a/n: Sydney is italics, Will is in bold

Sydney Bay Janes

come see me?

I'm gonna do more than see you

in the office?

yes sir. right on your desk

what about you not being able to walk?

I got over it. I want you again

I don't think you understand I need you

Don't start this. I have to be here for at least another three drinks 🙄

But I'm ready now

God you're about to make me lock myself in the bathroom

And do what

Ask me after another mimosa

You're so lame

Shut up. I'll see you later

"—Sydney?" Chyna called my name.

I tucked my phone in my purse and returned my attention to the girls. Karina, Miranda, Chyna, and I went for brunch the next morning. It was a nice late summer day, nearing autumn.

The ends of my loosely curled hair blew in the cool breeze.

"Sorry," I said, pulling a string of hair from the corner of my mouth.

"It's Will," I smiled. "Did I tell you girls he said he loves me last night?"

"Aww!" Karina and Miranda cooed, toasting to that.

My grin widened.

"That's why you stood me up?" Chyna growled, mimosa to her pout.

I slouched in the chair, feeling bad. "Chy, you don't seriously expect me to apologize for that again, do you?"

It was, like, two in morning when she finally replied to my million texts and calls saying I'm sorry. She said it was okay but her responses seemed passive-aggressive. Only, I didn't think she'd keep an attitude about it all day.

The vibe was weird at the table. Chyna was sitting beside Miranda instead of me and they kept sharing secrets and only taking pictures with each other. Miranda was talking to me, but every time I spoke to Chyna she was short with me.
She hardly looked my way and whenever I said something funny she would try not to laugh, or roll her eyes.

"Give me details, how'd he say it?" Karina gushed.

I literally squealed with excitement.

Flipping the hair over my shoulder, I began to tell the story. "Yesterday was our six month anniversary-"

"Stop saying six, it's four," Chyna commented.

I ripped my eyes from her face and returned to Karina who genuinely seemed interested.

"Anyway. It was our six month anniversary and I wanted to do something special for him. It wasn't much but I got the cutest set and surprised him with it. Then, you know, and yeah, I just said it. He said it back so normal, you know? Ugh, I'm just so happy!"

"Aw, Syd, I'm so happy for you!" Karina exclaimed.

Miranda swallowed her champagne. "Me too, that's so cute."

Chyna's eyes rolled for the umpteenth time.

"What's so wrong with that?" I asked her, throwing in a light laugh so she wouldn't think I had an attitude.

"You head-over-heels like, you the type to worship at his feet," she spat in my direction.

"Well he deserves it," I said quietly.

"Oh no," Miranda laughed.

"Don't tell me you rubbed his feet before," Chyna questioned, leaning in.

I shrugged. "Okay, totally with his socks on. What? He works hard! He does it for me."

"I hate feet, but that's romantic," Karina spoke up.

I nodded at her, glad someone got it.

Chyna rolled her neck, making Miranda laugh. "They're supposed to do that for us, not the other way around. you are too sprung." She said it like it's a bad thing.

"Well forgive me for being in love," I stated, taking a drink.

"The waffles here are so good," Karina sparked to change the tone at the table.

Miranda's bangs shook with her head in agreement.

Chyna flailed her arms. "You used to hate men, what happened?"

"This one's different, they're not all bad. Damian's good, too," I said, my tone almost whine-y.

"I don't want a good guy," she said back, face curled. "You need to snap out of it, Will's the rest of them, and sooner or later he'll hurt you too."

I couldn't believe she was say that. Will wouldn't hurt me, but what she said did.

"Why would you say that? You're supposed to be supportive," I frowned.

But Chyna didn't look phased in the slightest. With a bored face, she replied, "And I have been." Lie.

I let out one loud sarcastic laugh. "No, you've been hating, actually." That came off corny, but there was no other word for it. Everything about how she's treated me discussing my relationship all day screamed hater. Sure maybe I talked about Wilson a lot but that's because he's amazing, I'm new to this, and I'm happy.

Chyna was tickled. Hand on her chest, she collected herself and asked, "Me? Hating? On what?"

"You're jealous because I'm happy," I concluded, crossing my arms across my chest.

Chyna looked around the table. "What's up with you white girls and thinking everyones jealous? Please."

Her attitude was pointed and I didn't like anything about the conversation. Never would I think she'd act like this towards me but I guess she showed her true colors.

I wasn't going to win a verbal fight with her and I felt like she was about to eat me with her words.
I was filled with anger in a matter of seconds. My skin was on fire. Fists balled and lip quivering, I just exploded on my feet.

"Shut the fuck up, Chyna," was all I could conjure up to say. The least disrespectful thing, anyway.

"Syd," Miranda sighed, trying to get me to sit back down.

I huffed, collecting my belongings to leave.

"Let her go," I heard Chyna say behind my back.

***

"La la la," I hummed along the sidewalk.

Just because Chyna was being a shitty friend doesn't mean I'm going to let her rain on my parade. I'm happy with Will and I know we're going strong. Nothing is going to get in the way of that.

I was alone, behind the buildings instead of the heavily-trafficked frontside. Why? For no reason other than I didn't want to encounter anyone else.

"Text Will," I commanded Siri. My Siri is set to that Australian guy, it cracks me up.

Once the device was ready, I sent, "Brunch was stupid. Maybe I was wrong all my life to hate men, it's women. Anyway, make sure you go on a lunch break, Will, you can't always work through them. And wear sunscreen, even though you never burn. Um, yeah, I can't wait to see you. If there's anyway you can get off early, please do, 'cause I really need you right now. And don't rub it in that I said that, either."

Brunch was an unexpected miss so all else I had to look forward to was Wilson getting off of work and coming over for the night. We planned a nice steak dinner over some wine, music, and painting together. Although, I didn't remember to actually get the canvases before so I made a mental note to stop by a craft store and do that next.

My eyes followed a black SUV that suddenly executed a risky u-turn on the back road before merging onto the highway.

I didn't think anything of it, I kept walking.

Tires rolled over the gravel behind me, I could hear it. The sound grew nearer. I swallowed.

Okay, maybe they're just trying to park, I optimistically thought in my head. There were parking spaces up ahead by the dumpsters and electric car charging station.

But I sped up and clutched my purse.

They slowed down it seemed, the vehicle should've been passed me if at a normal speed limit, even twenty-five miles per hour.

I stopped and turned around.

"Nope," I said, walking in another direction.

The truck stopped on my right side.

I listened to the deep-tinted window go down and heard, "Surprise, Sydney..."