Page 43 of One Day

Sonya rolls her eyes, resting her free hand on my chest as she leans up to press her lips to my cheek. Her above-average height makes it easier for her to reach me without me having to fold completely over for her. “I’ll see you later, yeah?”

“Yeah,” I say quietly, just for her. “Later.”

“Thank you, Reid.” She waves to him before bringing the book over to Bekah, who has settled back into the corner of the sectional. I lift my travel mug in Everett’s direction, a silent goodbye before slipping out the front door and heading for Reid’s truck sitting in the driveway. He clicks it open for me, shouting something into the house before heading for the driver’s side.

“Thank you for this, man,” I say when we both slide in.

“It’s not a problem.” He pushes the key into the ignition and brings the engine to life, but instead of reaching for the gear shift, he just sits and stares straight ahead. The pull between his brows tells me he has something to say, but in typical Reid fashion, he’s unsure if he should.

“Whatever you need to say, just say it.”

Swallowing, he blows out a breath. “She’s going to break your heart.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Don’t play dumb, Walker. You and Sunny. You’re doing the friends-with-benefits thing, and it’s not my business. Not really, but you’re my friend, and I see the way you look at her. She’s never just been your friend. It’s always been something more, hasn’t it?”

My immediate instinct is to tell him the truth.

Yes, I’ve thought about Sonya like that. Of course, I’ve thought about Sonya like that. Who wouldn’t? She’s beautiful, intelligent, and funny. And maybe if she had been at a different place when we first met, I wouldn’t have hesitated to ask her out, but she didn’t want a boyfriend, and I just wanted her. Anything she was willing to give, so we settled into our friendship, and I wouldn’t change it, even if I could.

I got to see her unapologetically herself, without the fear of rejection looming in the background. She’s one of the very best people I know, and my absolute favorite at that.

So, instead of telling him the immediate truth, I tell him what my truth is now. “She’s my friend,” I say, bringing my mug to my mouth. “And you’re right. It’s none of your business.”

“Just…be careful, alright? I don’t want either of you getting hurt.”

I nod my head, but I know it’s too late. I’m already in too deep. There isn’t an escape plan set out for me to back out, just the road ahead, and fuck if I’m not ready to see where it leads.

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

SONYA

Bekah and Everett are on me before the door even shuts behind Reid and Walker. I knew what to expect by having Walker stay the night, and yet, I’m still not prepared.

“Details,” Bekah demands, following me into the kitchen with Everett hot on her tail. The books she had now abandoned on the couch behind her. “What the heck happened after we got home last night?” she asks, grabbing my arm to keep me from getting any further.

I bite down on my bottom lip to keep from smiling at them. For lack of a better word, last night was amazing. I knew things with Walker would be good, but it was better than I expected. He was more than I could have ever imagined. “He changed his mind.”

It’s not that I don’t want to tell them everything. I do. I want to scream it from the rooftops, and as much as I am okay with them knowing, having this small bubble of space for just Walker and I, it feels sacred. Something for just the two of us.

“That’s all you’re going to give us?” Everett asks. “We need details, Sunny. The dirtier, the better. Don’t leave us hanging.”

I roll my eyes and snatch the coffee cup from his hands, bringing it up to my lips. “Yes, that’s all you’re getting. He changed his mind about being friends with benefits, so we’re going to do this thing, and that’s all I’m going to tell you.”

Bekah groans behind me as I take a sip of Everett’s coffee, humming at the sweet swirl of cinnamon he added and decide I’m keeping it for myself. “Sunny!”

“Bekah!” I mock in response, a hint of a smile pulling at my lips on my way to the stairs. “I know you want more, but that’s all I’m giving you.”

“At least tell me when to stop,” she says, holding her hands up and slowly inching them apart. My lips part at the very un-Bekah-like question before the laugh slips out of her mouth. “Okay, if you want to keep it to yourself, that’s fine, but we’re here if you change your mind and want to talk about it.”

“I know,” I assure her. “I promise if I do, you’ll be the first to know.”

She grins, tilting her chin up with glee. “I’d expect no less.”

Everett shakes his head, approaches the stairs, and holds his hand out over Bekah’s shoulder, clearly wanting his coffee back. His inquiry over Walker and me fades into nothing, in the same way Bekah let it go the moment I put my foot down. The safety of having friends who respect my boundaries makes it that much easier to want to share the things going on in my life because I know when I don’t, they’ll back off.

“Sorry,” I say, bringing the cup up to my lips with a grin. “This is mine now.”

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