Page 76 of One Day

Her giggle fills my ear, wrapping tightly around my heart and squeezing tightly. “You called me, Cowboy. I’m just offering a better sleeping arrangement.”

“Just a sleeping arrangement?”

“If clothes happen to get lost along the way, I wouldn’t complain,” she adds, and my chest grows a little warmer. It settles the question that has been hanging in the back of my mind, worried about what might change between us if I’m honest about the way she makes my heart race. There is no future without her in it. I want this. I want all the small things. I want all the big things. I want everything.

“I’ll be over in a few.”

I can hear the grin in her voice. “I’ll be waiting.”

“Don’t start without me, Sunny.”

“Wouldn’t dream of it.”

“I’ll see you in a few,” I tell her, standing up with my phone still pressed to my ear. She hums in agreement, and when the call ends, I slide my phone into my sweatpants pocket and head for Flynn’s bedroom. “Flynn?” I whisper, knocking my knuckles against the door.

“Yeah,” she calls out, and I take it as my cue to open the door. She’s sitting up in bed, Fish resting between her legs. “Everything okay?”

“Yeah, I just wanted to let you know I’m heading over to Sonya’s. I’m going to spend the night, but I’ll be back in the morning. Can you let my mom know if she’s up before I get back?”

She nods her head. “You’re doing it?”

I swallow the panic rising in my throat and nod my head. “Yeah, I’m going to try. I’ll see you in the morning, okay?”

“You’re not going to need it, but good luck,” she says when I reach for the doorknob.

I give her a quick nod and pull the door shut, pressing my shoulders into the wood to take a deep breath. Panic should be rushing through me right now.

Any other time, I thought there was a chance I might lose Sonya. That is all I’ve felt. My worst fear is losing her in my life, but it never comes. A soft edge of confidence settles in my chest, an assurance that everything is going to be okay settling in my bones.

CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE

SONYA

Inviting Walker to spend the night wasn’t meant to leave my stomach in such tight knots. We were together earlier, and I wasn’t this anxious, but here I am, letting my hair down for the millionth time as I stare at my reflection in the mirror and hope by some miracle it might become easier to breathe over the thought of him. I suddenly fear facing my best friend after coming to terms with the fact I am completely in love with him.

It hit me all at once. Dylan forced me to wake up from the daydream I’d been living in, where things with Walker were simple and platonic and easy. The relief I felt quickly became a bubbling panic. Nothing about this is easy. It’s terrifying and complicated and so not platonic. I’ve never been so scared to face Walker in my life.

My Cowboy.

I don’t want to be scared to face him. I don’t want to have this pinching feeling in my chest at the idea of being in the same room as him, but I’m terrified. Terrified he might not feel the same way. Terrified that sharing this information is going to change everything between us, even more so than the sex we’ve been having for the last few months. Amazing, earth-shattering sex. As if his body has molded in the shape of mine.

But I don’t have a choice. We promised each other one day at a time. To wave the white flag when things changed, and things changed that very same night. I just never let myself see it for what it really was.

When my phone buzzes on the bathroom counter, I am forced to tear my gaze away from my reflection to see Walker’s name on my screen. The words I’m here written just below them, and suddenly I have no other choice. I’m out of time to come up with how to tell him. We made a promise to be honest with each other, no matter what, but being honest with Walker has never been so gut-wrenching.

Giving myself one final glance, I swipe my phone off the counter and head downstairs. A door stands between me and what could possibly ruin everything, but as the panic becomes more difficult to fight off, I reach for the handle and find my relief in the grey eyes staring back at me. The corners of my lips pull up at the corners because how could anything be scary when I know it’s Walker on the other side? The mere sight of him has the panic in my chest deflating.

I meant it when I said he was my safe place.

I don’t think there will ever be a day where relief doesn’t flood my system at the sight of him and the ease he brings to my heart, knowing it’s safe in his hands. It’s been safe there since the day I met him, and I was just too in my head to admit it to myself. That everything I have ever wanted has been at my side this whole time.

A best friend and a partner all wrapped up in one.

“Hi, Cowboy.”

His smile is gentle as he tucks his hands into the pockets of his grey sweatpants, rocking forward on his toes. “Hi, Sunny.”

Opening the door wider, I step to the side to let him inside and feel the knots in my stomach slowly start to loosen. I don’t know how I was ever afraid to tell this man I’m totally and completely obsessed with him. He won’t run. I know that. I’ve always known that.

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