Chapter 14

Ten years earlier, Fern waits for Will at a packed upstairs venue while a Nirvana ska cover band readies to play. After an uneasy return from the bathroom, Will toasts with her and, rather than leaving, asks Fern to dance, sidestepping the tension created by their mutual dishonesty about existing partners.

They stash their bags, and Fern sheds her blouse to feel less self-conscious, drawing Will’s gaze. As the band launches into “Smells Like Teen Spirit,” the room erupts. Will leads Fern onto the floor, and despite her claim that she doesn’t dance, they move together with growing confidence and intimacy, their bodies pressed close.

Their attraction is palpable—Will’s hands rest on Fern’s hips, his eyes linger on her mouth—yet they both hold back because they’re not single. When the set pauses for a drum repair, Fern suggests drinks. The heat, noise, alcohol, and swirling thoughts about Jamie and Will overwhelm her, and she asks to leave.

Will retrieves water and their things, then guides Fern outside, where a sudden summer downpour cools her and clears her head. Standing drenched on the sidewalk, they share a charged pause that tips their restraint.

Fern decides the next step: she tugs Will’s arm and says they should go. When Will asks where, Fern answers directly—back to her place—choosing to deepen their connection despite both having partners, a decision that will resonate through their future.