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A bucket—
All the air is kicked out of my lungs as something, not something, butsomebodyconnects with my shoulder—hard—making me stumble back.
The phone slips out of my hand. I suck in a breath, my fingers tightening around the harness as I try to hold onto something,anything, but the force of gravity is stronger.
My heart starts beating faster as I brace for the impact, but a wall of firm chest and warm, muscled arms wrap around me, holding onto me tightly.
A shiver runs down my spine as the scent of pine and sandalwood surrounds me.
Blood rushes through my veins, and the soft buzzing rings in my ears as I place my hand over the hard muscles to steady myself.
You’re good.
You’re safe.
You’re good.
I chant those words on repeat in my mind as I try to will my heart to slow down and my breathing to even.
I couldn’t remember the last time that I crashed into somebody like this. I was so good at keeping my focus on the task at hand, but I got careless, my mind wandering to all the places it shouldn’t be when I should have paid attention to my surroundings and listened to Henry’s cues.
I knew better than to lose focus. While I’ve gotten used to Blairwood and the places I frequented, I also knew that walking outside wasn’t the same as being in my home. I couldn’t predict the behavior of other people; I could just control what I did.
Stupid, stupid, stupid.
The hands holding onto me push me at arm’s length, and I have to bite the inside of my cheek to stop the protest from coming out of my mouth. Although this person ran into me, it felt like he—and based on the firm wall of muscles under my palm, it was definitely a he—is the only connection to the reality I have, and I wasn’t ready to let go just yet.
But of course, I can’t say that because how weird would that be?
I’m sorry about this, but can you hold me for just a mom—
“Are you out of your mind?” the guy asks, breaking me out of my thoughts. His voice is deep and growly, making the hairs at my nape stand on end and a shiver run down my spine. “Don’t you watch where you walk?”
Umm… What?
“Excuse me?”
This guy can’t be for real, can he?
“Don’t you watch where you walk, lady? You were playing on your phone and bumped into me!”
Playing on my phone?
“What do you mean I bumped intoyou?”
I was just holding onto the damn thing! There was not much sense in looking at something you can’t reallysee,now is there?
“I mean it exactly the way I said it! Are you deaf too? Or just careless?”
A deep flush floods my cheeks in embarrassment, my fingers clasping around Henry’s harness as my whole body turns stiff at his harsh tone and thoughtless words. His voice is a deep grumble, like he just woke up from a long sleep and hasn’t woken fully just yet, the irritation clinging to every word that comes out of his mouth.
“Careless? You’re the one who sent me flying!” I say, exasperated with this conversation. Henry can sense something’s wrong because he moves closer to me and starts to growl softly.
Why does he have to be like this? Can’t we both agree it was just a misunderstanding and move on? But no, he had to go and start pointing fingers.
Could I have paid better attention? Sure, but damn, I’m the one who’s blind here! And it’s written right there on Henry’s harness, no less.
“Well, I wouldn’t have run into you if you didn’t get in my way,” his exasperated huff is followed by a loudsmackthat makes me jump slightly in surprise.
