Page 32 of Fine, Dork

“I’m a little stuck on this iteration, honestly.”

“Would it help to talk out your problem? I’m happy to be your sounding board.” Savannah smiled and smoothed her shiny red hair.

I hesitated and stared at my computer screen. The day I came back to work after Hawaii, Savannah sought me out to ask if I got any of her texts. I told her I did, and then an awkward as fuck silence settled over us. There was still a tangible tension in the room now.

This was stupid, though. Savannah was my ex-girlfriend, but also my coworker. We didn’t work in the same department, but we still frequently ran into each other. We were going to have to learn to interact without so much discomfort. It was the only logical option. I chewed on my lower lip and finally said, “Sure. Thanks.”

Savannah let out an almost imperceptible sigh of relief and grabbed the extra folding chair I kept in the corner of my office. She set it up near my desk, but not too close to me. Her eyes settled on the framed photo of Kinley and me. “Oh, wow. You put that back up quickly, didn’t you?”

When we were dating, she’d asked me to take it down, saying, “It’s weird that you have a picture of another girl on your desk.” It didn’t matter to her that I also had a photo of her, a group of college friends, and another of me when I won my first coding contest at fifteen.

I raised an eyebrow at Savannah now. “I did. She’s my best friend.”

Savannah rolled her light blue eyes. “You’re blind when it comes to her, but whatever. It’s not my problem anymore.”

“You’re right. It’s not your problem anymore.” I didn’t feel angry or bitter, just disinterested in this entire conversation.

Savannah gave me a stiff nod and smoothed her hair again. She always did that when she was anxious. “What did you do with the picture of us?” She asked, looking away.

I pointed to the trash can across the room. Savannah let out a sharp breath. “Right.” She smoothed her hair again. “You know, I actually have to get some work done for Thomas. Good luck with your problem.” She stood to leave but turned when she reached my office door. “She’s going to hurt you again.”

I let out an irritated sigh. “What are you talking about, Savannah?”

Savannah rolled her eyes. Were they welling up with tears? “Kinley! You said yourself that she doesn’t settle down and flits from asshole to asshole and country to country. Her life is never going to align with yours, and she’s going to hurt you! You deserve better than that, Jaxon, and I wish you could see that.”

I groaned and rested my head on my desk. “Are you kidding me right now?” I lifted my head and raised both eyebrows at my ex-girlfriend. “The girl who dumped my ass a month ago is worried that my best friend is going to hurt me?”

Savannah’s lower lip trembled, and she smoothed her hair one more time. “I’m sorry I hurt you. I was wrong, Jaxon, and that so rarely happens to me that I didn’t see it at first and—"

I stood and held up my hand to stop her. “Look, Savannah, I’m over it. No hard feelings, but I think it’s best if we keep things professional from here on out.”

Savannah gave me a stiff nod. “Right.” Then she turned on her heel and marched back toward the elevators. Her office was one floor above mine.

I watched her retreating form —steps small and calculated, back rigid— and wondered how the hell I ever thought I was in love with Savannah.

Kinley was all curves and surprises and depth. She pulled me in with her infectious laugh and bright eyes and made me want big things, things that weren’t degrees and achievements. Kinley made me want life, and she filled in all of my empty spaces with her warmth. She made me the best and happiest version of myself.

Of course my life with Savannah was lackluster. We were too much alike. We didn’t fill the empty spaces in each other, not like K and I did.

???

Kinley was coming home today, and I couldn’t fucking wait to get my hands on her. Her flirty little emails were killing me. We might have to make airport bathroom sex happen. She’d be down. I knew she would.

I paced around my condo, counting down the minutes before her flight got in and I’d get to see her gorgeous smile. I was considering showing up at the airport three hours early when I heard a knock at my door. I pulled it open and was shocked to see Savannah standing there.

“Hey.” She gave me a small wave and an uncertain smile.

“Savannah? What, uh, why are you here?”

“I want to talk.” She bit her lip. “Can I come in?”

I let out a deep breath and studied her face. I couldn’t think of anything that we needed to talk about, but she looked distraught, and I wasn’t a monster. “Sure, for a minute. I have to head to the airport soon, though.”

“Oh, are you going somewhere?” Savannah stepped inside my condo, hung her bag on the hook by the door, and removed her shoes.

“No, picking someone up.”

“Who?”

---