Page 41 of Friends with Benefits

Theo abandoning her again and again and again.

He executes the combination of taps with precision.

Still, Evie cuts the music. “Again.”

Theo exhales, pushing his curls off his forehead. “Okay. IknowI got it that time—”

She presses play, then joins him on the bamboo tap mat covering a section of the deck. Her back to him, Evie channels her annoyance, hurt,rageinto the choreography, articulating every step and launching into a double pirouette with way too much momentum, crashing into Theo.

They both go down.

She lands on top of him, her heart smashing into his.

He looks up at her. “Are we okay?”

Her smile is sour. “Great.”

She rolls away from him, pulling her knees into her chest and wrapping her arms around them to recalibrate, to focus on her breathing like Grandpa Mo taught her after her first panic attack, tonot cry. It’s their first year of middle school,the first year they’ve attended the same school. Evie was so excited. It’s so stupid. It’s not like she even needs Theo. Evie has friends. Caro, Gracie, and Iris at dance. Lola, Jamie, and the Allisons at school. But Theo is her best friend. Or so she thought. Maybe she’s wrong. Maybe they’ve always just beendancefriends.

Ugh.

It’s all so embarrassing.

“I think we’re off, Evelyn.”

“Evie,” she snaps, digging her nails into her kneecaps.

He frowns.

Then scoots a few inches closer. “What’s wrong?”

Seriously?

“You’re kind of a butt, Theodore.”

“Me? I know the combination. You keep making me start over forno reason.”

Evie’s nostrils flare, her stomach twisting and cramping. She winces, tears prickling her lash line that have nothing to do with Theo Cohen being a massive butt and everything to do with her period. Maybe. Probably. She doesn’t keep track, even though her grandmother bought her a small appointment calendar and a pad of stickers for that very purpose. She tried for a few months but doesn’t see the point.

It’s always a surprise.

Everything that hurts is always a surprise.

Period cramps.

Naomi.

Theo.

“Ev.” Theo’s eyes widen with concern, cutting her name at the first safe syllable. “Talk to me.”

“You’re my best friend,” she admits.

“You’re mine.”

“I’mnot. At school… you act like I don’t exist.”

Theo’s cheeks redden. “I just—Connor and Mattsuck, okay?”

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