Page 29 of One Day

He chased me down to check on me. To make sure I was okay, and that’s the difference between Dylan and everyone else. He may ooze confidence, and as ironic as it is, he is a giver. He cares for people deeply, and one day, I know it will make him a great boyfriend when he finally finds the person that makes him want to slow down.

“I don’t know, Sunny,” he says, shrugging his shoulders. “I’m pretty sure I would have done just about anything to have a little bit of your sunshine in my life.”

I lift my head to find his eyes settled on me, the same genuine look that is always there. Leaning over, I press my lips to his cheek and smile. “Thank you.”

“What are you going to do?” Reid asks.

It almost hurts to take a breath and wonder what I’m supposed to do while waiting. I would never force Walker’s hand, not about this, but I also don’t think I have it in me to sit and wonder.

“I need to show him what he’s missing,” I say. “I just don’t know how.”

Everett’s lips curl up from across the table. “How are your acting skills?”

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

WALKER

“You look like you could use this,” Wren says, setting the beer down in front of me at the standing table we’re occupying in the corner of the bar. I wasn’t expecting Flynn to want to come when I extended Sonya’s offer to join them at On The Bench, but Devon was very into the idea, which meant my best friend was also interested. For a moment, there was a small part of me that hoped they wouldn’t want to. Being around Sonya right now is hard.

She blurs my focus. I should be thinking about my friend and who I inevitably assume will become a staple in my life soon, but instead, I’m standing here staring at Sonya on the makeshift dance floor with her arms around a blond. He’s big and tall and would surely kick my ass in a fight, and he currently has Sonya wrapped around him.

She gave me a chance. I was her first choice, and like a fucking moron, I turned her down. It doesn’t matter that I took it back. I haven’t exactly given her a yes, either. I asked for time, and now I’m watching her light up for someone else. Regret seeps into my bones because instead of being honest with myself—I lied.

I want this. I want her.

I’m just scared shitless to admit it.

“Why do you look like you want to murder someone?” Wren asks, leaning into my side to follow my gaze. When it lands on Sonya and what I now realize is one of the university’s hockey players, the corner of her lips pull up. “You like her, don’t you?”

“She’s my friend.”

She hums. “You want to tell your face that? I don’t think it got the memo.”

I narrow my eyes at her, watching amusement flicker in her light green eyes. “You don’t know me well enough to know what my face is telling you.”

“I’m a sculptor, Walker. I study the human body,” she says, pointing at me. “And this is the face of someone who is very much not looking at that girl like she’s just your friend. You’re looking at her like she’s the fucking sun.”

“Because she is,” I say without meaning to, but it’s impossible to hide. Sonya has always been a bright light. The person who lights up the whole world, and I won’t hide the fact I know it. “She’s still my friend.”

Wren smiles. “If you say so, but a few months from now, when you two are madly in love? Just remember you could have had it sooner if you listened to me.”

“You’re kind of a know-it-all, you know that?”

Her smile only grows, tossing her straight espresso brown hair over her shoulder. “Not my fault I have correct opinions. You’re really not going to tell her how you feel?”

“Don’t bother with him, Wren. He’s a lost cause,” Flynn says, sliding up next to me. “He’s in complete and utter denial. It’s better to just let him crash and burn and figure it out on his own. It’s the only way he’ll learn.”

“He,” I say, looking down at her, “is right here.”

Flynn’s eyes brighten. “I know!”

Before I can say anything, Devon runs over with a drink in hand when the song switches from rock to an older pop song. “I love this song! Flynn, come dance with me.”

“Oh, I don’t—”

I cut her off by giving her a gentle shove in Devon’s direction, letting her feet do the rest of the work before grabbing my beer. “What’s scaring you?” Wren asks, pulling my attention.

“What are you talking about?”

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