Page 100 of Friends with Benefits

But right now, Theo and Evelyn are good at casual. If Theo brings up moving to New York? Memories of their last serious New York conversation resurface, dissolving his desire to share this with her, because if he’s honest about the conditions required for him to make this move… she’ll freak out. Shit.He’sfreaking out.

Besides, it’s such a long shot.

The job.

Theo can keep it to himself for now and continue to pretend this, them, his feelings are casual.

Until pretending becomes impossible.

All because of “1985.” A couple of weeks after he takes her to school with him, a package shows up at their apartment. It’s a Saturday afternoon and their only plans are not to put on real clothes today. Evelyn is crocheting on the couch, headphones covering her ears, when Theo tries to hand her the padded envelope.

She sits up, lowering her headphones. “It’s for you.”

It’s not a holiday. It’s not his birthday. “Why?”

“Just open it.”

He does.

It’s a custom chalkboard.___DAYS SINCE “1985”is painted across the top, and his entire body spasms, he’s laughing so hard. “Ev. I repeat. Why?”

“Because! It’s my new favorite Theo Fact.”

He plants himself next to her on the couch. “Oh?”

Evelyn places her crochet project on the coffee table and wraps her arms around her legs. “Totally. It’s, like, I think I must know everything about you… and then out of nowhere you play a Bowling for Soup song to get your students to quiet down. Incredible.Youare incredible and it’s just so cool to know you so well and still be surprised. You know?”

He stares at it.

This literal sign.

“I know.”

Her cheeks flush the way they always do whenever she slips up and says something earnest. “But also? For the reaction.” Evelyn drops her arms and shifts closer to him. Hernails left tiny crescent moons imprinted on her knees. “From the kids.”

His thumbs brush the crescent moons. “Oh?”

“Yeah.”

“Really?” This is how it starts. Teasing. Nonchalant. Then someone will lean in. Usually Evelyn. Theo lets her make the first move because it’s sexy, because it’s safe, because then he’s not the one putting himself out there. But right now? He’s the one leaning in, so close her breath tickles. “Fortheirreaction.”

She brushes the stubble along his jaw and doubles down. “Really.”

Kissing Evelyn so often evokes this hot, intense desperation, but this time when their lips touch it feels different. Soft.This isn’t a mistake.Gentle.This isn’t a mistake.Tender.This isn’t a mistake.Evelyn sits on his lap and pulls his T-shirt over his head. Drags her nails down his chest, then presses her mouth to his neck. His hands return to her legs. Start at those near-faded crescent moons before traveling up, up, up her thighs as hers travel down, down, down to the drawstring of his sweatpants. When he covers her hand with his, Evelyn whimpers—fuckingwhimpers—against his throat.

“Theo.”

“So impatient.”

“Should I stop?”

“No.” Theo kisses her perfect swollen lips, then pulls back so their foreheads touch. “Unless. Do you want to stop?”

Evelyn smirks. “I consent, Theodore. Just to be perfectly clear.”

“Cool.”

Cool?

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