Chapter 12

Nathan Marsh

"What was that about?" I ask Kate, as she comes back from Carl's car.

"I told her about Ben taking Ivy to prom. He wasn't happy about it, but seemed less angry than I thought he might be. Found out she's completely shoved him out of her life, too, so it's doubly surprising he didn't lose it."

"Poor guy," I say. This thing with her and Ben has really cost him a lot."

"Yeah." She sighs. "I don't really feel proud of this, but I asked, since he can't make things any worse, if he could maybe push at Ben harder. I don't know what I was thinking. I can't imagine that making anything better for anybody."

"Was he smart enough to turn you down?" I ask.

"Yes, actually. Took that pretty calm, too. As soon as the words were out of my mouth, I knew it was kind of a dumb thing to ask, so I'm glad he didn't just jump me."

"Who would have thought that this kind of adversity would bring out a new maturity in our Carl?"

Kate nervously chuckles at that.