Page 34 of Fear of Falling

Mom’s right. I need to stop playing scared. It’s only hurting me and my team. I need to come into tomorrow's game with a different mindset than I have the last six.

“Thanks Ma.”

“Anytime. Now hurry up and finish so we can go listen to your brother drone on about his football game.”

The buzzof my phone took my attention away from the tv. Thinking it was Trevor or Bryton, I was surprised to open my phone and see a picture from Josie. It was a picture of her holding a familiar looking hamburger with the caption‘even better a second time’.

I chuckled under my breath, not at all surprised she went back tonight. She’d kept mentioning Rick’s in our texts during last week.

Wyatt: Wow and you went without me.

She instantly replied back with a shrug emoji.

Josie: Sorry not sorry.

Wow, I’ve made her into a Rick’s hamburger monster.

I looked at the picture, taking in the wide grin on her face and the way her nose scrunched up just a little as she smiled. I took a screenshot of the picture without a second thought.

“Why are you smiling at your phone like that? You look like a creep,” Mateo said, and my head snapped up, as I dropped my phone in my lap.

“I wasn’t smiling,” I lied.

“Yes, you were,” Landon confirmed, leaning forward, keeping his eyes on me. “Is someone talking to a girl?”

I scoffed and shook my head. I was not ready for my family to know about Josie. Hell, we only went to Rick’s two days ago.

“No.”

“He is! Look! His cheeks are red,” Mateo said, pointing at my face. I knew my cheeks weren’t red, but feeling three sets of eyes on made me shift in my spot.

“It is a girl.” Landon smirked. “Who is she?”

“No one.” I mumbled.

“What's her name?” This time it was mom, her blue eyes sparkling at the thought of a girl in my life.

“Not you too, Ma,” I groaned.

“What? I want to know if there's a woman in your life.” Seeing the hopeful look on her face, I knew I couldn’t say no. Not when she looked so happy at the possibility. It’d been a long time since my family saw me show any real interest in a woman. Knowing I had no other choice, I sighed.

“Her name is Josie.”

“How did you two meet?”

“She actually lives in my building. We, uh…we sorta got stuck in the elevator together.” I proceeded to tell them how I met Josie, all the way to us having dinner together two nights ago. “I asked her to come to my game Friday.”

“My baby bro is growing up,” Landon wiped a fake tear off his face. I flipped him the bird which just made him grin.

“You sound like you like her,” Mom said with a knowing smile, reading me like a book, and I found myself nodding in agreement.

“I do.” I hadn't fully admitted it to myself until right now. Josie and I may have only met a few days ago but I liked her.

A lot.

I liked being around her. And it was crazy how fast I already felt that.

“Bring her to my game next Friday,” Mateo said.

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