Page 9 of Fear of Falling

“I got service!” I yelped, my voice sounding far too loud, but Wyatt didn’t seem bothered by it as he gracefully got to his feet to look for himself. “Really?”

I nodded, but the moment I took a step, the bar dropped back to zero. “If I stay right here,” I said, moving back a step, watching the service flicker.

“Think you can get a text out?” Wyatt asked.

“Maybe.” I raised myself onto my toes hoping it would help but my balance wasn’t great after so much sitting.

“Here, let me help.” Before I could say anything two strong hands grabbed my waist, hoisting me up. I froze, not expecting Wyatt to lift me in the air. Glancing down I saw the outline of his biceps under his jacket. My heart rate picked up at how easily he lifted me, like I weighed nothing at all.

Heat burned through my cheeks, and as I realized I was hanging there like a puppet, I quickly raised my phone again. I tried to ignore the feeling of Wyatt’s big hands wrapped around my waist. At how easily he was holding me up. The guy was a professional athlete, I really shouldn’t be surprised.

It took all of my willpower to focus on the phone as I moved my arm, trying to get better reception. As soon as a bar flashed on my phone, I quickly typed out a message, but every time Itried to send it the reception dropped out. I became distracted, worrying that I must be growing heavy in Wyatt’s arms, yet he showed no sign of struggle. After several attempts, I finally got the perfect angle and hit send.

“I think it worked!” I gasped, my arm trembling from holding it up for so long. The fact that all I’d had to do was hold up a phone while Wyatt held me up was a little lame. I really need to start going back to the gym.

Wyatt gently lowered me to the floor, and I felt a tug of regret as he removed his hands from my waist. I could feel my back sliding along his chest, and even though he wore a jacket, I swore I could feel his muscles tense against my back. My entire body flushed with the simple movement.

No! Now is not the time to get a crush on a stranger. A famous stranger at that.

I could feel the hesitation swell between us as we stood there, his hands still on my hips and his chest pressed against my back. His breath softly caressed my neck, sending a shiver of pleasure down my spine. Clearing his throat, he stepped back putting distance between us, and all too soon, Wyatt’s hands disappeared from my waist. I took a deep breath before I turned to face him, willing the redness to fade from my cheeks.

Silently I prayed the text went through, yet as I watched the screen intently, my phone pinged with the notification:unable to send message.

“Didn’t work,” I groaned.

Well, there goes that idea.

“It was worth a shot,” Wyatt said, rubbing the back of his neck. “We’ll try again later.”

I opened my mouth to speak, but before I could say anything, my stomach chose that moment to protest loudly. The sound seemed louder in the small elevator. Not eating all day had caught up with me. “Sorry,” I mumbled, embarrassed.

“Hold on, I think I have something.”

I watched as he reached for his bag. Squatting down he started rifling through it. Inside I could make out some clothes, shoes, tape and what looked like a puck or two. “Here we go,” he said as he held up a nutrition bar.

“A nutrition bar? Really?” I scrunched up my nose at it.

“I thought you were hungry,” he countered, sending me a pointed look.

“Yeah, but those taste like cardboard.” Which they did.

“And?” He waved it in front of my face.

Knowing that I wasn’t about to get a big juicy hamburger anytime soon, I let out a dramatic sigh. “Fine, nutrition bar it is,” I muttered.

“Don’t forget a half-drunk bottle of water.” Wyatt pulled it out from his bag.

I looked at it then at him. “How long has that been in there?”

Wyatt inspected the bottle a moment before shrugging.

Great. Judging from the dented look of the bottle it’s been in there awhile.

“It’s better than nothing. Here.” He extended them towards me as his own stomach grumbled.

“What?”

“You have it,” he offered. I was flattered that he’d offered me the only food he had, instead of eating it himself.

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