Page 57 of Friends with Benefits

“Next time, less falafeling.”

“Next time, pretend we’re home and stay out of the kitchen.”

She shoves his shoulder, and thesnackleshe emits—that ridiculous sound—makes his heart flutter. That sound? It’s worth the humiliating defeat. Even at the hand of his nemesis and his fuck buddy who still look like Greek goddesses and… how? Theo’s shirt is sweat-drenched. Evelyn’s face is the color of a tomato. Juniper and Violet didn’t even break a sweat.

“Good luck in the tournament,Theodore,” Violet says.

“You need it,” Juniper teases.

“Kick rocks, Juniper,” Evelyn snaps.

Juniper’s eyes widen.

Evelyn’s narrow.

“Bitch,” she mutters under her breath once the sisters are out of earshot.

“Was that really necessary?”

“You know I don’t fuck with Juniper.”

“She’s not so bad.”

“She wronged you.”

Evelyn’s voice is low, serious,fierce.

“Is this still about the zoo? I can’t fault her for advocating for her kids. Also? She didn’t do anything to you.”

She shakes her head. “That’s not how we work.”

I could kiss her.

“Also?” she continues. “Violet kept aiming for your crotch. She’s pissed. Can’t blame her. I, too, would be if I thought I banged a married man.”

“Evelyn.”

She laughs, enjoying this.

“Theo? You made it!”

He turns toward the voice that belongs to none other than Veronica Connors. His boss. Her entourage of doting colleagues surround her, duffel bags slung over their shoulders. Mary Pendergast. Diane Silver. Shana Jones. Corrine Baptiste. Wendi Simmons. All teachers. Well. Wendi is the school’s psychologist. All faculty.

All picklers.

Theo stands. “Hi, Ms. Connors.”

“Veronica,” she says, unable to get it through her head that Theo is incapable of calling his elementary school principal by her first name. “You must be Evie!” Evelyn stands, andMs. Connors, hit by something he can only describe asoverwhelm, throws her arms around her. “I didn’t put it together, but of course! You’re Lori’s Evelyn.”

“Oh. I suppose I am.”

In Ms. Connors’s embrace, Evelyn looks at Theo like she could cry. Theo feels like he could cry. He senses his colleagues’ eyes on him, feels the awkwardness that emanates from people uncomfortable with grief. Which is, honestly, most people. He’s never prepared for these moments, for people casually mentioning his mom. Every time, it feels like that person is picking off a scab. Every time, it leaves a fresh wound.

“It’s so wonderful to meet you!” Ms. Connors says.

Evelyn smiles. “You, too, Veronica. I’m looking forward to dinking with you.”

Ms. Connors laughs, loud (because even his boss is a twelve-year-old), then squeezes Evelyn’s arm tenderly. They exchange pleasantries and a few jokes at Theo’s expense before Ms. Connors assigns them a bracket number and a court. He feels the entourage watching them. Mary, Diane, and Shana. Second-grade teachers. Lori’s best friends. Theo waves. Diane waves back. Shana averts her eyes. Mary looks a little teary. And it throws him—more than the jaw kiss, more than even Violet.

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