Page 74 of Three for a Girl

“I was in love with Romeo.”

“Would have thought that was obvious…”

Chad frowned at her. “What?”

“You visited him countless times at the prison against the wishes of your colleagues and friends. If that wasn’t for love, then what was it for?”

“And you’re okay with that … knowing I love—was in love with a serial killer.”

“If you loved him, then you loved him. It is what it is.”

He continued to frown at her.

“Look, I was having an affair with Lennox while he was with my best friend.”

“Lennox?”

“My husband. That’s how we got together. I wasn’t in a good place, in fact, I wasn’t until I met him.”

“It’s a bit different.”

“Love is messy.” Ally said. “For some people, it’s straightforward, for others it’s like wading through pleasure and pain with an irate friend throwing shoes at you from the side.”

“She ever forgive you?”

“Nope. Now come on, I’m gonna distract you with talk of murder and vegan shepherd’s pie,” she said, serving some up. “There’s no point warming it in the oven, it’ll taste just as bad hot.”

“You’re really selling it to me.”

She grinned. “You get the glasses, I’ll share this out.”

Chad filled two glasses, sweeping his gaze around the kitchen to be sure there were no obvious signs a serial killer lived there.

“That’s a lot of cookbooks.” Ally said. “And you weren’t lying about the crosswords.”

Chad placed the glasses down on the table and sat down opposite Ally. He narrowed his eyes as he looked down at the shepherd’s pies, trying to work out why it was green.

“It isn’t going to attack you.”

“You sure?”

He took a bite and pretended to gag.

Ally glared at him. “I’ll be very offended if you don’t clear your plate.”

Chad smiled, taking another bite.

“It was my Lennox’s favorite.”

“Your husband’s favorite … that doesn’t bode well for whatever else you can cook.”

“You want me to fling some at you?”

Chad smiled, stirring his green potatoes. “How long were you married?”

“Twenty-three years, and no it wasn’t my cooking that did it. Heart failure, which is ridiculous considering he had the biggest purest heart around.”

“I’m sorry.”

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