Page 38 of Fear of Falling

“I’mdisappointed I can’t tag along tonight. I want to see this man in the flesh,” Lydia commented as she leaned back in her desk chair. I’d invited her to join us, but she apparently had an evening meeting for the magazine.

“No doubt Tasha will keep you updated.”

The three of us had a group chat, and all day it consisted of nothing but Tasha and Lydia messaging back and forth about Wyatt and me.

I couldn’t blame them, and it was sweet that they were excited for me. It’s been a long time since I’d dated anyone. Even with my last relationship a year ago, I wasn’t fully invested. I’d gone through the motions, thinking Ineededto be in a relationship.

Having such a shitty dating past made me hesitant to date again. But I couldn’t deny the attraction I felt towards Wyatt.

“Go and have fun though, okay.”

Though she smiled, she had the inquisitive look in her eyes that made me feel like she could read my mind.

“You deserve to be happy, you know.”

“I know,” I said quietly.

“Josie, look at me,” she said softly. “You’ve had a rough year. A rough few, if I’m being honest—and for some reason you believe you can’t be happy. But you deserve to be. You need to go out and have a little bit of fun. And who knows? Maybe this guy will be everything you didn’t know you needed.”

My chest ached at her words. Ithadbeen a rough year, but maybe she was right. I needed to let go a little tonight and enjoy it.

16

JOSIE

“Okay, I already love him,” Tasha said as the two of us walked towards the entrance of the arena.

“You haven’t even met him yet.”

“So? The guy has us parking where the team parks instead of with the fans. He already has brownie points in my book.”

Before Tasha picked me up, Wyatt sent me a text giving me directions on where to park for the game. Turns out we were parking somewhere entirely different than most people. Tasha and I were both surprised as we followed his directions that led us to the rear parking lot. The security guard already knew my name and waved us through with a smile.

“Aren’t you supposed to go all hard ass on him as my best friend?”

“Oh, I plan on it. But if he wants to bribe his way into my good graces, I won’t say no.” The grin she gave me had me snorting.

My best friend, ladies and gentlemen.

As we got in line to enter the arena, I noticed how many people around us wore a jersey sporting Wyatt’s name and number. I felt a little thrill knowing I was the only one wearing an actual player’s jersey.

Since it was huge on me, Tasha helped me tuck it into my jeans, so I didn’t look like a toddler wearing her dad’s clothing. At least I didn’t look out of place surrounded by fans. The only person looking out of place was Tasha, who’d come straight from work, so her jeans and pink blazer stood out among the sea of blue and white.

While I was excited to see Wyatt play, it was also my first ever live hockey game. I’d seen plenty of games on the television, but I’d never gone in person. My dad and I always dreamed of attending a game together one day—to be close enough to see the fights happen and feel the cold from the ice.

Ever since I was a little girl, dad promised he’d take me to a game one day, but we never could afford to go. Once, he tried to get tickets, but I knew money was tight and I didn’t want him wasting the little money we had on tickets. We ended up getting into a fight about it.

I think dad was hurt by it, but I explained to him that we were just fine watching the game on our little television in the living room. Together.

Now, almost eight years later, here I was, finally attending a game in person. I would have loved to bring dad, knowing he’d have loved every second of this.

The thought of him sent a pang through my chest, which I quickly cast aside.

Not now. Focus on the fact I’m here to see a game and with my best friend.

A good fifteen minutes later, the two of us finally made our way through security. The crowds were crazy as we headed for the ticket booth. Thankfully there was no line, so we were able to slide up to the window with no issues. Just like Wyatt said, I only had to give the person my name and she handed over two tickets. The whole thing was surprisingly smooth.

As we headed into the building Tasha held onto the back of my jersey, so we didn’t lose each other as we waded through the crowds. We felt like sardines as we walked.

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