“Oh, right.” He laughs just once, rubbing his forehead, his other hand propped on his hip. “Yeah, actually. The guys are all here, and we haven’t started yet, but I thought maybe… Maybe I could introduce you? It’s okay if you’re not up for it. I just know they’d all love to put a face to the name.”
He talks about you!Of course he does—you’re having his baby and living in his house.
“Sure, yeah,” I say, standing.
Bo leads us out into the hall. We’re halfway through the kitchen when he turns around, bends down, and whispers, “And… try to go easy on him.”
“Easy on—” I stop, looking at the makeshift table set up in the dining room, the men around it I’ve yet to meet, and, most shockingly,onefamiliar face. “Caleb?”
Caleb, looking guilty as all hell and shrunken down to about two feet tall, has the nerve towaveat me. “Hey, Win,” he says, his voice dejected.
“Uh, hey? What… what are you doing here?”
Caleb looks around the table, to Bo, then back to me before jumping out of his seat. “Excuse us, gentlemen.” He charges toward me, grabbing hold of my elbow and using it to pull me back down the hall.
“Listen, Win, I—”
“Caleb.” I choke out his name through a budding laugh. “What are—”
“I will tell you everything, but you need topromiseme first that you will not tell my wife.”
I cross my fingers behind my back and nod twice.Puh-lease, as if I’deverpromise such a thing.
“I’m so serious right now. We have been friends forfifteenyears, Winnifred McNulty. I have never asked you for anything, but I am now. Please, god,please,do not tell my wife I play Dungeons and Dragons. She willneverdrop it. I will be ridiculed until my dying day.”
“Caleb!” I shove his shoulder with my small hand. “Where does Sarah think you are right now?”
“The gym.”
“Oh my god! The lying! The deceit!” I gasp. “Did youpretendyou’d never been to Bo’s house before when I moved in?” I ask in a breathy whisper-yell. “What else have you lied about?”
“Itechnicallydidn’t say I hadn’t been here before. This is the only lie, I swear. I just want thisonething. Let me have peace, Win.”
“Caleb,” I scoff. “Do you seriously expect me tolieto my best friend about her husband’s whereabouts?”
“Not lie. Just… omit the truth.”
“Caleb!”
“Look, Iknow, okay? I don’t want to lie to her either, but…” Caleb wipes a hand across his brow, then places it on his hip. “Remember when I brought home thatStar WarsLego set last summer?The Death Starone?Whichisfor adults, by the way…” He sighs, his head hanging between us. “Sarah only referred to me asDarth Loserfor a month. Amonth.”
I snicker. “Okay, but I do think she meant that affectionately. Plus—”
“Or when I suggested we all go to the renaissance fair when we were, what… eighteen? Shestillsends me advertisements for those with laughing emojis. She’s subscribed me to several newsletters. It’s been ten years.”
Okay, one of those newsletter subscriptions wasdefinitelyme, but…
“Or the time—”
“Yes, yes, I get it. I see your point.”
“I love my wife more than anyone. You know that. I also know that mocking is her way of showing love. It’s one of my favourite things about her when I’mnoton the receiving end of it. But I’d like to avoid it if I can. I’d like to maintainsomelevel of cool.”
I nod, my lips quivering as I resist a laugh. This is justtoomuch.
“Win.” Caleb says my name like a plea.
A small laugh breaks through.
