Page 137 of From Now On

“Here,” I say, returning her hug. “Just making Jell-O shots.”

“Can I help?” she offers.

“Sure. Cups are in the drawer. Vodka’s in the cabinet above the fridge. Grab a mixing bowl too.”

Rylan nods. “Got it.”

She returns with the items a minute later. “Is Harlow coming?” she asks Conor. “I haven’t seen her.”

Conor shrugs, then scratches his jaw. “I’m not sure.” He also glances at me.

“You’re not sure?” Rylan asks, confused.

“She went home for the weekend,” Hart says. “I forgot to mention it before she left, and she didn’t answer when I called earlier. I texted her about it, but she might still be driving. Or back, and busy with Eve.” He slants another look at me.

“Invite Eve too!” Rylan suggests. “I haven’t hung out with her since spring break.”

Conor makes a vague “Uh-huh” sound.

“Jell-O shots, huh? Should have known I’d find you over here, Morgan.”

I glance at Jack Williams, a smile appearing automatically. I’ve always liked Williams. Oftentimes—and especially at parties like this—we were the twin pillars of reason when guys would suggest streaking across campus or breaking into the rink to skate suicides.

We haven’t hung out much since the season ended. We’ve never socialized much outside of hockey. Jack and Harlow dated sophomore year, and Conor is…Conor.

“Hey, man,” I greet. “They’ll be ready in a bit.”

“No rush.” Williams props a hip against the counter. “How’ve you been?”

“Not bad.”

“You pick a grad school yet?” he asks.

Jack and I were the two guys doing homework on the bus to away games. He’s from LA, like Aidan, and working for his dad’s accounting company after graduation.

“He’s still busy weighing hismanyoffers,” Conor says.

I roll my eyes. “Not that many.”

“Morgan got into every fucking school he applied to,” Hart brags.

“What? I didn’t know that!” Aidan interjects. “Did they send you something I can put on the fridge?”

I laugh and shake my head. “A couple of schools sent welcome packets, yeah.”

Including University of Pennsylvania, which is the program I’m leaning toward. It’s one of the top in the country, and Philadelphia is a cool city. For many reasons, including its proximity to New York.

The water’s boiling. I grab a potholder and pass the pan to Rylan, who carefully mixes it with the Jell-O powder and then adds the vodka.

Aidan’s busy rearranging the papers on the fridge so there’s an open spot for my grad school decision. And fuck if that doesn’t make me feel as sentimental as clearing out my locker did.

“Is Kylie here?” I ask Jack.

Jack shakes his head. “Nah, we broke up. End of senior year is a tough time to start a relationship, especially if you’re not headed to the same place. She got a job offer in Chicago…and that was pretty much it.”

I nod, attempting to ignore how similar his words sound to my own situation. “Sorry, man.”

“S’okay. It was amicable. But thanks.”

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