Page 117 of Fear of Falling

“Thank you, guys.” I laid my head on Tasha’s shoulders as we all scooted together on the couch.

“That’s what friends are for.”

“Where is she?”

It was almost 3 o’clock in the morning when I heard Wyatt’s voice at my door. Just the sound of his voice made my chest ache. Slowly, I untangled myself from Lydia and Mila, passed out on my couch.

“She’s—” Tasha started to say but stopped, catching sight of me. The moment Wyatt’s eyes landed on me he all but pushed Tasha out of the way, his long legs eating up the distance between us.

My lips trembled as he scooped me up into his arms, lifting me off the ground and I wrapped my legs around his waist. I held onto the back of his head as he placed his face in the crook of my neck.

My whole body shuddered as I breathed him in. Just the smell of him made me feel better. He was still clad in his dress clothes from the game, and the collar dug into my cheek, but I didn’t care.

“I’m going to take her to my place. You guys stay.” He didn’t give Tasha time to say anything back before he turned, with me in his arms, and headed for the elevator.

Wyatt carried me like I weighed nothing, easily hitting the elevator button and wrapping his arm back under my thighs. I clung to him like a baby, my grip only tightening when we got inside. He held me up with one hand and the other rubbed my back, little kisses peppered my head.

Neither of us said a word the entire ride up to his apartment. I was more than fine to soak him in than talk right now. Especially since he’d driven God knows how long in the middle of the night to be there.

I still didn’t let go as he shifted me in his arms to unlock the door and re-lock it behind us. Not a single part of me wanted to let go of him. I kept my face buried in his neck as I felt him move around his apartment before he sat down on his couch. In this new position I wiggled into his lap, still wrapped around him like a koala bear.

“Baby.” His hands gripped my waist gently. “Are you okay?”

I reluctantly pulled away, slowly meeting his beautiful blue eyes that brimmed with concern. He cupped my cheek, his thumb softly brushing across my skin.

“I’m okay.” And I was. After talking to Mila and being with the girls I felt better. More so now that he was here.

“I should have been here. I’m sorry.” I shook my head at his forlorn expression.

“You couldn’t have known that would happen.”

“I could have stopped it though. I?—”

I cupped his face this time, silencing him. “It was bound to happen. I knew people would find out about us; it was just a matter of when. It all just took me by surprise.” My thumbs rubbed the slight scruff on his face.

My heart ached at the tired, stressed look on his face. His hair was mused like he’d run his fingers through it the entire drive here. I felt guilty that he’d played hockey, then drove all the way back just to be with me.

I would think more about what that meant tomorrow. Wyatt needed to sleep. All of this could. Not like it was going anywhere.

“Let’s get some sleep, okay?” Sliding off his lap I held my hand out to him. Wyatt’s expression was hard to read as he placed his hand in mine, letting me pull him up off the couch. He stayed quiet as we trudged up the stairs to his room. It’d been a long day, so I tried not to read into the silence as he changed his clothes and climbed into bed.

When he opened his arms, I quickly climbed in beside him, tucking my body into his side. Having him close eased the tension from my body. Despite what happened tonight, I was more certain than ever that I wanted to be with Wyatt. Even if that meant dealing with the paparazzi.

“Thank you for driving all the way here,” I spoke softly.

“Always.”

Yet, I could feel the distance between us suddenly grow, as though there was a wall closing around him.

39

WYATT

Staring down at Josie’s sleeping form, a pit grew in my stomach. It’d been a few hours since we laid down, but I was wide awake despite feeling exhausted. My mind wouldn’t shut off. What happened tonight played like a loop in my head.

I’d just arrived at our hotel when my phone started buzzing. I thought it was just Josie texting me, or my family’s group chat but, instead I was met with the headline about Josie and I. I couldn’t even say it was about me at all. I was only mentioned once, it was Josie they ripped apart. Going on about where she grew up, went to school, her track accident, and her job atFusion Weekly.

In it to further her career.

---