Page 40 of Circle of Strangers
I need my questions answered, but more important than that, I need to strategize.
27
“Why did you get this cologne, by the way?” I ask Will, nodding toward the amber, phallic-shaped bottle sitting on our dresser. Will has always been a classic man. I can’t imagine him choosing this on his own.
Will glances up from where he’s folding a shirt, one brow slightly raised, as if the question surprises him. “The cologne?”
“Yeah.” I lean against the doorframe, keeping my voice light. “I meant to ask the other week.”
He smiles, his expression easy. “Stopped at the mall with Jackson one day and they were handing out free samples at one of the department stores. I liked it, so I went back the next day and bought a bottle.”
I study his face, searching for cracks in the story, but everything about him is as calm and sincere as ever. I don’t recall him mentioning taking Jackson to the mall recently, but we don’t tend to share every minute detail of our days.
“The saleswoman said it was new,” he continues, tossing the folded shirt into a drawer. “Apparently they can hardly keep it in stock. Must be popular. I think she said it went viral online or something.”
Everything about his story makes perfect sense—except it’s almost too perfect.
He turns to me, a playful grin tugging at the corners of his mouth. “Why? Don’t you like it anymore?”
The question feels innocent, the tone affectionate, but it only tautens the knot of suspicion in my chest. It’s such a reasonableexplanation, the kind you can’t argue with—which makes me trust it even less.
“No, it’s not that,” I say. “I was just curious.”
Will’s gaze lingers on me for a moment longer, almost as if he’s ascertaining whether my question was truly genuine, then he closes the dresser drawer with a soft thud.
“Are you going into work today?” I ask.
He shakes his head.
“It’s a professional development day. Webinars all afternoon.” He drinks me in, dipping his life-saving hands into his pockets. “I figured I’d do them here, in the comfort of my living room, my beautiful wife close by.”
“Still want me to come by and decorate your office sometime?” My question is more of a test than an offer.
His handsome grin widens. He steps closer, slipping his hands around my waist.
“I’d love nothing more.” Will leans in to kiss the tip of my nose. “Come by any time you want.”
“Ooh, an open invitation?” I tease, testing him more.
“You have a permanent standing open invitation.”
I’ve spent so many years tiptoeing around his hospital shifts, carefully constructing my day around his unpredictable schedule. This version of Will—the one who works reasonable hours, the one who invites me into his professional life—feels foreign.
“A girl could get used to this,” I tell him, which elicits a twinkle in his eye—the same one I’ve been seeing more than ever lately. If he were having an affair, though, I don’t think he’d give me apermanent standing open invitationto his office.
Except, of course, if his affair partner was out of the picture.
He kisses my forehead, his lips warm and soft. I leave my body for a moment.
“Good. Get used to it,” he whispers. “I want you there. I want to see you as much as possible. You’re my favorite person in the world,Cam. Our whole marriage, I’ve worked long hours and left you alone far more than I should have. It’s a miracle you’ve stuck it out. If I haven’t said it enough, I’m grateful for everything you do for our family.”
His words linger, sinking into the hairline fissures that have formed between us.
Will releases me and grabs his laptop from the nightstand, propping it open on the bed.
“How was your walk with Sozi?” he asks over his shoulder. “Any new developments with Mara?”
I hesitate, weighing how much to tell him. “Nothing.”
