“Did our conversation from earlier upset you?” Camille asks after I’ve given her a quick tour of my house—technically still my and Rebecca’s house. It feels strange to bring Camille here, where we lived together for more than ten years. When I asked Rebecca if she’d ever brought Julie here to have sex with and she reluctantly confirmed she had, it was one of the things that stung the most. Because it violated the place we had created together, out of our love and commitment to each other. Another reason I want to get rid of this house as quickly as possible.

“No. Not really. It just made me think of my ex and, er, some of the things she accused me of.”

“If there’s one thing I’ve learned it’s that exes are very good at blaming others for their own mistakes, to justify them. But it cuts both ways. When a relationship ends, it’s hardly ever because one person screwed up. I think it might be statistically impossible. And I’m a scientist. I know all about statistics.”

“How did you possibly screw up in your marriage?”

“In many ways I don’t really want to confess to you right now. It doesn’t really strike me as the right timing.” She heels off her shoes and draws her feet up onto the couch.

“Well, then…” I know this question is completely beside the point. I just feel like some mischief to lighten the mood. “Do tell me if you also think I lack passion.”

Camille gives a throaty laugh. “From my point of view, passion is the very last thing you lack.”

“Thank you.” I know I’m comparing apples to oranges, but it doesn’t matter. I just wanted to hear Camille say it.

“Speaking of passion.” She pronounces it the French way, and it sounds so much more sensual. It makes me want to enroll in an immersive French course as soon as I get the chance. “Or maybe I should call it chemistry. Or attraction. I sincerely believe it’s a thing that exists in a tangible way between two people. Like last night, there was quite a bit of it in the air.” She extends her leg so her foot touches my thigh. “I wouldn’t mind another taste of that. Even if just to see if it’s still there. As I just said, I’m a scientist and I like to do research experiments.”

“What kind of experiment did you have in mind?” Something in my core is melting already. It’s her eyes on me and how they take me back to last night, and the change of light in them and how it states her intentions.

“Well, basically, my second time with a woman.” Her smile is less confident.