Page 125 of Falling Backwards
But I’ve managed to control myself well enough, because we’re supposed to be living in the present.
Indeed, now I’m ready to focus on the new experience that is exercising in public with Maggie Moss at my side.
Guess the first thing I have to do is watch this not-me dude check her out.She’s bent over to fix something near her foot, and the guy sauntering past us slows even more and drops his lusty gaze to her ass.
I’m instantly filled with the urge to lay claiming hands on her right fucking in front of him.
I clear my throat not only to shake that off, but also to get his attention in a less caveman-like manner.
He looks at me and my crossing arms, my lifting chin.Then he coughs awkwardly.
“Sorry,” he mumbles as he resumes his previous pace.
Idon’tmumble, “Yeah, you are.”
He ducks his head and lifts a hand like he doesn’t want any trouble.He walks a little faster yet to put more distance between himself and us—well, between himself andme.
“Huh?”Maggie asks.
I look to her and see she’s upright again, now messing with her ponytail.She didn’t catch what happened.
It unsettles me to even halfway imagine how often creeps do shit like that—and worse—and women miss it because they’re minding their own business.
Even more unsettling to imagine how often womendon’tmiss it and are left uncomfortable.
Triple unsettling to know that, between this dude and Kyle, Maggie is in both categories.
“Luke?Is everything okay?”
I blow a raspberry, then smile at her the best I can.“Everything’s fine.”After a beat, I gesture at the dude.“He was ogling you when he went by.I had to handle him right quick.That’s all.”
Speaking of discomfort: it visibly grips her, sends her shoulders towards her ears and her arms over her black sweatshirt.
“Oh,” she says more quietly.“Thank you.I didn’t notice.”
“Sure thing.”
She folds her damn bottom lip into her mouth and has warmth rushing me.
A second later, she’s not doing it anymore.“Guess you could say everything’s fine because you’re here?”
That’s obviously what I meant, so I don’t know why my stomach acts like it’s something sweet she came up with all by herself.
I nod and scratch the back of my head.“Yeah.I wish things would be fine for you without me, though.”Hearing how that sounds, I now shake my head.“Not ’cause I don’t wanna be here—not ’cause I don’t wanna spend time with you.That’s not what I’m trying to say.”
She can’t decide between nodding and shaking her head either.“Oh, yeah, I—I didn’t think you meant….”
“I wish, like,in generalyou didn’t have to be afraid or nervous.It’s bullshit that you have to live like that, you know?Or anyone else.”
Expression softening, cheeks coloring, ponytail bouncing as she nods more.“Yeah.I agree.”She rubs at her scar beneath her bangs.“Not becauseIdon’t wanna be aroundyou,though.Either.Like you said.”
The way my heart rate has risen, you’d think we’ve started exercising already.
We should be doing that, actually.It’s why we’re here.
I open my mouth to say so just as she asks lightly, “Should we begin our walk?”
“I—yes.Let’s do that.”
