Page 11 of Fear of Falling

“Honestly, I’m quite boring.”

“I highly doubt it,” I scoffed. Looking at the man sitting beside me, there was absolutely nothing about him that screamed boring. I mean, the fact he was a professional athlete was far more exciting than anything in my life.

“No, really. If I’m not playing, I’m either at practice, at the gym, or with my family.”

“Wow, what a letdown,” I teased. “I guess celebrities really are normal just like the rest of us.”

“Sorry to disappoint you.” Wyatt nudged me with his shoulder, and I felt a flutter in my chest as he flashed me a teasing smile.

“Itisdisappointing. How am I to survive now?” I tried not to look at him, his smile was doing all sorts of things to me. It was pointless though–I couldn’t stop myself. I don’t think anyone could resist a smile like Wyatt’s.

“What about you?” he asked.

“Me?” I replied before I could stop myself.

Nice work.Like there’s anyone else in here Josie.

“Yeah, you know, like do you make a habit of getting stuck in elevators?”

“Oh, totally. This is a weekly occurrence for me.”

“Is that so? Am I your favorite knight in shining armor so far?”

“Well…” I rubbed at my chin. “Youdidgive me something to eat so I guess that’s a plus.”

“And water. Don’t forget the water.”

“Oh, how could I?” I glanced at the almost empty bottle by my side as he chuckled.

“I haven’t seen you around before,” Wyatt said softly. “Did you just move into the building?”

“I moved in almost a year ago.”

“Really? I’m surprised we haven’t run into each other before now.” He took the words right out of my mouth. Though the building was 15 stories high, it was still surprising we haven’t seen one another at least once.

“If I’d known we shared the same building I could have spent this whole time stalking your apartment,” I teased. I hoped he knew I was joking and wouldn’t actually stalk him. I wasn’t one of those girls.

“Can’t say I’d mind if I had a stalker as pretty as you.”

“Does that line usually work on women?” I asked with a raised eyebrow.

His laughter echoed around us as he slapped the top of his thigh. “That was terrible wasn’t it.”

“It was right up there with the teen lines I scored this afternoon,” I smiled, watching the way Wyatt ducked his head, seemingly embarrassed. “But thank you.”

Like I care how cheesy his line was. It’s not every day I get a compliment, let alone one from the likes of Wyatt Boone.

Wyatt didn’t respond but he turned and looked at me.Reallylooked at me, his eyes running over my face as though he was trying to memorize it, and there was nothing I could do to stop the heat rising into my cheeks. Or the shiver that ran up my spine as his leg brushed up alongside mine.

“Here,” Wyatt said as he reached into his bag and pulled out a long sleeve jersey. “It’s slightly dirty,” he held it out for me as he awkwardly rubbed the back of his neck with his free hand. “But it’s warm.”

As I accepted the jersey I was surprised at how thick and soft it felt, and I was eager to put it on. I shuffled over a little so I wouldn’t elbow him as I pulled the jersey over my head. It smelled like cologne with a faint hint of sweat, and I loved it. As weird as it sounds, I found when some guys sweated it smelled…weirdly good. Masculine. I pretended to adjust the neckline as I discreetly took another smell.

The sleeves were far longer than my arms, and the bulk of the jersey swam around me, but I didn’t care. It was warm.

I can’t believe I’m actually wearing Wyatt Boone’s jersey.

While I’d pulled on the jersey, Wyatt had shoved his bag across the floor and was shaping it into a pillow as he stretched out across the floor. Glancing at him, my breath caught in my throat as I found him already staring at me. There was a muscle clenching and unclenching in his jaw, and his eyes seemed a shade darker.

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