Page 60 of Fear of Falling

My ex even bought himself earplugs for whenever I stayed over, and the ghostly memory of his words echoed through my mind as I peeked over at Wyatt.

It’s so annoying. Why can’t you just stop it?

“I’m so sorry! Please tell me I didn’t say anything embarrassing,” I pleaded.

“Nothing embarrassing, I promise. Just what an amazing hockey player I am.”

“I did not!”

“You definitely did. You were like,‘Wyatt’s the best player in the history of the game’.” His slightly higher pitch was a clear attempt at teasing.

Two can play that game.

“I think you must have misheard Wyatt instead of Gretzky,” I teased right back.

“True. The two do sound similar.”

I laughed, enjoying the fact that we could enjoy a joke together.

“In all seriousness, you didn’t say anything bad. I only heard a mumble or two.”

“I’ve been known to say weird things in my sleep. I once called Tasha’s name for like ten minutes.”

“Bet she loved that.”

“Oh, she did. Especially at three in the morning. Poor Tasha—I don’t know how she managed to live with me for years. Though just so you know, I don’t talk in my sleep every night.”

“Well, lucky for you, I don’t mind either way.”

I raised an eyebrow as I peered at him. “You’re saying you wouldn’t mind me waking you up in the middle of the night by talking in my sleep?”

“Not one bit. I happen to like the sound of your voice.” Wyatt said it so casually, and yet, his words pierced my heart, sending a tingling warmth throughout my body.

“Aren’t you a charmer?” I said lightly, trying my best not to let him see how flustered I was by a simple compliment.

“Just honest.” He flashed that grin again, making my heart pound just a little bit faster.

We drove further into the city, low-set buildings giving way to towering skyscrapers. Even though it was a Saturday, the traffic steadily built up the further we drove.

“Here we are,” Wyatt said a moment later, turning down a street before slowing into a parking spot in front of a black colored building. Glancing out the window, I couldn’t see any signs of where we were.

“Where are we?”

“Come with me,” Wyatt opened the door and got out of the car. I watched him stride around the front of the car before he opened my door, extending his hand. Grabbing my purse, I placed my hand in his, and stepped out of the car.

Keeping our hands interlocked he turned his palm to lace our fingers together. With a gentle squeeze, he led me along the sidewalk towards the black colored building in front of us.

“What is this place?”

“Wait and see,” Wyatt said as he stopped in front of a non-discrepant door.

“Found the perfect place to kill me, huh?” I joked, looking around for any clues as to where we were.

“Scared lil rebel?”

“Sticking with the nickname?” I asked, though I secretly loved it.

“I think it suits you,” he said as he opened the door and tugged me inside. Before us was a short hallway, dimly lit and barren. Honestly, it felt a little ominous. Wyatt led me down thehallway, pausing before an archway that led into another room. As he looked down at me, I thought he looked almost nervous.

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