Page 119 of From Now On

“That’s such a stereotype,” Mary says. “The athletes on campus aren’t the only ones who party. And they won a national championship.”

Ben frowns. “Wait, what?”

“You think Eve was partying just because she spent break with half the hockey team? It’s not your business anymore, Ben!”

Gratitude for Mary’s defense is eclipsed by dread when I get a glimpse of the incredulous look on Ben’s face. “You spent spring break withhalf the hockey team?”

“No. I mean, yes, some of the guys were there. Not half the team. Butyou’renot in any fucking position to judge howIspent break, right, Ben?”

He winces, but recovers quickly. “You let me feel guilty about Rowan when you moved on just as fast?”

“Rowan?” David asks, confirming my assumption that Ben withheld some relevant information. “What does Rowan have to do with anything?”

I ignore David. Ben can share details later. “I let you feel guilty? I let you feelguilty, Ben? I told you that I wasrelieved. How the fuck is that letting you feel guilty?”

At least he has the sense to look shame-faced. “I—I wasn’t sure if you were just saying that. We were together for three years, Eve. We were going to live together.”

“All past tense, Ben! Everything’s different now!”

“I know! I know it is! I know I fucked everything up!” He throws his hands up in the air. “That means I can’t be upset you spent break with a bunch of other guys?”

I blow out a frustrated breath.That’sexactlywhat it means, hovers on the tip of my tongue.

But Ben looks hurt, not just mad, and I can’t make the words come out. “I went on a trip with Harlow and her boyfriend and some of Conor’s friends because it was that or sit alone on the couch for a week. You can feel however you want, Ben, but what I do or who I do it with isn’t any of your fucking business anymore.” I glance at Mary. “This was a mistake. I’ll, uh, I’ll text you later.”

I spin and head for the door.

Three steps down the hallway, I hear Mary call my name.

“Are you okay?” she asks as soon as I turn around.

“Yeah. I’m fine.” Surprisingly, I mean it. I’m annoyed by Ben’s behavior, but not at Ben. It feels like I’ve moved on, and now I’m waiting for him to catch up. “Sorry to bail like that, I just?—”

“No, I get it. I’m sorry I pushed this. I missed the way things were, but things change, right? Even if you guys had stayed together, everything would have been different after graduation anyway.”

The sky doesn’t change. If Hunter were here, I’d say it aloud. It’d probably coax a half smile out of him.

“It’s not your fault,” I tell Mary. “I think Ben needed to hear it was over again.”

“He really slept with Rowan?”

I nod.

Mary shakes her head. “If I’d known, I never would have?—”

“I know,” I assure her.

“I heard there’s a party on Oak. You wanna go?”

I do, actually, but I glance at the apartment door. “What about the movie night?”

David isn’t my favorite person right now, but I think his treatment of me tonight was mostly driven by loyalty to Ben. And I’ve spent enough time around him and Mary to tell he adores her. I’m not interested in allowing my drama to affect their relationship.

“I’ll survive without seeing the movie with the ten-word title I can’t even remember. Plus, I’m mad at David. He was a jerk to you.”

I open my mouth to speak at the same time the door swings open. David appears.

He gives me a hasty, apologetic look, and then focuses on his girlfriend. “Mary.”

---