Page 86 of Chasing Smoke

His back is straight, his hands tucked into his jacket pockets, and his hair has been pushed through by his fingers countless times.

I place my hand on his cheek. “What’s going on? What happened?”

“Do you have time to talk?”

I glance at the clock again. “I have ten minutes until my next client is due.”

He nods quickly. “I spoke to Fowler about Caleb, and he knew. He fucking knew this whole time.”

My hand drops to my side. A million thoughts run through my head at once—how long has he known, did he think I was pitiful, walking around like an idiot not knowing my husband was cheating on me, and what exactly did Caleb tell him? But anger isn’t there like it obviously is for Ansel. I guess it’s a bigger betrayal to him and their friendship.

“Did he know about the baby?”

Ansel nods and squeezes my shoulders. “I’m sorry, Collins.”

I shake my head. He has nothing to apologize about. “What did you say?”

“I got pissed off and stormed out, but I can’t avoid him forever, obviously. We live together.”

“We’ll talk to him together.”

He frowns. “Wait. What?”

I nod. “I want to talk to him together. I have questions of my own for him.”

He steps back and pushes a hand through his hair. “I’m not even sure I want to talk to that asshole ever again.”

“Ansel…” I take his hand. “You can’t let what Caleb did come between you and Fowler. Caleb was the one who put Fowler in a bad spot. Don’t forget that.”

His jaw hardens. “Why aren’t you mad?”

“Are you sure you’re not just hurt that Caleb confided in Fowler and not you?” I try to use a soothing voice, but the three of them were a trio, and this means that at least for one big secret, it was only a duo. I’m sure he feels left out.

Ansel’s forehead wrinkles. “You think I’m jealous of Fowler?”

“Not jealous exactly, but maybe him telling Fowler and not you left you with some questions of your own.” I shrug. “Just a thought.”

The last thing I want is to see Caleb’s betrayal cause any more damage than it already has.

“I don’t know about that,” Ansel grumbles.

“Listen, I’m working late tonight, so I won’t be done until seven. Why don’t we meet outside the pub shortly after, and then we can get our answers?”

He draws in a deep breath and nods. “Yeah, okay.”

“All right, I’ll see you then.” I give him a quick kiss on the lips.

He heads toward the door, but when I call his name, he looks over his shoulder.

“Try not to be so mad when we go talk to him. It’ll go better that way.”

“You’re the second person today to tell me that. I’m not an angry person, but damn, I’ll try to cool down.” Then he’s out the door.

True to his word, Ansel is waiting outside the pub for me when I walk up. He’s wearing jeans and a blue hoodie, hands shoved in his pockets. The snow is finally melting, and we had a few hours of rain earlier today that did a lot to wash away some of the remnants.

“You cooled down?” I ask as I approach.

He appears calmer now, less tense, though there’s still a simmer of anger in his eyes. “I’m ready.” He looks around before he pulls me into him, keeping his hands around my waist. “I want to apologize for barging into your work earlier today like that.”