Summary

Chapter 36 starts the next morning, when Ben wakes up next to Arthur. They’re comfortable, but the room is filled with sexual tension. Ben says that they don’t have to do anything, because they don’t know what will happen next, but Arthur says, “You’re the only one I want to do this with, Ben. Do you want to?” (388). Ben feels the pressure, and wants to make Arthur’s first time an unforgettable experience. It is, with Ben concluding, “No do-over needed,” (390).

Ben thinks back to his own birthday, and how fragmented his friend group already was at that point, and compares it to how Arthur was able to bring everybody together on his birthday. Ben decides to hit up his old friend group text thread, asking if everyone would be able to meet up to talk things out.

When Ben...