Page 55 of From Now On

And, looking at them, I’m relieved.

Even when Aidan was at risk of not graduating, I was never really worried about his future. Not because he has a trust fund, although money never hurts, obviously. Because Phillips is adaptable. He makes himself at home around anyone, in any situation.

Conor is rigid. He has one plan. One way of doing things. One mindset. There’s a real possibility he won’t make it to the pros, and I can’t picture him doing anything else except playing hockey. I don’t think I could do anything to cushion the blow of that not happening. Neither could Phillips. Or Coach. I know Conor’s protective of his mom and contentious with his dad.

I’m a lot less worried about Conor’s future, watching Harlow slide off his back. She wobbles in her heels, clutching at Hart’s shirt tightly for support, only a few inches shorter than him with the added height. “I love you.”

“Love you t—” They’re kissing before Conor gets the last word out.

I avert my gaze, deciding being the single one amidst happy couples is about as bad as being sober in a crowd of drunks.

“—could have asked!”

“Harlow and Eve didn’thave to ask!”

Aidan and Rylan loudly announce their arrival. At least the bickering separates Hart and Harlow.

Phillips sighs when he reaches us, then glances between me and Conor. “When did you two get so chivalrous?”

“Harlow’s feet hurt,” Conor explains.

“I’ve always been chivalrous,” I add. “Remember when your car stopped working and I chauffeured you around for a month?”

Aidan scoffs. “It was not a month.”

Eve groans against my chest. Hopefully just a reaction to Phillips’s loud voice and not an indication she’s going to throw up again.

I catch Conor’s eye and nod toward the locked car.

“Oh, shit. Yeah. Sorry.” He digs the keys out of his pocket and the SUV’s lights flash.

Aidan picks Rylan up and deposits her two feet closer to the car, right next to the door. “There ya go, babe.”

Rylan rolls her eyes, but she’s fighting a smile as she climbs in the back seat.

“I’ve got her,” Harlow tells me, appearing at my side.

I set Eve down carefully, making sure her Converse-clad feet are under her before dropping my arm. She groans again, resting heavily on Harlow as she guides her best friend into the car.

I climb into the front seat, and Conor starts driving.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

EVE

Asledgehammer is battering my brain when I wake up.

I groan, pulling the extra pillow over my face to block out some of the sunlight streaming in through the windows.

“She’s alive.”

I groan again before shifting the pillow off my face and sitting up. I squint in the direction of Harlow’s voice. I find her sitting in the armchair in the corner, legs tucked under her and red hair pulled back in a messy ponytail.

“What are you doing in here?”

Each word I speak worsens the reverberations in my skull.Whydid I drink so much last night?

A whiny voice whispers the answer.My life is falling apart.

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