[Will's attention immediately snaps to the ring on his finger. He extends all of them, wiggles for a second, and goes back to loosely clutching the can before he glances up just in time for a cloud to cover the sun.]
Almost a year now. [Unofficially speaking. Will had been scared senseless from making anything official at the time, for over two months. It's the more important topic at hand; distracting talk of his wife by getting into something John probably already knows just fine, what houseboats are like (whether he's been on one or not), might seem...cruel.] I'm planning something for it. She's...not yet aware.
[An eyebrow lifts. Maybe she is. Maybe she's pretending she doesn't know the date's meaning. Maybe she's just playing it cool while he secretly checks for tickets to weird art shows and galleries and does quiet groundwork. Maybe they'll end up throwing it all off and ignoring plans.]
Do you know anyone else like us? Married, the people they're married to here?
[He's not asking about Mary, specifically. Should be fine enough, he hopes. If not, he adds, quickly:]
If we're a club of two, feels like I've lucked out.
[A quick smile in John's direction at the confession, head tipped slightly. Enough that Will has to look up just a smidge. Quiet praise delivered with a smile, with the barest hint of admiration. Whether it's all honest or an attempt to placate any mixed feelings regarding his wife...well, what does it matter unless John takes it as a manipulative move and calls him out on it? It doesn't, that's how.]
no subject
Almost a year now. [Unofficially speaking. Will had been scared senseless from making anything official at the time, for over two months. It's the more important topic at hand; distracting talk of his wife by getting into something John probably already knows just fine, what houseboats are like (whether he's been on one or not), might seem...cruel.] I'm planning something for it. She's...not yet aware.
[An eyebrow lifts. Maybe she is. Maybe she's pretending she doesn't know the date's meaning. Maybe she's just playing it cool while he secretly checks for tickets to weird art shows and galleries and does quiet groundwork. Maybe they'll end up throwing it all off and ignoring plans.]
Do you know anyone else like us? Married, the people they're married to here?
[He's not asking about Mary, specifically. Should be fine enough, he hopes. If not, he adds, quickly:]
If we're a club of two, feels like I've lucked out.
[A quick smile in John's direction at the confession, head tipped slightly. Enough that Will has to look up just a smidge. Quiet praise delivered with a smile, with the barest hint of admiration. Whether it's all honest or an attempt to placate any mixed feelings regarding his wife...well, what does it matter unless John takes it as a manipulative move and calls him out on it? It doesn't, that's how.]