‘She really asked if you killed Marty?’ They sat on a bench on the Canal Park boardwalk, near the lineup of tourist hotels. Choppy lake waves splashed over the rocks. ‘I don’t think she believed it, but the fact that she even brought it up tells me how bad things are.’ ‘That’s a woman who does not handle rejection well.’ Stride smiled. ‘What woman does?’ Serena punched him in the arm, but she smiled, too. ‘I guess I can’t really take the high road. I asked if you slept with Michaela.’ ‘I didn’t, but she and I were close to each other. Too close. I knew she had feelings for me. I should have kept her at a distance, but I couldn’t. Honestly, I didn’t want to.’ ‘Did you tell Cindy about it?’ ‘No, but I’m sure she knew. I suppose she figured that if I’d cheated on her, I would have told her.’ ‘You told me about Maggie.’ Serena murmured. ‘Yes, I did.’ ‘What would Cindy have done?’ ‘If I’d slept with Michaela? Killed me.’ ‘Sounds like I underreacted,’ Serena said.
