Page 132 of Friends with Benefits

“No?”

“I won’t be reduced to a wife.”

Pep is quiet for a moment. Leans back on the bench. “Is that how you see it?”

“Is that not howyousee it?”

“Evelyn. Sweets. No. Not at all.”

“You and Mo are the strongest couple I know, and you’re not married.”

Pep chuckles. “Mo and I both had that already, and we didn’t want to go through the hoopla again. That was our decision, but it doesn’t mean we don’t believe in marriage. More importantly, it doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t.” She tilts her head, considering. “Of course, it’s also okay if that is how you feel. Is that a deal-breaker for Theo?”

She sniffles. “He says no, but—”

“Evelyn,” Pep cuts her off. “I’m sorry, but I’m even more confused. What is the problem?”

Silence.

Evie faintly hears Imogen butchering “Shake It Off” and everything in her wants to run back inside, toward her sister, away from these feelings, but she forces herself to stay still, to listen to the thrashing of her heart, to listen to herself. Theo loves her and she loves him, too, and marriage isn’t a deal-breaker for him so… what is the problem?

Is she the problem?

“Me.” She brushes her knuckles across her cheeks. “When I saw you and Mo, I thought you were ambushing me. I didn’t mean to ambush myself.”

“Oh, Sweets.” Pep stands and holds out her hand, lips upturned in a wry smile. “This was always an ambush.”

STELLA HOFFMAN’S DANCE ACADEMY, SUMMER AFTER FRESHMAN YEAR OF COLLEGE

Evie

Evie is the first to arrive at Miss Stella’s. It’s a hot Monday in mid-July, the first week of a monthlong dance camp. She opens the studio with a key that no longer belongs to her, a key she never returned, to warm up before the kids arrive. Sitting alone in an empty studio that was once synonymous with home, she slips on her jazz shoes, then stands and stares at her reflection in the mirrored wall, a focused determination furrowing her brow.

Evie inhales.

Rests her palms on the maple wood barre.

And dares to go on relevé.

Fuck.

She winces, falling out and folding forward to relieve the pain. Evie squeezes her eyes shut. Fifteen months since she fell… and the simplest exercise still hurts.

Is this just her life now?

Will everything she loves always hurt?

Evie used to love dance camp. Attending it as a tiny dancer.Working as a student teacher alongside Theo. When Miss Stella called her mid-infusion and asked if she’d be home for the summer and willing to teach? Her heart fluttered from the potential and she took the job without hesitation.

Evie needed the money.

Wanted a reason to be at the studio.

Assumed Theo would be here, too.

“Evie?” Caro’s voice draws Evie’s eyes up to her mouth, a mouth that is chewing a wad of pink gum, a mouth that has been on Theo’s mouth. “I can lead warm-ups today if you need—”

“No.”

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