Page 13 of Falcon

Real dating, letting someone in, letting someone close, dropping my walls; that is the problem I’ve been faced with the past years. That’s the hurdle I really struggle to overcome, because, well… It takes a lot for me to relax. To trust.

I’m beginning my second lap when I see someone in my peripheral vision move onto the sidewalk behind me. I don’t even have to look to know who it is. My skin is doing that tingly thing I wish it wouldn’t. It’s him.

I focus ahead and mind my own business, taking my usual route, but he does the same. Following close behind. What is he doing?

I sneak another peek back and my toe catches on a crack in the sidewalk, sending me flying forward, chest first into the ground. Jesus Christ. Could I get more Ana Steele right now?

“Shit!” I hear him say before I feel his hands wrap around my upper arm. “Are you all right?”

I know, without a doubt, my face is fifty shades of red from embarrassment.

“I’m fine. I’m fine.” I push up to stand, my palms screaming in pain. “Are you following me?”

“I’m just running.”

“Right behind me?” I wipe my hands on my leggings and hiss at the burn. I flip them over to look and they are scratched pretty badly from taking the brunt of my fall.

At least it wasn’t my face.

“You’re bleeding.” He gently takes my hand into his and examines it. “There’s dirt in here and some gravel. It needs to be cleaned.”

“I’ll do that when I get home.” I go to move and my knee adds to cacophony of aching body parts, so I stop moving.

“You’re banged up from hitting the pavement so hard. Let me help get you home. It’s the least I can do.”

“You mean since you were spying on me last night?” I tilt my head a bit and wait for his answer. “Would taking care of me now make you feel better about that?”

“I wouldn’t call it spying. I would call it having a beer, in the middle of the night, and there was a beautiful woman in my line of sight. I am but a mortal man who appreciates such a thing.”

“That seems like a very crafted answer that you’ve used a time or two.” I cringe inwardly at the thought of that. He must have women throwing themselves at him daily.

“You don’t trust me very much, do you?” he replies, crossing his arms over his chest.

“You haven’t earned that from me yet.”

“Yet? So you’re saying there’s a chance? Yeah!” He punches the air excitedly then laughs.

“Did you just quote Dumb and Dumber to me?”

“Only if you like that movie. If you don’t then, no, I made it up myself.” He smirks.

“I love that movie. I quote it constantly. It really annoys generally everyone in my presence.”

He leans in closer and whispers, “Good, so do I, so it will never annoy me.”

“I don’t know you, Falcon Masen, but…you can help me get home and I’d greatly appreciate it.”

“Like I said, it’s my pleasure and the least I can do for being a creeping asshole.” He chuckles.

He steps closer and I hold out my arm, expecting him to take it, but he surprises me by bending and lifting me from the ground and into his arms like I weigh nothing.

“Oh!” I shriek a little. “What are you doing?

“I’m taking you home,” he answers, as if it’s the silliest question in the world.

“I can walk, you know?” I kick my legs slightly like a child tossing a fit.

“Maybe, but we don’t want to risk aggravating something that could be wrong until we know, right?”

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