Page 116 of Fear of Falling

“Josie,” The sound of his voice instantly brought tears to my eyes.

“Wyatt,” I said again, my voice came out all shaky and soft as tears rolled down my face. “I…I didn’t. I…”

“I know, baby.”

He’s seen the pictures.

I started crying harder, everything hitting me all at once.

“I…I promise, I didn’t. Wyatt, I didn’t cheat.”

“Baby, I know you never would.”

Relief washed over me, but now that I’d started crying, I couldn’t stop. “I’m on my way, okay? I’ll be there as soon as I can.”I heard him mumble‘fuck’under his breath followed by honking. “Let me talk to one of the girls.”

I wordlessly passed the phone to Tasha. Mila pulled me into her side as I silently cried, Lydia turning in the front to squeeze my knee.

I couldn’t hear what Wyatt was saying to Tasha, but she was replying back with ‘yes’. She mumbled something back to him before passing me the phone again.

“I’ll be there in a few hours okay baby? Go to the apartment with the girls and ignore your phone. Can you do that for me?”

“Okay.”

“I’m on my way, baby. I’m on my way.”

“Here, drink this.”Lydia handed me a mug filled with warm tea. I wasn’t a big tea drinker, but the warm mug felt good in my hands. I’d managed to calm down a bit before we got to my apartment.

Thankfully, the building wasn’t swarmed with people, and we were able to get inside easily. The paparazzi hadn’t worked out where I lived yet.

“How are you feeling?” Mila asked softly as she rubbed my back. All three of them were lifesavers tonight, the way they got me out of the club and away from the reporters. And now here they were, gathering around and looking after me.

“I don’t know,” I replied honestly. I wasn’t sure how to feel. Everything just happened so quickly, and I was still trying to wrap my head around it.

I wasn’t an idiot; I knew people would find out eventually. I was surprised we’d managed to stay under the radar as long as we had. When I became Wyatt’s girlfriend, I knew this was the price to be with him. There’s always a price when you're with someone as well-known as him.

I just hadn’t expected the reporters outside of the club, hadn’t expected an article to come out about us, people already questioning my intentions. It was a sore spot for me because I didn’t want Wyatt, his family, or anyone to think I was using him. Wyatt knew I wasn’t, but that insecure part of me reared its ugly head.

I just needed to see Wyatt. Needed to hear that we were okay and that we would get through this together.

“The same thing happened when I started dating Bryton,” Mila said after a moment.

“It did?” Out of everyone Mila was the one who would get this. I briefly remembered reading stuff about a Knights player dating someone. It was a few months before I met Wyatt, and at the time I hadn’t paid much attention.

“When word got out that Bryton was dating a girl of color, some people didn’t like it. Got spammed with hate comments and DM’s.” I reached out and squeezed her hand, my heart breaking at her words. I couldn’t imagine how that was for her. It must have been a hundred times worse than this.

“There’s still a lot of people who don’t like a white guy dating a girl of color.”

“That’s so messed up,” Lydia said, shaking her head.

“But I got through it…it still happens, but with Bryton by my side nothing else matters. You learn to ignore the hateful comments and messages you get. You ignore the articles that come out about your relationship.” Her words eased the tight band around my chest. She’d been there and she got it. “These people don’t know you or Wyatt.”

She was right. No one knew me or Wyatt. They were just people on the outside having stupid opinions on things they knew nothing about.

“Thank you.” I looked at each of them. “Sorry for ruining girl's night.” I felt bad the night got cut short because of me.

“Don’t be sorry,” Tasha shook her head.“We had fun, plus…my feet are killing me,” she groaned, kicking her heels off.

“Thank God. Mine started hurting hours ago.” Lydia toed hers off as well. I laughed as all of us took off our heels, groaning. Dancing and heels don’t mix.

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