Page 143 of Friends with Benefits

“This was more cinematic in my head,” Evelyn confesses.

Theo’s still in disbelief. “You’re here.”

“You almostweren’t.” She shoves his shoulder, then twines their fingers together. They’re freezing. Her fingers. Evelyn smirks. “God. That would’ve been… sous.”

His laughter cannot be contained. Neither can his stupid smile. Now in motion, the aircraft heads toward the runway, toward the sky, toward New York. Theo has so many questions. Evelyn Bloom is someone who stays, but she is here, next to him, clutching his hand and there’s so much he wants to say. He doesn’t know whether to begin with his head or his heart.

Then she rests her head on his shoulder and whispers, “Hey.”

And Theo chooses his heart. “I love you.”

“I love you, too.” Evelyn laughs. “Obviously.”

Obviously.

“You’rehere,” he repeats.

She lifts her head.

Their eyes meet.

Hers sparkle in amusement. “Yeah.”

“What does this mean?”

“Hmm?”

“Sorry.” He winces, unsure if the question came off as guarded, or like pressure, when really he just needs to know if he should pull a parachute on these feelings or if it’s safe to free-fall. “I just… your fellowship…” Theo is great at forming a coherent sentence right now.

“Well.” She squeezes his hand. “There are three months left. I’m going to finish it. I’m not done learning from Sadie and Charlie. I still love the work we do. But after… I was thinking it could be cool to check out the Foley scene in New York? Maybe set up some consultations with new providers? See how it feels to be there? With you? If… that’s still something you’d be into?”

His heart explodes as his brow furrows. “I don’t want you to leave for me—”

“I’m not.”

“Ev.”

“It’d be forme.”

“But—”

“Theodore.” Her voice is firm. Solid. “Stop. I love you. I love waking up next to you. I love your morning voice. I love that you treatblueberry Cheerioslike a five-star breakfast. I love choosing photos to display in our home…” Her voice trails off in a giggle, followed by a goddamn adorable nose scrunch. “I love sayingour home.”

Theo is free-falling.

“I never wanted to be married to anyone,” Evelyn continues. “Ever. Honestly? I still don’t know if I want to stay married. But I want to be with you. Whatever that means, however that looks? I want to figure it out together. I’ve always stayed because it was safe, because then I could tell myself that it was everyone else who had left me… as if I wasn’t also making achoice. I’m trying out New York for us, but also for myself. And whatever happens? It’s worth the risk. We are worth the risk.”

“Yeah?”

She nods. “No more beats.”

Theo brings her hand to his lips. “I’m very into all of this. Obviously.”

“Obviously.”

Because they’re on an airplane (the best worst thing ever in this moment), Evelyn rests her head back on his shoulder. He offers her an earbud, and they listen to aSurvivorpodcast as the wheels lift and they ascend into the sky. Someday it will hurt. Theo knows this in his bones. All the time in the world still won’t be enough. But he can choose happiness in the meantime. Theydeservehappiness. Theo doesn’t want to waste another second not loving Evelyn Bloom. He’s about to say this, to match her declaration with his own, but she’s already snoring, drooling, on his shoulder.I love you.

You.

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