Page 150 of From Now On

I don’t know all the details about Conor’s family, but Harlow has filled me in on enough to know the story shares some similarities to my situation.

Although, from what she’s told me, Conor’s dad has regrets. He genuinely wanted a relationship with his oldest kid, even before they had Harlow in common.

I don’t think my dad could say the same. I think he grew up, had more children, and realized pretending he didn’t have a third kid was a shitty decision. He checks in out of guilt or to ease his own conscience, not because he wants to know me.

“Do you usually pick up?” Conor asks.

I exhale. “Yeah. We talk sports for a few minutes, and I ask about his other kids.”

“I didn’t know you were a sports fan.”

“I’m not.”

“Ah,” Conor realizes.

“Yeah. For a while, I thought some pointless small talk with my dad was better than never talking to him at all. But recently, I’m reassessing. I want to make it a little lesseasyfor him, I guess.” I bite my bottom lip. “Does that make me a terrible person?”

Conor chuckles. “You’re definitely asking the wrong person. I didn’t—well, I made my dad’s life hell every chance I got. Yelledat him, refused to talk to him, locked myself in a room to avoid him. I was somadat him. So fucking furious, there was this angry haze that I couldn’t see past. I looked at my dad, and all I saw was red. But…he never gave up. Never stopped inviting me for holidays or sending birthday cards. And I have regrets for how I handled it, so I’m definitely not recommending you do this. Your dadshouldshow he cares, though. Whether or not you answer, he should keep calling.”

“He’s not coming to my graduation,” I admit. “He told me the last time we talked, and I haven’t answered since. Not that he’s tried very hard. One—well, now two calls.”

“I’m sorry, Eve. That sucks.”

“Yeah, it does,” I agree. “But at least now I know where we stand. Or where we don’t, rather. That our phone calls were as meaningless as the conversations themselves.”

“My dad came to my high school graduation. But Landon was playing ‘Pomp and Circumstance’ with the school band, so I was never really sure if he showed up for me. And next month, he’ll be there, but…”

“But Harlow is graduating too,” I finish.

Conor nods. “Exactly. Most of the time, I think I’m better off not knowing his exact motivations. Sometimes…not knowing feels like the worst thing in the world.”

I nod too, understanding exactly what he means. “Well, if you and Harlow get married, you know he’ll be at the wedding.”

He laughs. “Yeah. When.”

“What?”

“WhenHarlow and I get married.”

I smile. “Since we’re bonding, I feel like I should apologize.”

He frowns. “For what?”

“I might have strongly encouraged Harlow to leave Gaffney’s with Clayton Thomas at the end of last semester. In my defense, all I knew about you was that you were a fuckboy player and thatyou broke my best friend’s heart on her birthday, but still. I saw your face after she left with him, and I’ve felt bad about it ever since. So, sorry.”

Conor mostly looks amused. “Fuckboy player, huh? I should have you pitch me to some team managers.”

“Most art professors allow talking, so people in my classes gossip a lot,” I inform him. “And I was just trying to be a good friend.”

“You don’t owe me an apology, Eve. Was I thrilled about it at the time? No. But it was my own fault, and I deserved that kick in the ass.”

I nod. “Maybe lay off Clayton, then?”

“Thomas?” Conor’s focus sharpens, and I’m immediately intimidated. I feel bad for the guys who have to face off against him on the ice. “Did he ask you to say something?”

“No,” I say quickly, worried I’m making the situation worse. “He—I just ran into him at a party.”

Conor raises an eyebrow. “I didn’t know you hung out with the basketball team.”

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