ney's sleep, jolting her awake. She groaned, stre

mind tangled with thoughts of Kayla and Alex's engagement. The sudd

om, splashing cold water on her face in an attempt to wake her

thought sar

and skirt. As she hastily buttoned up her blou

You need to eat someth

to put her shoes on. She really

back as she hurried down the stairs, gr

the bottom of the stairs, holding a

're not. You can't just rus

shook he

ee on the way, okay? I real

th the plate. "No way, Delaney. You've been running y

plate reluctantly. "Fine, f

at the food. Her mother hovered nearby, wat

od mood today," Delane

gged, her sm

I'm just happy. Thing

Kayla came back." Del

ed brighter. "Kayla brings such a

d a smile. "Y

ll this year's untill this last two days, an

ites of toast into her mouth, t

eally need

ing out to fix a stra

rker, Delaney. Take ca

rced anoth

She mumbles as she h

-

SOFT TEC

and printer ink filling the air. The familiar rhythm of phones ringing and ke

desk, several coworkers wav

! Glad to see

, D! Everyt

ing friendly hellos with each person. Th

ood at her job but because she was genuinely k

eing approachable and dependable, and it show

her ever-energetic intern, app

the fort while you were gone," Bella sa

softly, pulling

I knew I could

nt though," Bella said, bouncing on

of software development, and project manager at PULSE CODE

company looking for a job, Delaney was assigned to mentor her and teach her t

nched into an update

rt attack, but we handled it. Oh, and you wouldn't believe the mess we had with th

time to be out," Delaney replied

s elsewhere. She couldn't help but think back to her mother t

last two days, ever since Kayla arrived. It wasn't that she'd been unhappy before, but there was a ce

over the new designs! Can you believe tha

, snapping back

ames," she said, of

Delaney's internal s

anything, just holl

y said as her intern sc

d still. Instead of opening them, her thoughts drifted further b

dad had been the one who balanced it out, the one who showed her the ext

their mother doted on, and it stung, even more

orrible fight with Kayla, and to her mother's insistence that she let

cut through her thoughts, followed by th

Paisley, her best friend, standing

urs. What's going on in that

her forehead. "Sorry, I was j

o the chair next to her,

ays in college, Paisley and Delaney had been inseparable since bi

seSoft. Their bond was legendary, earning them a r

t? You've been in a

off with a wave of her han

rrowing her eyes. "Is thi

t but quickly forced a sm

rd since she got here," Pais

right after she arrived. Co

tension rise in her chest.

t, clearly not convinced, but s

I do have some news that'l

though she wasn't particula

ey gr

drunk, and he ended up taking me home. But here's the kicker-I have

ion softened into

er likes you. W

r arms. "That's not true. H

iar voice interrupted from behind. "A

e voice instantly. Tyler walked up to them, hold

ney's desk with a playful smil

shook he

o stop bringing me c

wo days you missed. I'm still catching up. Expect two mor

gh they remained close, Tyler's bond with Delaney was particularly strong due to their shared major in computer

n inseparable group, their friendship a testamen

gave him a soft smile. "Thank you. Bu

I want to. Plus, you know I can't start my mor

hange quietly, now crossed her arms,

adorable, y

to her with a

ou don't want to know what happene

er hands in front of her. "Nope! Nope, no need

took a step toward her, teasing, "I've got al

m and darted out of the offi

to kill y

make her laugh, even on the days she wanted to forget everything. But as their voices f

ff the feeling as she t

-

R MANSION

en as Kayla stirred a pot of homemade marinara sauce. S

wind, especially when she wa

er waist from behind, and Alex's f

ut you know what s

urning her head

e gues

lied, pressing a

u making? I didn't know we

e for dinner tonight," Kayla sai

little taste of what mar

ace him. "If this is what married life

or a moment before Alex pulled

ng... I've been meanin

and glanced up at him, her brow

for a second,

... do you think she's happy about the wedding

ely said a word when she and Alex announced their engageme

said, her tone more co

lot to take in, you know? We hav

you sure? I just... I don't want her to feel

a replied, reaching

around. She's always been a little reser

mall smile and ki

I tru

doubt twisted in her stomach. She hoped s