“Thank you for the ride.” She doesn’t look at me as she says it.
“You’re welcome.” I reach behind and snag her briefcase. “Don’t forget this.”
“Thanks.” She offers me a weak smile before climbing out of the car and shutting the door.
I lower my window as she presses a fob and the gates start opening.
“Astrid.”
She turns around at my voice.
“I never cheated. I would never have done that to you, especially with that manipulative bitch. I just needed you to know that.”
Her face pales as she stares at me. I wish I could jump out, grab her into my arms, and kiss the truth onto her lips.
But it’s clear that ship has sailed, and I won’t do anything to cause her more pain.
So I press the button to wind up the window, and I drive off.
“You look like shit,” Travis says the instant he opens his front door to me.
“Getting a mad case of déjà vu.” If I had a dollar for every time my best mate has said that to me in the past nine years, I’d be banking a lot more than I am.
He steps sideways to let me enter.
“Hey, babe.” Jessie bundles me in her arms in the hallway. “You look like you need a hug.”
“You’re not wrong.” I’m feeling so many things right now.
“Wanna beer, mate?” Marlon pops his head out from the kitchen.
“Or ten.” I give Travis’s wife one last hug before shucking out of her embrace.
“Can I get you something to eat?” Jessie cocks her head to one side, no doubt spotting the stress clinging to my bones. “I have leftover casserole if you want some?”
“I’m good, thanks.”
“We can talk in the study,” Travis says, watching me with concern.
Marlon pads down the hallway in his bare feet and thrusts a beer in my hand. “Plenty more where that came from.”
Jessie snuggles into Marlon’s side. “The guest rooms are made up if you want to stay tonight. Travis mentioned your mom has Darcy.”
“Thanks, Jess, but I’ll probably just head home.”
“Don’t wait for me.” Travis kisses Jessie and then Marlon. “I can catch up on the episode another time.”
His wife wanders off with their boyfriend into the living room while I follow Travis over to the other side of the house, where the home theater, games room, gym, and library-slash-study is located.
Travis came out publicly as bi when he was twenty-five, six months after he married Jessie. A year later, Marlon was living with them, giving the local busybodies plenty to gossip about. It’s no one’s business but their own, but small towns aren’t usually known for being progressive. They are all consenting adults, and as long as they’re happy and not bothering anyone, who the fuck cares?
“Sorry to interrupt your night, but this couldn’t wait until the morning,” I say when we enter the study where Travis works from home some days.
“Ditch the beer.” He makes a beeline for the drinks press. “I feel like this convo deserves the good stuff.”
He removes an expensive bottle of bourbon and two glasses as I flop down on the leather couch in front of the large open fireplace. I put my beer down on the coffee table. It’s not lit tonight, as June Vermont nights are warm enough. I scrub my hands down my face, feeling the tension locking my limbs in place. The stress of today is finally catching up to me.
“What’s going on, Callan?” Travis hands me a tumbler filled with a generous measure as he plonks down beside me.
