Page 58 of One Day

“Sunny,” she mocks, the glimmer in her eyes softening the tone of her voice. “You are not getting out of this. I know you said it’s friends with benefits, but I’ve seen the look on your face. You’re starting to like him.”

“He’s Walker. I’ve always liked him,” I argue, despite the bundle of knots currently taking up my stomach. I don’t give myself time to wonder why that is. It feels like a tightrope is being wrapped around my torso, holding me hostage in my feelings. Feelings I don’t have words for, ones I don’t know how to express, or if I’m even allowed to feel.

Not when it comes to Walker.

“We’re friends,” I add, focusing on the press of my finger against the wood table.

“If you need to keep telling yourself that,” she says, a smile lifting on the corner of her lips. She pulls her notebook forward to close it, slipping it and her English textbook into her bag before pushing up to a stand. “For whatever it’s worth, I don’t think it would be such a bad idea. You and Walker.” She leans down and kisses the top of my head. “You may even realize what everyone else already sees.”

Before I can question her about what the hell that is supposed to mean, she’s running off and leaving me in my lonesome to focus on schoolwork. The whole reason we came here to begin with, was for her to get some quiet time before her next class and for me to put some work on my app design. The longer I stare at the screen, though, the harder it is to focus.

Reaching for my phone, I tap my finger along the screen and stare at my messages. Walker’s name is at the very top of the list. Biting my bottom lip, I tap his name and type out the thing that’s been on my mind all day.

ME

Explain how you aren’t even here and somehow, you’re taking up all my time.

It’s distracting, Cowboy.

Heat rises to my cheeks as I set my phone face down next to my laptop, running my finger over the trackpad to wake the screen back up. I numbly scroll to the top of my app, staring at the rough black and white wireframe. Each section is broken down to map out the flow of each step, making it easier for me to sort through as I design and code the front half. The login menu is coming together when my phone vibrates on the table, excitement rising in my chest when I flip it over to see Walker’s name.

My cheeks hurt from the smile that takes up my face. A warmth skates over my skin, filling my chest with eager anticipation. It’s not a normal reaction for a friend, and I know it. I’ve always known it, but Walker’s always pulled this kind of reaction from me. It’s never been something I had to question until now. With sex added, it changes things.

It feels like I’m standing on glass, just waiting for it to crack under the pressure and force me to sort through the broken pieces to form a new shape. And just like with Bekah, I ignore the feeling and shove it down, allowing myself to bask in Walker for as long as humanly possible.

COWBOY

How do you think I feel?

As long as we’re both being tortured.

Is it time for a break?

What did you have in mind?

I stare at the three dots on my screen, hoping that whatever it is involves our clothes on the floor and me on my knees. Before I can see his response, I feel someone lean over the back of my chair and turn my head to see Topher studying my computer screen when a laugh falls from his mouth. Annoyance runs up my spine because I know whatever he’s about to say will not be helpful in the slightest.

“You do realize this isn’t what the brief asked for, right?”

I roll my eyes and set my phone face down, giving him an answer despite not needing to. “I’m aware.”

“What is it even supposed to be? It’s cluttered.”

“I don’t recall asking for your feedback.”

Topher has been a thorn in my side since the day we met. He’s always been eager to prove himself and has been fighting me tooth and nail for the top spot in the program. While I achieve it through hard work, he does it by kissing the ass of our professors and putting his nose where it doesn’t belong. And right now, it seems to be in my business.

“Are you sure? It seems like you need it.”

A tight-lipped smile presses to my lips, pushing down the frustration brewed beneath the surface of my skin. He just had to go and put his foot in his mouth. “Yeah, well, your opinion doesn’t really mean much to me, Topher. If I need to know how to kiss someone’s ass, I’ll let you know,” I say as sweetly as I can.

“Funny,” he says, straightening his shoulders. “You realize no matter how good this is, you’ll never get that spot now. It’s not what they asked for. Can’t use your body to get out of this one, Sonya.”

“Excuse me?” I shut my laptop and turn to face him. “Not that it’s any of your business, but I’m not really concerned about that. Which is great for you because you wouldn’t have had a chance in hell otherwise.”

He laughs. Actually, throws his head back and laughs as if I’ve just told the world’s funniest joke. “You really believe that, don’t you?”

“Yeah, Topher. I do,” I say, pushing to stand up. “The fact you felt the need to mention my body just proves your need to make yourself feel better by reducing my achievements down to vanity. You not being able to handle a woman being smarter than you just goes to show how fragile your masculinity really is.”

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