Romeo had driven off in Keeley’s car an hour before with strict instructions to keep to the country roads.
He’d texted Chad once he’d parked it in thick undergrowth.
See you soon.
Chad knew where he’d be waiting.
Keeley’s car would be found ...eventually.
When Chad heard Josh pulling up outside, he eased out a breath, getting to his feet.
He didn’t open the door, and welcome Josh and Ally inside, he stepped out and locked up behind himself for the final time.
Josh beamed at him as he hurried round to let Merc out from the back.
Merc yipped and yapped as he bounded into Chad’s legs.
“All set?”Josh asked.
His eyes were bright, and his smile encouraged a wavering one from Chad.For a moment, Chad couldn’t speak.He nodded instead.
Ally leaned against the car, gaze to the ground.
She knew.
Josh had taken Chad at his word, believing he’d be back in a few months, a year at most, but Ally knew he didn’t plan on returning.
The house would remain his, but he and Romeo had no plan to live in it again.
It was the end of this part of his life and the start of a new one.
She didn’t protest, or question his decision, but had accepted it without fuss.
Chad went to her first.
She hugged Chad tight and whispered into his ear.“Be happy.”
“I am,” he told her, then he leaned back and let her see his smile.
It was true, he was, and maybe he shouldn’t have been, maybe judgmental people would’ve said he had no right to be, or it was inappropriate, but he’d given power to those people for too long.
Ally took his face in both hands, searching his eyes.Whatever she found in them made her smile back.A tear rushed down her cheek, dragging her purple eyeliner with it.
Chad brushed it away with his thumb.“You be happy too.”
She nodded.“I will.”
“Thank you,” Chad said, his throat tightened fast.“For all you’ve done for me.Ally, you’ve—”
“Oh, stop it,” she said, pushing his shoulder.“Keep on like that and I’ll be blubbering all night long.”
“Yeah,” Josh said.“Please don’t.You’re driving off into the sunset leaving me to pick up the pieces, and I’m not good with hysterical women.”
“Hysterical?”Ally clipped Josh’s ear.“I’ll show you hysterical.”
“Old dog,” Chad muttered fondly.“Playful pup.”
Josh rubbed his red ear.“One of these days, I am going to cuff you.”
