Page 125 of Friends with Benefits

It hurts.

Hehurts.

But it’s for the best.

This, at least, is a pain he can handle.

“Where’s Evelyn?”

Those are the first words out of Jacob’s mouth when he registers that his son is standing on the front porch, alone, on a Sunday morning. It’s a fair question. Evelyn doesn’t miss Sunday breakfasts. Theo is the one who opts out. But he’s here. Alone. Because Jacob still believes that they’re married and someone needs to tell him the truth.

“It’s me this week,” Theo says, crossing the threshold into his childhood home. “Sorry to disappoint.”

Jacob’s brow furrows. “Is she okay?”

“Yes?”

“So she made a GI appointment?”

Theo attempts to mask his concern, his obliviousness. “I think so.”

“Youthinkso?” Jacob’s expression renders him fourteen again. Theo’s watch vibrates. “This is the third breakfast she’s missed. Keeps oversleeping?Get your wife to a doctor.”

Theo clenches his fist.

Unclenches it.

Breathe.

Evelyn is probably just avoiding Jacob.

Because of the divorce.

But. He can’tknowthat.

Jacobpffts,shaking his head as he pulls out his phone and types. It vibrates in his palm moments later, her response immediate—and only when his father’s shoulders sag in relief do Theo’s mirror his. Jacob slaps the message into Theo’s hand then escapes to the kitchen.

oh! thanks for checking. yeah, dr. g bumped up my infusion a week, then told me to take it easy for the rest of the week. i’m already feeling much better. my fault for being a workaholic, oops! see you next week?

9:01A.M.

Theo’s pulse thrashes against his throat, so relieved, but also? He’s pissed. Mostly at himself for allowing the hurt to cloud his attention, for taking the food left uneaten as stubbornness, for believing Evelyn when she saysI’m fine. But just as pissed that she concealed her pain from him when he could have been there for her. Health stuff trumps everything. Sheknowsthat. Does she think she’s sparing him? From the worry? Doesn’t she understand that he cannot turn that off? Theo could be in the next room, in New York, on the fuckingmoon. No matter how far away she pushes him, he will never stop worrying about her, wanting her, loving her. Theo sinksinto the couch, the same couch where he used to watchBake Offwith his mom, and swallows his emotions.

He willnotcry.

Not in front of Jacob.

“So,” Jacob says, returning to the living room with two mugs. “You going to tell me what the fuck is going on?”

“Yeah. Um…” Theo chugs the coffee. Burns his tongue. “That’s why I’m here.”

Jacob smirks. “And I thought it was to check in on your old man.”

Theo’s eyes shift down, settling on a streak in the coffee table where acetone once spilled. Evelyn wanted to paint their nails black before a competition and the bottle tipped over. Took the finish right off. “Evelyn and I started the process of getting divorced.”

Jacob sets his mug down. “What did you do?”

“What didIdo?”

---