone. It's usually something only reserved for Nathan every now and then."

"Louisa, come on. Lets just go make some food," Duke beckoned her. Hoping she'd give in and drop the entire thing. She gave him a look, seeing that he clearly was trying to get her away from being told an answer to her question. Evi glanced at Duke before raising her glass to her lips with a small smirk.

"I'll let Duke be the one to tell you that," Evi replied. Louisa let out a sigh of annoyance before giving into Duke's pull and heading inside.

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Louisa sat squished in the back of Nathan's truck in the middle of Duke and some other woman while Audrey and Nathan were in the front. Though she was grateful Nathan finally put the back seat back into the truck, she was annoyed that she got shoved into the back instead of claiming her place up front. Duke was mainly to blame for that since they argued about who would sit up front with Audrey and Nathan until Audrey yelled at them.

Taking a bite out of her sandwich, Duke had gone to grab for the food in hopes of snagging a bite for himself since he had left his back at the Gull. Louisa sent a glare his way before elbowing him in the stomach.

"Oops," Louisa let out. Duke groaned, knowing that was no accident at all. She was still annoyed with him for getting her stuck in the backseat like a child along with the fact he still didn't tell her how this Evi chick fit into the equation of his life.

"Laverne, I need a two-mile perimeter around 55 Crane Street evacuated," Nathan instructed into his truck radio.

"Nathan, Hon. Only the chief can order that. You need to call him," Laverne radioed back. Louisa was mid-bite when she paused. Looking between Audrey and Nathan. She forgot no one had a clue about what had happened the day prior.

"Look, if this goes south, I need you to take care of the chief," Nathan told Audrey.

Duke chuckled, "What happened to him, Nathan?"

"He died," Nathan nonchalantly responded. Duke's grin dropped before he looked between Audrey, Nathan, then Louisa. Something the three of them hadn't been able to share with him yet. Though Louisa was going to bring it up before their lunch plans had gotten interrupted more than once.

"Nathan, I...," Duke struggled to find the right words.

"I'm not going to bury your dad," Audrey told Nathan. The detective caught Louisa's eyes in the rearview mirror.

She instantly shook her head, "Don't you dare look at me! Suddenly I don't know how to use a shovel."

"You guys have to. You're the only ones who–."

"No. We aren't going to do it. I'm not going to waste a perfectly good cooler," Audrey said. Louisa bursted out laughing as Audrey looked at Nathan amused while he tried to hide his smile.

"What cooler?" The random woman asked besides Louisa, peering behind their seats.

Duke pointed his thumb in the direction, "You don't mean this cooler."

"Yeah, she does," Louisa answered him, glancing at the blue cooler behind them.

"Look," Nathan told them, causing all their attention to turn to what was in front of them.

Darkness seemed to travel across the area rapidly. It was strange watching as it filled all the surroundings as if it was nighttime.

"Locust?" Audrey let out in confusion at what they were seeing.

"We're up to darkness," Nathan announced. The TJ guy was definitely keeping them on their toes that day.

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Audrey had worked her magic and gotten TJ to stop his troubles from affecting the rest of the town. And Duke, Nathan, and Louisa were stuck listening to the Rev preach about whatever bullshit he was on that day. Nathan had to push Duke and Louisa back from speaking their mind to the Reverend who was a pain in the ass.

"Sooner or later a side will choose you. Until then, be careful of the company you keep," The Rev told them, "The lamb can never lie down with the lion."

"Well, jokes on you. Twilight shows that the lamb sometimes does lie down with the lion," Louisa commented. Not even caring to be mature at the moment. Duke waved the Rev off before snickering at Louisa. Nathan turned to look at her and she shrugged in response.

"I don't know what the hell he's talking about," Duke let out, turning with a sigh until his eyes landed on an unwanted guest, "Aw! Come on."

Louisa turned in the direction he had been facing to see Evi walking up to them.

"Bug infestations... schizophrenic weather. How do you keep the tourists away?" Evi wondered.

"Nathan, Audrey, this is Evi," Duke introduced unenthusiastically.

"I met you before," Evi said, taking note of Louisa standing in between Nathan and Duke with her arms crossed, "I'm Evi Crocker."

Crocker?

"You have a sister?" Audrey questioned, Louisa turned to the man.

Duke scratched the back of his neck awkwardly, "Unfortunately, I do not have a sister."

"No, no. I'm Duke's wife," Evi said.

"Wife?!" Audrey and Louisa let out in disbelief at the same time. Nathan processed the information himself before he asked the same thing.

"Oh. You never told them about me," Evi looked at Duke.

Duke turned to the group, sighing, "Could you please excuse us for a moment?"

"Happily," Louisa grumbled, while Duke pulled Evi away.

Nathan, the two Audreys, and Louisa walked side by side while Nathan peered down at Louisa who was quiet, "So he never told you about her?"

"No."

"Well, it'll definitely make for an interesting ride back," the Audreys said at the same time which Nathan and Louisa found creepy.

"Yeah, no. I'm actually going to walk home. It's now a nice day without TJ's bipolar weather effects. I'll just have Nathan bring me to pick up my car from the Gull tomorrow," Louisa told them, before walking off. Letting her feet lead her away.

Again. He hit her with a curveball again.

I could definitely go for a nap right about now, she thought to herself while she turned down the street and kept walking.

She wasn't necessarily mad at Duke for keeping secrets since she still hadn't told him about her own little problem. But it just felt like a nice punch to the gut knowing that it wasn't just a woman he hooked up with. It was his wife. Duke had a wife. And Louisa felt like a fool.