Page 56 of Friends with Benefits

Pain.

Evelyn is in pain.

He jogs over to her becausenope.

Theo will not be responsible for his best friend’s pain.

Again.

“Don’t,” she says.

“Your ankle—”

“—is just a little stiff, but otherwise fine.”

Her tone is sharp, her words defensive. It snaps him outof the irrational panic, and Theo backs off, raising his arms in retreat. Because no one knows Evelyn’s body—its limits—better than she does. It’s an established boundary since her diagnosis. Theo can express concern… but he must listen to her, must believe her when she’s in pain and when she is not. Most of the time, he does. Believe her. Sometimes, though? Right now? Anxiety wins. He drops his shaking hands to his sides. Checks his pulse: 144.Shit.

He closes his eyes.

Takes slow, intentional breaths.

And because his eyes are closed, he doesn’t see it coming. Lips—holy fuck,Evelyn’slips—pressing against his jaw in a soft but firm kiss that lights his skin on fire. Her teeth tease him, grazing along his jawbone until her mouth is millimeters from his. It’s enough to make him forget where he is, who’s watching, his own name. A past, younger, reckless version of himself wants to lean into this moment. Smash his lips into hers and pretend that it’s real. Admit how much he wants this to be real.

But he isn’t that Theo.

And it isn’t real.

So he pulls back.

Asks, “What was that for?”

Evelyn looks at him.

Pasthim.

Then shrugs innocently. “I just wanted to.”

Evelyn and Theo got pickled.

Definition?

They suck. Didn’t score a single point in the practice game played against Juniper and Violet, who shouted nonsense phrases at them after every rally—

What an unfortunate falafel!

Smash!

Did you see that tweener?

Evelyn full-on sprinted away from the court when Violet screamed “Scorpion!” at the top of her lungs only to learn that a scorpion is not just a predatory arachnid but also the name of the shot Violet had just executed. Overall, Theo and Evelyn’s instincts are good. It’s the execution that’s lacking. It doesn’t help that he can still feel her teeth on his skin. Or thestingon his right butt cheek every time Evelyn swats him with the paddle. Theo keeps hitting the ball out of bounds. She keeps fouling by stepping into the kitchen. Both lack a total awareness of their bodies and how they relate to each other within the boundaries of the court.

It’s a mess.

Evelyn hasn’t stopped laughing, her cheeks flushed from exertion as they rehydrate and lick their wounds before his colleagues begin to arrive for the tournament.

“We… really thought we had a shot.”

“Speak for yourself.”

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