Page 147 of The Dixon Rule

I’m hoping the more time that passes—and the more physical distance between me and Percy—the less anxiety I’ll feel. Until maybe one day I won’t feel it at all.

Shane and I reconvene an hour later in my apartment. I pour myself a glass of the Pink Stuff, since tonight is basically my last chance to drink without worrying about hangovers. Saturday is the first football game of the year, and the squad needs to be in elite shape for the season opener. But I know Shane has hockey practice tomorrow morning, so I raise a brow when he gets himself a beer.

“Should you be drinking when you have practice?”

“Just one. You’ll have to get drunk enough for the both of us.”

The episode starts with Zoey and the Connor on their final date aboard a luxury yacht. After Zoey was voted back into the hacienda from the Sugar Shack, Connor was like a new man. Realizing how close he’d come to losing her, he went above and beyond to prove to her that she was the only woman for him. His transformation has been amazing. We’ve watched him go from a douchebag radio host who rated women’s breasts on a scale of “lickable” to “motor-boatable,” to a sweet, thoughtful, grown man in love.

Or so I thought.

Halfway through the finale, Jasmine tells Zoey that the Connor told Ben that he might not be ready for a serious commitment.

“What!” I shout at the screen. “What are you saying right now? Stop trying to sabotage them!”

Shane is agape. “Do you think Connor actually said that? I don’t remember them showing a scene like that.”

“Jas is totally stirring up trouble,” I say firmly. “There’s no way.”

But then Ben backs Jasmine up, confirming to Zoey that Connor did indeed say it.

“Oh my God,” I moan.

“What the fuck was he thinking?” Shane growls.

Zoey starts to cry. For the next fifteen minutes, we’re glued to the screen. The Connor does some damage control, scrambling to reassure Zoey that he and Ben had the commitment conversation nearly a month ago. But Ben and Jas insist it was “just the other night.”

“They’re lying,” Shane says. “They’re totally trying to knock Zoey and Connor out of the Forever Couple running.”

“Fuckin’ saboteurs.”

We’re still ranting about Jas and Ben when Will sends me an SOS. That’s literally what the message says. “SOS” and nothing more.

Grinning, I unlock my phone.

“Who is it?” Shane asks.

“Will,” I say as I type a response.

ME:

What’s up?

WILL:

Beck just invited someone home tonight.

ME:

And you want to join them.

WILL:

So fucking much.

ME:

So do it.

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