Page 70 of Friend Me

“I do.” For some reason, Ben’s color deepened. He was a blotchy blusher like Tyler. Adorable.

“Will that be okay?” Cooper asked.

“Fine.”

“Let’s go.” Cooper turned and led the way to the elevator doors.

I shook my head. I hoped they’d work out their weirdness. Cooper was plenty awkward around me, but I’d never seen him so inept. Ben was perfect, and I wanted him—needed him—to stay. I couldn’t be picking up extra work from Cooper anymore with my new responsibilities at home.

Back at my desk, I checked my phone. No texts or voice mails from Sylvia. I’d already called her that morning to check on Dad, and she’d assured me they’d be fine. I was afraid I’d piss her off if I called again. I needed to make it through the day without upsetting the fragile balance of my new reality. So I texted Alicia.

Me: Free for lunch?

Alicia: Sorry, having lunch with Jackson. Can I come by your house tonight to pick up my sweet boy?

Me: Yes! Come for dinner.

Sweet boy, my ass. The little demon had hissed at me again as I’d left. He’d seemed indifferent to Sylvia, but they’d probably be best friends by this afternoon. I was the only one he hated.

My stomach made a Tigger-like sound. But the thought of taking my sad lunchbox to the empty kitchen was enough to take away my appetite.

I could’ve gone down to the cafeteria. Tyler would probably be there with his table full of programmers. Would we be friendly or awkward? We’d been friends less than a year; still, I couldn’t imagine my life without Tyler in it. His dimples and the cute flop of his hair. The squeak of his sneaker on the old wood floors. The way he’d drop whatever he was doing to help me when I needed it.

Maybe I needed to make the first move, show him that things between us didn’t have to be weird.

As I pulled my lunchbox from my drawer, the stairwell door slammed open and Tyler bounded out, flushed and out of breath. He saw me and froze, his hand still on the push bar. “Marlee! I lost track of—but I didn’t—would you like to—” His face fell. “Are you going out?”

I gave him a wry smile. The poor guy had been coding all morning and lost the power of coherent speech. “I was just going down to the lunchroom. Want to come with me? Or did you need something from him?” I tipped my head toward Jackson’s closed door.Please say you came up here for me. That we’re still friends.

He let the stairwell door swing shut. “No. Yes! Actually, I was wondering if you wanted to go out to lunch?” His voice rose on the question, and his face scrunched up in an adorably hopeful expression.

My skin tingled, like after I’d crossed my legs too long and the blood finally started flowing again. It wasn’t going to be weird.

I held up my lunchbox. “But I packed.”

“I’m buying,” he said. “Save it for tomorrow.”

I couldn’t suppress my grin. We were going to be fine. “Okay.”

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