“Okay, Nora, spill,” Jennie says after the waiter takes our orders. “What’s it like being married to a modern-day Pablo Escobar? The rumors I hear are beyond bizarre.”

Leah chokes on her water, and I burst out laughing again. I’d forgotten Jennie’s propensity for shocking people.

“Well,” I say when I calm down enough to speak, “Julian deals in weapons, not drugs, but otherwise, being married to him is quite nice.”

“Oh, come on. Quite nice?” Jennie gives me an exaggerated frown. “I want all the gory details. Does he sleep with a machine gun under his pillow? Eat puppies for breakfast? I mean, the dude kidnapped you, for Pete’s sake! Give us all the juicy—”

“Jennie,” Leah cuts in sharply. She doesn’t look the least bit amused. “I don’t think this is a joking matter.”

“It’s okay,” I reassure her. “Really, Leah, it’s fine. Julian and I are married now, and we’re happy together. We truly are.”

“Happy?” Leah stares at me like I’ve grown horns. “Nora, you know what he’s capable of, what he’s done. How can you be happy with a man like that?”

I look back at her, not knowing how to respond. I want to say that Julian is not that bad, but the words stick in my throat. My husband is that bad. In fact, he’s probably worse than Leah thinks. She doesn’t know about the mass eradication of Al-Quadar in recent months or the fact that Julian has been a killer since childhood.

Of course, she also doesn’t know that I’m a killer. If she did, she’d probably think Julian and I deserve each other.

To my relief, Jennie comes to my rescue. “Stop being such a party pooper,” she says, poking Leah in the ribs. “So she’s happy with him. That’s better than being miserable, right?”

Leah’s fair complexion reddens. “Of course. Sorry, Nora.” She attempts a weak smile. “I guess I just have a hard time understanding it all. I mean, here you are, finally back in the US, and you’re planning to go back to Colombia with him.”

“That’s what happens when people marry,” Jennie says before I can respond. “They live together. Like you and Jake. It’s only natural that Nora would go back with her husband—”

“You and Jake are living together?” I interrupt, looking at Leah in shock. “Since when?”

“Since two weeks ago,” Jennie says gleefully. “Leah didn’t tell you?”

“I was going to tell you today,” Leah says to me. She looks uncomfortable. “I wanted to tell you in person.”

“Why? They just had one date,” Jennie says reasonably. “It’s not like they were boyfriend-girlfriend.”

“Jennie’s right,” I say. “Really, Leah, I’m happy for the two of you. You don’t have to be afraid to tell me stuff like that. I won’t flip out, I promise.” I give her a big smile before asking, “Are you renting an apartment off-campus?”

“We are,” Leah says, looking relieved at my question. “We both had roommate issues, so we decided living together might be the best option.”