Page 77 of Three for a Girl

Ellen Blakey was a lie.

A lie concealed with a pretty face and fluttering lashes.

A lie that pouted, pleaded, and prayed for Marcy and got punished for it.

She was gifted with a beautiful mask, like Romeo had been, and used it to her advantage, but where his need was biological, hers appeared to be financial.

“Hey,” Ally said, knocking into Chad’s side. “You recovered from the shepherd’s pie?”

“I was up all night in hot sweats, staring into the toilet.”

It was true, but it hadn’t been Ally’s cooking, it had been more memories of Marc. The numbers burning on his chest that woke him, didn’t cool. They prickled—the heat and humidity in the air didn’t help.

Romeo was all that could save him and end the pain.

“Come off it,” she shook her head. “I was fine.”

“The apple’s not poisonous to the serpent.”

Ally laughed, nudging him.

Josh gagged loud enough for them to hear. “Don’t talk about snakes.”

“Was I at least a distraction?”

Chad nodded, flashing her a quick smile.

The second she’d left, the emptiness near crushed him. He checked each room, walked down every aisle in the outhouse, pausing to listen. If his eyes were deceiving him, his other senses might not. He listened for a car, for the jangle of screws, the crumple of instructions being screwed into a tight ball, but there was nothing.

“Whoa.” Josh said, pausing in front of him and Ally.

“What?”

“The neck.”

He studied the mottled purple of his throat that morning, when he looked hard enough, he could see the hook of Romeo’s thumb, and the long reach of his fingers.

“Allergic reaction.” Chad said.

“He’s not supposed to eat prawns, but the idiot did.” Ally said.

Faye looked up from her desk. “Did they not display prawns on the packaging—”

“They di—”

“If they didn’t, they should. It could’ve killed you. Is there a helpline on the packaging? I’ll call them now. It’s completely unacceptable.”

“Relax.” Chad said. “I didn’t look. It was my fault.”

“I really don’t mind calling.”

“Thanks for your concern, but I’m all right. It will go down in a few days.”

Ally spoke close to his ear. “You triggered Faye’s mother mode. She’s all sweet and shy, but if someone threatens one of her brood, the lioness comes out.”

“I’m not one of her brood.”

“Sure, you are.” Ally said, pinching Chad’s cheek.

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