Page 10 of Fear of Falling

“No, I can’t,” I replied and shook my head.

“No? Josie just take it.” He tried to put it in my hand, but I moved it away.

“I’ll only accept it if you share it with me.”

“I’ll be fine. You eat it,” he said, more insistently.

“Wyatt, you played tonight. You must be starving!” I held up my hand as he tried to argue with me. “We’ll split it and the water. Deal?” There was no way I was taking no for an answer.Sure, I’d hardly eaten all day, but that was my own fault. He was the one who’d played a grueling hour of hockey.

We were locked in a stare-off, neither one of us giving in. Wyatt was about to learn firsthand how stubborn I can be. ‘More stubborn than a mull,’my dad always said. After another minute of intense glaring, he gave up. “Fine, deal,” he grumbled.

I grinned in triumph.

“Here.” He ripped open the nutrition bar and broke it, handing me one half. Holding it up in the dim lighting, I saw it didn’t look so bad after all. Nuts, oats and something else I couldn’t really see. “Cheers.” Wyatt held out his half and I tapped it with mine.

“Cheers.” I was still grinning as I took a small bite, wanting to savor it as much as I could. Who knew how long until we were rescued.

“How is it?” He asked as he took a bite of his own.

“Not bad. Still tastes like cardboard, but like fancy cardboard,” I replied, pleased it wasn’t as terrible as I'd anticipated.

“Perfect description,” Wyatt laughed loudly, and once again, the sound washed over me like a gentle wave that settled deep into my bones.

I could hear that all day and never grow tired of it.

My face flushed with heat at the thought, and I ducked my head. Fortunately, Wyatt seemed oblivious, lowering himself back to the floor. I followed his lead, crossing my legs under me as I nibbled on the bar.

“I mean, it’s no hamburger but it will do,” I said quickly. He murmured his agreement, and we sat there side by side, eating our nutrition bars.

“Thanks,” I said softly as I nudged his leg with my foot.

“Anytime.”

“So, let me guess. You’re a hockey player by day, but secretly rescue stranded girls in elevators by night?”

“Caught me.” Wyatt’s lip quirked up. “This is a side gig of mine.”

“Like Batman.” I tried to keep the smile from my face.

“I mean have you seen Batman and me in the same room together?” He gazed at me; an eyebrow raised. “Bruce Wayne…Wyatt Boone. Same letters.”

“Wow!” I gasped dramatically. “The dots are connecting. Although, if youwereBatman, you would have yanked those elevator doors open already.”

“Maybe I’m saving my strength.” We were both trying to keep our expressions serious but were slowly failing.

“Sounds plausible,” I nodded. We stared at one another for a minute before the laughter won over.

“Here.” Wyatt extended the water bottle towards me as I ate the rest of my bar.

“Thanks.” I only took a sip before passing it back, trying to ignore the fact we shared the bottle, our lips touching the same part. I could feel the temperature starting to dip in the elevator. I was thankful I wore jeans and a sweater today. With November just starting we weren’t fully into winter yet, so at least we were spared from being stuck in here in the dead of winter.

I found myself inching closer to Wyatt, the cold elevator floor seeping through my jeans. Needing to distract myself a little I turned to him.

“So aside from your Batman secret, and the fact you have horrible taste in food,” I paused, allowing myself a moment to look at him and take in his raised eyebrow. “What else doestheWyatt Boone like to do?”

“Saving lives isn’t enough?” he said with a dramatic sigh, leaning his head against the wall.

“Nope.”

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