Page 89 of Fear of Falling

“Don’t worry. We’ll get it out of you soon,” Tasha grinned as she poked me with her toe. We both knew I’d tell her eventually—I couldn’t keep anything from her.

“The game’s starting,” I declared, eager to change the subject off my sex life and onto the game.

“What kind of call was that!”I yelled at the TV as though the referee could hear me through the screen.

“He barely touched the guy!” Mila shouted right alongside me.

“Oh god, there really are two of them,” Lydia muttered beside me. Echoing Tasha’s words from the hockey game days earlier.

“Think we can escape with the wine?” Tasha whispered back.

“We can hear you,” I said, shooting them a look. “Besides, we aren’t that bad.”

“Yeah, you are,” Tasha said. “Your neighbors are going to complain. Again. There's a reason I banned hockey in our apartment years ago.”

“They only complained twice,” I pointed out.

“That you know of,” Tasha retorted, shooting me a pointed look. Okay, maybe she was right. Our old landlord said if we didn’t keep the noise level down, he would kick us out thanks to thosefewnoise complaints.

“Fine.” I slumped against the couch and turned my silent attention back to the game. I watched Wyatt skate across the ice, Trevor and Bryton alongside him, weaving in and out of their opponents. It was cool to watch the game on the television, but it didn’t compare to watching them play in person. I could almost hear the sound of the skates cutting on the ice and feel the cold air in the arena.

When Wyatt scored his second goal, I let out a little cheer, trying my best not to scream as the buzzer sounded, ending the second period. Mila doing the same.

“What do you guys have planned for this weekend?” Tasha asked.

One by one the others answered. Mila had an event she had to do Friday night but was free Saturday. Lydia said she had to get the next issue ready but could hang out if we wanted to. Tasha turned to me next as all three of them looked at me expectantly.

I’d wanted to wait for the right time to tell them, but it seemed there was no time like the present.

“I’m meeting Wyatt’s family.” My voice was a little muffled as I sipped from my glass.

“Wait, what did you say?” Tasha leaned in.

“I’m meeting Wyatt’s family,” I repeated, my cheeks flaming as they waited for me to elaborate. “His younger brother has a football game and Wyatt invited me to come along.”

I’d only decided the day before, when I’d overheard him on the phone with his brother. Just hearing how he talked and listened intently to whatever his brother said showed a whole different side to him. A side that loved and cared for his family. They were everything to him, and I wanted to meet the people that made him who he was. Plus, meeting them at a football game should be a lot less nerve wrecking than anywhere else.

“That sounds like it will be fun,” Mila smiled. “I’ve met his family a few times. His mom is probably the sweetest person on the planet.”

Her words eased my nerves a little. Meeting a guy's parents was always awkward in general.

“Do you want to go?” Tasha asked after a moment.

I didn’t hesitate. “I do. I just…is it too soon? We’ve only been seeing each other for two, almost three weeks now, so I don’t know.”

“Only you can decide what's too soon or not,” Lydia spoke.

“That’s not helpful,” I groaned.

“Jo,” Tasha nudged me with her foot. “It’s obvious you like him. This is probably the happiest I’ve ever seen you. I know you're scared, but you can’t let the past ruin your life anymore.”

Out of everyone in this room, Tasha was the one who’d been there through everything. She’d seen every side of me and still loved me like a sister.

“Who cares if it's too soon to meet his family, if you want to then do it,” Tasha said, her brows slightly furrowed. “But if he so much as hurts you, I will chop his balls off.”

Only Tasha.

I laughed.

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