Sugar Rush (Friend-Zoned 3)

Happiness fills me, warming me. I smile brightly. “You’re amazing. A goddess. I love you like a siste—”

Beep. I check the display. And scowl. Bitch hung up on me. My phone beeps. It’s a text from Nat. I almost squeal in delight. It’s the address to Icing on the Cake Bakery, and it isn’t far from my work. Using the internet map on my phone, I can see it’s four blocks away from me. And five blocks in the opposite direction is Safira and The White Rabbit. Not exactly around the corner, but not far either.

I need a car. As soon as I make some money, that’s the first thing on my to-buy list. Just as I approach the block my work is on, I shoot out a quick text.

Me: I hate you.

A few seconds pass before I get a reply.

Nina: Hate you more, turd. x

I walk into work smiling, knowing today will be a good day.

***

Helena

James leads me into a large room filled with workout equipment. He waves out a hand. “You’ve probably seen most of this stuff before, but if you see anything unfamiliar, let me know and we’ll go over what it is and how it’s used.”

After a quick scan of the equipment, I shake my head. “I’ve used it all before, but if I see anything that looks new to me, I’ll tell ya.”

He claps his hands together and smiles. “Great! This is great. You’re the easiest person I’ve had to train. I feel like it should be harder than this, but you’re making it too easy for me.”

I’m mock an apologetic, “Sorry.”

Laughing, he shakes his head at me. “I’ve never met a small girl with so much attitude before.”

I walk over to him and playfully push him away. “It’s not attitude. It’s spunk.”

He nods in agreement. “Yeah. Your pep.”

I laugh at his choice of word. “You could even say I have moxie.”

He shudders. “I don’t even think my grandma used the word moxie. And she died at ninety.”

My face bunches. “You callin’ me old, boss?”

“Nah. Just an old soul, I think.” For a reason unknown to me, his words make my chest pang. My smile slides off my face. I suddenly feel very awkward. James is by my side in an instant. “Hey. I’m sorry.”

I paste on a small smile. “No, don’t be sorry. You’re right on the money.” He looks down at me expectantly. “Really, it’s not what you said, more of me not being happy with how I’ve been doing things lately.”

Without a word, he walks across the room and picks up two chairs. He brings them over to me and places them facing each other. I sit in one while he sits opposite me. “Talk to me, Helena.”

James is a friendly guy. I can talk to him. At least, I feel like I can talk to him. It would be nice to cement a friendship here in New York. Opening up to him may be the way to do that. We’ve already spoken about so much already. I open my mouth to speak, but nothing comes out. I try again. Nothing. Finally, I swallow and start, “Why is it that the reason I started to like a person is also the same reason I started to dislike that very person?”

It’s true. The reason I started to like Max was for his flirty, lighthearted ways. So it doesn’t make sense for me to dislike him being flirty now, does it?

James’s lips purse in thought as he thinks on his answer. “Maybe you saw something in that person that you wished you had in yourself. And maybe, because you’re very different from that person, you started to develop a jealousy towards them for not being able to adapt that trait to your life.”

A sad smile tugs at my lips. “He rejected me.” I watch James wince and quickly add, “But I don’t think he evens knows it.”

He shrugs. “Lena, from what I know about guys, being that I am one, is…we can be very stupid sometimes.”

I chuckle, but cover my face with my hands in embarrassment over having this conversation with my boss. “It’s just that I’ve seen him recently, and he’s been sweet. Like, too sweet. Annoyingly funny too. It’s really pissing me off.”

“Oh, yeah. Sweet, funny guys totally suck,” he deadpans.

I laugh-cry, “See what I mean? I’m an ass!”