“That day you asked me to help her. I didn’t want to go. You remember?” I spared a nod. “I reluctantly went, and thought it would take a couple of hours tops, but the dresser was a fucking flatpack and took forever to assemble. By the time I was finished, it was already night.

“I didn’t know Everly well. I only knew her as your friend. Before then, I had never been alone with her—ever. But during the day, we talked, hung out and got along well. I remember being surprised at how pleasant her company was.”

I interrupted. I couldn’t help it. “Pleasant as in a sexual attraction?”

“Not at all.” I gave him a glare, but he didn’t backtrack. “I was not sexually attracted to her, but there were signs I chose to ignore.”

“Signs?”

“She was hitting on me all day. Subtle touches here, a few compliments there. Now that I think back on it, she was quite blatant.”

“So you fell victim to her advances?” I huffed. Could he feel the fumes permeating from my skin? ’Cause I sure felt like I was on fire.

He went to reach for me as if out of habit until he caught himself. Smart move.

“No. I actually ignored them or excused them away with some bullshit reasoning or other. So, when she offered dinner, I said yes. And when she passed me a full glass of wine, I said yes again.”

“Oh, god.”

“Do you want me to stop?” he asked, his voice strained so much that I thought his throat was closing.

I shook my head, and he ran a hand through his hair but continued.

“I was wine-drunk out of my mind. Literally passed out on her couch when I woke up with her mouth on me. I was so out of it, I didn’t even know what was happening—”

“Wait, what?” I interrupted. Owen was renowned for being a lightweight and sloppy drunk, especially on wine. Everyone knew that, including Everly. “You weren’t even aware of your surroundings? That’s serious, Owen.”

He gave a defeated sigh. “Yeah. I didn’t realise it at the time, but my therapist said Everly assaulted me since I was so intoxicated I didn’t even recognise her.”

The earth paused on its axis as the new revelation hit me with the weight of the moon itself.

“Oh, my.” I crumbled. Right there on the pavement. “She… She sexually assaulted you? Fuck!” The thin tether holding my emotions in check just collapsed.

Why? Why? Why?

I came to on a garden bench, Owen sitting next to me, running his hands down my back—placating me, petting me, soothing me.

“Maybe we should stop,” he said.

“No, please. I want to know the rest… If that’s okay with you?”