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We end up on Ben’s back deck before I can find what— or who—I was looking for.

Ben’s backyard is the perfect party area. A large wooden patio opens up into a generous back lawn with a pool tucked away under the shade of a large gumtree. There’s a fire-pit alight, with people seated around in a variety of chairs. Multiple outdoor heaters ensure that I start sweating under my jacket. With how packed this place is, I can only imagine how grateful Ben’s parents were when he gifted them a weekend away. They would not want to be around a hundred drunk twenty-somethings.

“Have a drink, mate. Heaven knows you need one.”

Accepting the open beer I laugh. “Is Michelle still on my back?”

“Oh yeah.” The pitying look he gives me brings a smile to my face.

“Come on! I’ve handled her antics for years; I can handle her now.”

Ben puts a hand on my shoulder, almost spilling his cup of God-knows-what. “Bro. This is different.” His slightly glassy eyes look deep into mine, and I struggle to hear the rest of his sentence over the music. “She’s determined. She’s going to— Eden!” Just hearing her name sends a rush of heat through my body. I’m entirely unprepared when I turn around and look at her. I swear my jaw drops.

“Hi guys!” She hugs Ben first, which I totally do not take personally. At all. Not even when she plants a kiss on his cheek.

I want to throw her over my shoulder and get as far away as possible from this place. She looks gorgeous. No, not gorgeous. Stunning. Her hair brushes the top of her collarbone, and the pale pink dress she wears seems to hug every curve. Her lips shine and her darkened eyelashes frame her perfect eyes in a way I haven’t seen before. Multiple heads turn in unison to take in the newcomers, and I try to ignore the jealousy curling around the bottom of my spine as their eyes look her up and down. Caveman brain locked and loaded.

“Nice to see you too, Ollie.” A voice snaps me out of my creepy staring and monologuing.

“What? Oh, hi Gemma.”

She rolls her eyes before smirking. “Keep your tongue inside your mouth, next time.” She pats me on the shoulder before disappearing into the crowd. Gemma has this ability to find friends no matter where she is, already slipping effortlessly into a group’s conversation.

“Hi.” My voice is low when Eden approaches me. Her expression seems guarded, wary.

“Hi.”

I awkwardly feel for the table behind me, afraid to take my eyes off her for even a second in case she disappears. “Want a drink?’ There’s a bottle of something fruity in my hands that I offer her, which she takes.

“Thanks.”

Our fingers touch for just a moment, and I’m ashamed by how much my body reacts to her. Maybe a bit too much. Jesus Christ, I need a cold shower.

“Did you like the game?” I say quickly, trying to get my mind out of the gutter. The playful smile she gives me pushes me right back in.

“If I wanted to see grown men run around and chase a ball, I would have gone to the dog park.” Her nose crinkles as she giggles, before her eyes darken. “Although, Macie did seem to ruin a nice afternoon.”

“Like you wouldn’t know.”

“What even happened there?” Eden turns her head towards mine.

Running my hand through my hair I’m desperate to do anything to stop her looking at me this way. Like I….Like I’m hiding something from her. I glance around, aware of the presence of one-too-many people from my high school.

“Can we— can we talk somewhere a bit quieter?”

Although I know it’s stupid, I’m scared she somehow scored an invitation tonight. Macie always has a way of popping up when you least expect it. Eden nods, and I take her hand in mine, like we always do. It’s dark in this forgotten corner of the garden, and I’m grateful for the silence. It lets me focus on her. And only her.

“Did Michelle tell you anything?”

Eden shakes her head as we sit on the bench, her full bottom lip jutting out slightly. “There were names called, of course. But she wouldn’t elaborate.”

I send up a silent prayer for Michelle knowing when to shut her mouth.

“Macie and I dated.”

“As I gathered.” Eden refuses to look at me, instead choosing to pick at a loose thread on her dress. Here goes nothing.

“We broke up because she wanted more from me that I could give her.” The words struggle to make it past my throat. No one else knows what happened that night, besides Michelle and Ben. The memory of it is like a bucket of cold water being dumped on my head. I shiver, and Eden notices the movement. Her eyes, tinged with red, meet mine.