Page 54 of Circle of Strangers
“Great,” I say. “Same old.”
“Oh, good.” She smiles, but her smile doesn’t reach her eyes. There’s something distant in them.
“What did you say that college was that you used to teach for?” I ask.
She gives another odd smile, then chuckles. “I feel like you’re grilling me today. Had I known I was going to be interviewed, I would’ve at least put on a suit.”
“Sorry. I’ve just been thinking about all the walks we’ve taken, all the time we’ve spent together.” I soften my delivery. “I feel like we’re becoming good friends, but at the same time, I feel like I hardly know you. I don’t mean to put you on the spot.”
Leaning over, she brushes her hand on my knee.
“I’m messing with you. I taught at Northern Arizona. Can’t wait to go back.” Sozi retrieves her phone off the coffee table, a frown forming. “I’m so sorry. Ezra’s school is calling. I’ll be right back.”
I didn’t hear her phone so much as vibrate, but it could have been on silent.
“Apologies.” She returns from the hallway after a minute, exasperated. “That was the preschool nurse. Apparently he’s got a tummy bug—which is weird because he was completely fine this morning. Can we reschedule our little coffee date for tomorrow?”
This is entirely too convenient.
I let out a little exhale, though she doesn’t notice my frustration. It’s not her fault, though. My annoyance is centered on the fact that I’ll have to return home now, forced to spend the rest of my day among Will’s things and the life we built, which all feels like a slap in the face now that our foundation of trust and understanding has been shaken.
“Of course,” I say, gathering my things. “Hope he feels better soon.”
42
The following day, Sozi’s house is filled with the scent of fresh citrus cleaner, the faint hum of a chic playlist you’d hear in a boutique, and meticulously arranged furniture. Lately I can’t shake the sense that something isn’t adding up with her.
I’m perched on her velvet sofa, legs crossed, pretending to listen as she prattles on about Ezra feeling better since yesterday. But my mind is elsewhere, as it has been these days—dizzy with thoughts circling Will, Jacqueline, Mara, and now Sozi.
She stands after a few minutes, brushing invisible crumbs off her lap as her washing machine plays a little tune from down the hall. “Back in a sec—need to switch some clothes.”
As soon as she’s out of sight, her phone screen lights up on the coffee table between us and a message fills the screen, bright and impossible to ignore.
Mara:Thank you so much.
Thank you forwhat?
I glance toward the hallway where Sozi disappeared, my heart thudding in my chest. I slide the phone an inch closer, just enough to confirm what I saw.
No other context—just those four words.
The sound of a humming dryer breaks my trance, and I jerk my hand back seconds before Sozi returns and settles onto the couch beside me. Her phone screen darkens before she notices the text.
“Have you talked to Mara lately?” I watch for her reaction.
“Not since the other day,” she says breezily, “when she told me you were overreacting. Has she left you alone? Tell me if she hasn’t and I’ll say something.”
“As far as I know.”
It’s not like Will would tell me if she were still coming around anyway.
Sozi crosses her legs, getting comfortable. “Good. I knew she’d back off eventually. She’s a lot of bark and very little bite. Annoying but mostly harmless.”
Harmless? That’s not how Sozi’s made Mara out to be. Not once. In fact, she’s been insistent this entire time that Mara is essentially a threat to my marriage. Her inconsistencies are growing lazier by the day—which tells me she thinksI’mthe idiot in this scenario.
“So you don’t think I need to worry about Mara’s little crush on Will anymore?” I test her.
She rolls her eyes, smirking. “Depends. How much do you trust your husband? Men are weak. Not saying Will is. Obviously you know him best. But I feel like Mara’s either going to lay low for a while—or she’s going to double down. I’m thinking the former. She knows you’re onto her.”
