Page 63 of This Changes Everything

Ben tapped my phone, answering it for me.

“Hey, Kara. What’s up?” I asked.

“Hey, Ellie-Bee. I just needed to talk to you.” She sucked in a shaky breath, and I bolted upright in the bath, concerned to hear her so upset right out of the gate.

I picked up my phone but kept it on speaker. “Where are you?”

“I’m at Juniper.”

The air emptied from my lungs as she spoke. “You’re going to Juniper again? When did that start?”

“It didn’t. Jacob asked me to drop something off, but I just saw Cameron. I haven’t seen him since we broke up. It did not go well.”

I slumped. “I’m sorry.”

“No, it’s . . . my fault.” Kara let out a deep, loud sigh. I could tell she was trying not to cry.

“I promise, there will come a time when this is all in the past.” I hoped to believe that myself one day. Ben gently trailed his fingers along my back.

“Umm, yeah. Hold on.” She was distracted.

A muffling sound clouded the mic, but then I could hear him. His voice was in the background, but it was clear as day. Rory was there with Kara.

“Hey, Kare. You okay?” His voice was quiet, but it was Rory.

“Yeah, I’m fine,” she answered hurriedly.

“I caught the tail end of what happened in there and wanted to check on you.” Rory’s voice was growing louder. He must have been walking up to her. I wondered where they were. Was she leaning against the bag stand by the drop-off ? Were they at her car in the parking lot? Were they anywhere near the putting green where Albert Davis had rammed his sweatband up my arm and sunk his fingernails deep into my wrist, hoping to hit bone?

“I’m just talking to Ellie. Can you give me a few minutes? I’d really like to talk to you, too.”

I stopped breathing. I didn’t hear Rory respond. There were only a few seconds of silence before Kara said, “Hey. I’m back.” I wondered what Rory was thinking, knowing that I was on the phone, assuming that I could hear them. A heaviness grew inside my chest, like I was being compressed from all directions.

“Hey,” I whispered.

“I’m sorry.” She sniffled. “Rory’s here. I’m sorry.” I could visualize her pressing her hand into her forehead.

“It’s okay, Kara.” I sounded stronger this time. “I’m with Ben right now. So I should go. Go talk to Rory. I’m sure he’s got some insight, and I know he’ll make you feel better. Just remember that whatever Cameron said, or says in the future, I love you. Cameron needs to move on. Rory has. I have. Okay?” I envisioned her nodding, and Ben kissed my shoulder blade. He rested his cheek against my back, still listening. “I love you, Kare,” I said again, for good measure.

“I love you, too,” she choked out. “Bye.”

After I hung up, Ben pressed another kiss into my shoulder before saying, “That was sad. She doesn’t sound like she’s doing well.”

“No, she doesn’t,” I agreed, then sank back into Ben’s arms. My thoughts swirled between Kara and Rory. What were they doing? What were they saying? What was he thinking? Was Kara okay?

“You should invite her to come visit this summer. It sounds like she needs a break.” Ben moved my wet hair to the side and off his chest. “Or you two could go someplace together? That might be nice for you both. Maybe upstate?”

“That sounds like a really good idea, actually. What if I organized a trip with all the girls? Kara, Hannah, and Zoë? I feel like they could be good friends if I gave them a little push. What do you think?”

“Go for it, buddy. Just let me know when, so I can plan something with Lucas.”

I flipped my body around, with a little splash, so my head was on Ben’s chest. “We should get out now. Your parents will be here soon. And I don’t want to be any crinklier and wrinklier for tomorrow’s shoot.”

“I’m still convinced tomorrow is gonna be a shitshow.”

“I have a feeling you might be right.”

I smiled as Ben lifted my face for a soft kiss before we finally pulled ourselves out of the bath.