Page 77 of Fear of Falling

It took her a moment before she answered. “Uh, yeah, I can show you.”

As she led me through a corridor, she shot me a curious look over her shoulder, but I just smiled politely.

We passed two offices and what looked like a conference room before the woman in front of me slowed.

“Her office is straight ahead.”

“Thank you.” I flashed her a smile before she headed back in the other direction, not without glancing back at me a final time. Standing there, I suddenly felt a surge of nerves.

It was crazy how Josie made me feel like a teenager trying to muster up the courage to go ask his crush out. I hadn’t felt nervous around a woman in years, yet there I was, clutching the coffees as though they were my lifeline as my heart raced.

Pull it together, Boone. If I can play in front of thousands of screaming fans, I can bring a girl a coffee.

I slowly headed towards her office, and as soon as I poked my head into Josie’s office and saw her sitting at her desk, looking down at a bunch of pictures in front of her, my nerves abated a little. Her brown hair was pulled into a messy looking bun, a few pieces framing her face as she focused on her work.

God, she looks beautiful.

“Knock, knock.”

At my voice her head snapped up, eyes widening in surprise. “Wyatt!”

“I brought coffee,” I said as I stepped towards her, holding one out to her. “Sorry for just stopping by. Hope I’m not imposing.”

“Not at all,” she beamed as she stood up. “You’re a lifesaver. I was just thinking how much I could use a coffee.”

Meeting her halfway around her desk I bent down and caressed her lips with mine as she looked up at me. The action took her by surprise, but she eagerly met my kiss. Before I could get carried away, I pulled back.

I could easily lose myself in Josie.

“Sorry,” I apologized, even though I wasn’t. How could I ever be sorry for kissing Josie?

“Don’t be.” Josie shook her head, her tongue darting out to lick her bottom lip. The simple sent a barrage of dirty images through my mind. “Thank you for the coffee.”

“I wasn’t sure what you liked, so I hope it's okay.”

“It’s perfect.”

I felt like a caveman providing for his woman when Josie took a sip of her coffee and sighed contently.

Rising onto her toes, Josie pressed a quick kiss to my lips, the taste of coffee lingering on her lips. “What are you doing here? I thought you had practice.”

“I did. Actually, I wanted to talk to you about that.”

“Oh?”

I smiled as she leaned forward, eager to hear.

“We were about to start practice, when Coach decided he wanted to make a change. He switched Crosby to right defenseman.”

“Are you serious?” Her eyes got adorably wide. “He took my suggestion?”

“Yep,” I nodded, my grin growing wider.

“How did it go? Did he do well? Oh god, it was a disaster, wasn’t it?”

I laughed aloud. “Turns out Crosby is a better right defenseman than a left one.” Josie’s jaw went slack, and she flopped back in her chair. I knew telling her in person was the right call.

“You’re playing with me, right?”

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