Page 30 of Circle of Strangers
I shake my head. “It’s not fair to put it all on you. And Iamhappy. It’ll just take some time to get used to everything.”
“I don’t think you are.” He shifts closer, his gaze steady and sincere. “And if you’re not happy, I’m not happy. Just tell me what you want. Whatever it is, I’ll make it happen.”
I stare at him, feeling the weight of his words settle over me. He means them—I know he does. And yet, there’s a part of me that wonders if it’s too good to be true. I’ve never questioned that before, but after briefly going down the rabbit hole of infidelity, it’s become a lens through which I’m viewing my world.
“I’m fine.” The lie slips out before I can stop it.
Will’s brow furrows, and for a moment, he looks genuinely concerned. “You sure?”
“Yeah. I think I just need some time to adjust.”
He watches me for a moment longer, his gaze searching mine, as if he’s trying to find the truth buried beneath my words. Resigned, he sighs, squeezing my hand one last time before releasing it.
“Okay,” he says softly. “But if there’s anything you need from me, anything at all, let me know.”
Will returns to his chair, watching me with an expression I can’t quite read, and I wonder—just for a moment—if he knows exactly what I’m thinking.
If he does, he doesn’t say.
And neither do I.
19
I was midway through folding a load of towels the following afternoon when Mara shows up at my door, dressed for the pool, a chilled bottle of wine in tow, uttering the words, “I couldkillhim.”
Turning her away didn’t feel like an option, so I slipped into my suit and met her out back.
The midday sun hangs high in the sky, the heat soaking into my skin as Mara and I lounge poolside. The sound of birds chirping and the occasional splash from the pool filter adds an oddly peaceful ambience to our strange little faux-friendship.
She leans back, sunglasses perched on her head, swirling the last bit of her wine in her glass. The bottle of pinot grigio sits on the concrete between us, gleaming in the sun like a silent witness to her unraveling.
“What happened?” I ask, even though I know the answer will be messy. Everything with Mara always is.
She exhales and reaches for the bottle, only to stop midway when she remembers it’s already empty.
“I found a dating app on Oscar’s phone this morning,” she says flatly.
My stomach tightens. “What?”
“True Spark—the biggest one.” She shifts in her chair, setting her glass down with a hollow clink.
“How?” My throat is dry, tight. This is either a setup or an eerie coincidence.
“He left his phone out while he was in the shower. It was unlocked, so I grabbed it.” She nibbles on her french manicured nails, wincing as if she’s a child about to get a verbal lashing for doing something naughty.
“And?” I ask.
She tips her head back and lets out a dry, humorless laugh. “He’s been messagingseveralwomen on there. Not just one. Multiple.”
“God. I’m so sorry.” I feign shock as best I can, while also quelling my urge to panic. If she confronts Oscar and he finds out she’s been spending time with me, he’s going to assume I turned her on to this. There’ll be no convincing him otherwise. “What did you do?”
“I deleted his entire account.” She looks over at me, eyes wide with a mix of disbelief and fury. “Poof. Gone. Like it never existed. Then I deleted the app and blocked it in the App Store.”
I let out a slow breath, bracing myself for the fallout. “Did he say anything?”
Mara snorts. “Not yet. I don’t even think he’s noticed because he hasn’t said anything. He’ll probably act like nothing happened. That’s what he always does. He bottles it up and then makes me feel like I’m the one overreacting.”
I stare out at the glimmering water, the sun reflecting off its surface in shimmering ripples. “What are you going to do?”
