On the drive home, Bill was quieter than usual. He kept his eyes on the road, answering Ashley’s questions briefly. She watched his profile in the dim light, wondering what had changed and whether the strange dinner had affected him more than he wanted to admit.
Ashley finally asked if something was wrong, trying to sound casual rather than concerned. The question lingered between them longer than she expected, filling the car with a silence that felt heavier than the quiet they usually shared on late drives home.