Page 37 of Life After

“About Jen?” Suzanne’s brows drew together. “I know a lot about her. We’ve been together now for what? God, it must be coming up to two months.” Suzanne couldn’t believe so much time had passed. But wasn’t that a testament to how at ease they were around one another? It felt that way to Suzanne.

“And you’re okay with who she is? Where she’s been recently?”

Suzanne was lost. She had no idea what Tracy was talking about. “I’m sorry?”

“Jen. The woman you’re dating. She’s an ex-con.”

Suzanne’s world slowed as those words filtered into her brain. Jen, the woman she had fallen in love with, was a convicted criminal? No. Tracyhadto be wrong. It simply wasn’t possible. “You’re lying.”

“Trust me, after the way you speak about her, I wish I was lying. I really wish I was wrong.” Tracy ran a hand down her face. “She used to be on my wing, Suzanne.”

“She would have told me. She’s been very open with everything.”

“Would she, though? I mean, wouldyoutell the woman you’re dating that you’d been in prison?”

Suzanne swallowed. Was that what Jen had been talking about when she told Suzanne that she’d had a rough time lately? God, she hoped not. “Are you sure about this?”

“I’m sure,” Tracy said as she pushed off the edge of the dining table and crossed the room. “I’m sorry, but I’m definitely sure.”

Tears brimmed in Suzanne’s eyes. She didn’t know what to do with any of this information. All she knew was that it would take some time to process. “W-what am I supposed to do now?”

“Well, I think you and I both know what you have to do. Cut it off before it’s too late.”

Suzanne’s knees weakened. She needed to sit down before she fell down. On shaky legs, she walked into the living room and lowered herself to the couch. The very spot she had just spent twenty minutes kissing Jen in. “Tracy. It’s already too late.” Suzanne looked up at her best friend, a tear slipping down her cheek as she blinked it away. “I-I…I’m in love with her.”

Tracy sat down beside Suzanne and wrapped an arm around her shoulder. “Oh, Suzanne. I’m sure you’re not. I know you’re fond of her, but sheisan ex-con. No matter how you look at it, that’s what she is.”

“Why didn’t I see it? If she’s this dreadful person, why is she so different with me?”

“I didn’t say she was a dreadful person. I actually felt sorry for her when she was inside. But that doesn’t change the fact that you’re dating someone with a criminal record.”

“What did she do?” Suzanne asked, unsure if she wanted to know about Jen’s crimes. It just didn’t seem possible that the woman she’d been sleeping with was responsible foranycrimes. This was Jen they were talking about. Jen, the sweetest woman Suzanne had ever come across. “Please, Tracy. I need to know what she did.”

“That’s not something I can disclose. If you want answers, you should speak to Jen.”

Suzanne couldn’t do that. She couldn’t bring herself to imagine looking into Jen’s eyes, only for her girlfriend to confirm everything Tracy was saying. “I don’t think I can.”

Tracy got to her feet and squeezed Suzanne’s shoulder. “Let me make us some coffee while you try to process all of this.”

Process it? Suzanne couldn’t begin to process anything this day had thrown at her. Just a short while ago, she was making plans with Jen for this evening. Before Tracy pulled up outside the house, life was really something beautiful.

And now it wasn’t.

Fuck!

Jen calmedherself as the taxi approached Suzanne’s road. She had left here this afternoon knowing that her old prison guard was friends with Suzanne, and she didn’t know how to feel about it. Part of her knew that Tracy would come clean to Suzanne, but there was the tiniest bit of hope that she wouldn’t have. Suzanne hadn’t been in touch to tell her not to come over, and she hadn’t called to demand answers. Could Jen walk inside Suzanne’s this evening, and life would be just as it had been this afternoon? As the taxi came to a stop, she guessed she was about to find out.

She checked the meter and handed over a twenty-pound note. “Thanks. Keep the change.” Jen nervously climbed from the taxi, mindful of what could be waiting for her when she knocked on the door.It’s my job to tell her the truth. Nobody else’s.

As she approached the front door, it opened, but Suzanne wasn’t waiting for her with that killer smile. No, she simply turned and walked down the hallway. Jen cleared her throat as she closed the door. “Hey. Sorry I’m late. The traffic was terrible.” Jen followed Suzanne further into the house, but Suzanne just kept her back to Jen. “Everything okay?”

You know it’s not!Jen just didn’t want to put her foot in it if Tracyhadn’tsaid anything.

“Babe?”

“Don’t.” Suzanne spun around this time, her eyes red and swollen. “Don’t you dare come here and pretend that this meansanythingto you.”

“I-I’m sorry?” Of course this meant something to Jen. Fuck, it meanteverything.

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