It’s almost like we were hormonal teenagers or something.
“That means a lot to me,” I say.
I pull out my phone and find a picture of Oma, tilting the phone screen in Will’s direction. “This is her in an outfit that inspired what’s now called the Always Blouse for women. It was one of the first things I ever designed under the Revenant brand name.”
Will looks at the picture. His smile curves farther up toward his eyes, cheeks lifting. “I see the resemblance.”
“Really?”
“Definitely. You’re both so elegant.”
My cheeks warm. “Oma once told me sweating wasn’t acceptable.”
Will laughs. It sounds like trouble.
“Do you still do any of the designs?” He nods at the photo.
“I help if they want my opinion. To make sure the new designs are aligned with the brand, and whatnot. But our designers are very good. Better than me, and far more educated on that stuff.”
He leans against the opposite wall of the narrow back room, arms crossing over his chest while one of his feet catches on his otherankle. For a while neither of us says a word. We only stand there, parsing each other.
“Will?” I ask.
His eyes glint. “Hmm?”
“What happened to your parents’ marriage?”
He smirks. “We’re not very good at the rules, are we?”
I’ve never had a hard time with discipline except when it came to social media. I’d tell myself to stop scrolling and wouldn’t listen. I’d tell myself it wasn’t real and become convinced it was theonlyreal thing.
Now, I realize, there’s a second area where I’m undisciplined.
Him.
“Just this rule,” I say. “We can unwrite it.”
Will sighs and pushes his fingers through his hair. Not with annoyance. More like he’s bracing himself.
“We didn’t move to Nashville when Zoe and I were seniors because my dad got a better job. I mean, that’s what he told us, but it wasn’t the full story.”
“What’s the full story?” I ask quietly.
“He had a mistress in Nashville,” Will explains. His voice drops impossibly low. “It had been going on for five years by the time Dad moved our whole family to be near her.” He shakes his head and laughs dully. “He thought he could have it all. His wife and mistress in the same city. Kids at one house, a new labradoodle puppy at the other.”
“Your dad’s mistress had a labradoodle?” I clarify.
“Yeah, and it wasfucking cute.He would never have letusget a labradoodle. Too expensive,” Will goes on. “He didn’t let us have a dog at all because Zoe and I couldn’t keep our guinea pigs from attacking each other when we were six.” He rolls his eyes at the ceiling, like after all this time, the sting has gone out of his dad’s betrayal and now he can see the humor.
I smile but it’s a weak attempt. “When did you all find out?”
Will’s expression switches from mildly beleaguered to downright miserable. “Um. Actually, I found out before Zoe and my mom did.”
I pause. “You kept his secret.”
Will palms at the back of his neck. He glances sideways. “Mm. Yeah.”
“How long?” I ask, horrified.
