I considered a million excuses for why I couldn’t attend, but between Ford insisting I needed to get out and Eudora telling me she’d personally come get me if I tried to skip, I gave in and told her she could send her car for me as usual.

35

MILES

During dinner, I told Ford I didn’t want to talk about Ben or work, I just wanted to hang out. Otherwise, I knew I might walk out and never go to the stupid book club. I’d hated the book; it was just unlikeable people saying nonsense to each other. I had no desire to discuss it with Ford’s law school friends.

The problem was, if I went home, I would mope and seethe just like Ford had accused me of doing. I’d been so desperate to stop thinking of Ben the night before that I’d gone drinking with Worth, which had made this morning even worse.

Ben had loved the dandelions. He still had them on his desk in a water glass even though they were wilted now. I was contemplating what else I could do for him that would make him happy when the car stopped at the curb.

I looked out to see where we were. “What are we doing at Eudora’s house?”

“She’s hosting.”

“Wait, I thought Thursday nights was when Ben had knitting club. I know Ben—” I turned to Ford. The fact that he wouldn’t meet my eyes told me everything. “You brought me to knitting circle.”

“Maybe.”

“Is he in there?” I gestured toward the house.

“Who?”

I narrowed my eyes at him. “You know who.”

“I’m not sure if Ben is here yet or not.”

“But he’s coming.”

“Unless Eudora failed to convince him.”

Eudora never failed at anything. “He’s coming, and he doesn’t want me here.”

“Do you want to be here?”

“No. Yes. Fuck, what am I supposed to do.”

“Go in there and be civilized and see how things go when you two are outside the office.”

“I’m always civilized.”

Ford raised his brows. “You stalked him like prey, then claimed him as yours.”

“And he—”

Ford held up a hand. “Don’t give me more details than I want to know.”

I smiled and followed Ford to Eudora’s door.

She greeted us, kissing me on the cheek and linking her arm with mine. When we stepped into her living room, Ben’s eyes widened as he asked, “What are you doing here? Eudora, you said—”

“A woman my age is allowed a few little white lies.”

Ben looked back at me. “You knit?”

“What? No. I thought this was….” I ran a hand over my hair.

Ford grinned. “I might have said book club instead of knitting circle.”