The Fastest Way to Fall(36)

Wes’s features darkened. “The fuck?”

On instinct, I rushed to Ben’s defense. “I mean—he didn’t say that exactly, but he’s got a public persona, and I . . . I’m not the kind of woman he needs to be seen with. I get it . . . I mean, it’s bullshit, but the pressure to keep a certain way when you’re in the public eye, I know that’s real.” I swallowed thickly. “I wanted to feel I was worth—”

“Stop it.” His hard tone took me aback. “He sounds like an asshole.”

My immediate reaction was to come to Ben’s defense again and explain why it was an issue with me and not him, but Wes looked so unyielding, and his forceful response took me by surprise.

“I know. I’m being stupid,” I mumbled.

“You’re not. I’m sorry.” He handed me my plate, and I missed the warmth of his hands on mine. His expression was pensive, as if he were wrestling with something before opening his mouth to speak again. “I didn’t mean to snap at you. That’s my stuff. My little sister struggled with self-worth. She stopped eating, and it made all her other problems worse. I’d hate to see that happen to you.” Wes’s neck colored.

“Is she okay now?”

Wes glanced away. “We don’t talk that much anymore.”

I wanted to wrap him in my arms, but I clutched the plate instead.

“You’re better than easy fixes, Britta. You don’t need fixing at all. You’re making changes, but not because you were broken to begin with. Please promise me you won’t let this guy, or any guy, make you question yourself again. Anyone who makes you feel you’re not good enough isn’t worth the breath it takes to tell them to go to hell.”

I nodded, blinking back tears and hating that something so stupid could make me question myself. Finally, I took a slow bite, the flavor filling my mouth in a way that woke up my body.

The tension in his face dissipated. “Good, right?”

I took another bite, and a low moan escaped my lips. “Yeah.” I nodded with a slow smile. “Hey, Wes?”

“Yeah?”

In the aftermath of my fall and the hospital, I hadn’t put much thought into what it meant for him to be here.

“You being here . . . This isn’t part of the coaching, is it?”

He paused before answering. “No.” It sounded like he was admitting something. “I wanted to make sure you were okay, but coaches aren’t supposed to meet their clients in person, so . . . this is kind of breaking the rules. Do you want me to leave? I should.”

I shook my head, thinking of my own rules. “No. It’s nice to have the company.” Meeting his eyes, which looked almost green in the light of my living room, I added, “And I’m sorry about your sister. You must miss her.”

He nodded, and we chewed together in silence. I was looking so intently at his square jaw that his voice caught me off guard. “Do you really want to jump out of a plane?”

“What?”

“On your application, you said you wanted to skydive.”

“You really committed that to memory, huh?” I laughed, vaguely remembering typing that when I put in the application, wine making my fingers a little flirty. “I’ve always wanted to, but there’s a weight limit, so I never tried.”

“We should look into it and see what options you have,” he said, setting down his plate and taking a drink of ice water. “After you feel good about your other goal, of course.”

“My other goal?” I matched his movements, wincing when I leaned forward to set down my plate, and realization swept across me. I want to look and feel good naked. “Oh,” I said, risking a glance at his face. “You remember that, too, huh?”

Wes’s eyebrows lifted. “It was . . . memorable.”

“Well, that’s still number one.” I motioned up and down my body with a flourish, and his gaze followed my hands. I dropped them back to the front pocket of my hoodie. “But, after that, yes. Out the plane I go.”

“You could jump naked. Two birds and all. I’d love to see that.”

My mouth fell open.

“I didn’t . . .” He let out a choked laugh. “Shit. I didn’t mean that how it sounded.”

A part of me wished he’d meant the double entendre, and, overcome with lust, he’d lunge across the couch and take me. Of course, that would mean me crying out in pain, since I was covered in bruises.

He leaned forward. “Once you’re healed up, want to try biking or swimming? Both are good cardio, and swimming is good for toning muscles, too. I mean, if you want to stick with FitMi. If you would rather step away, I can make sure you get your money back.”

How could I have been so shortsighted? I’d come close to losing this opportunity and handing the position to Claire. I’d risked a lot. “I’ve always wanted to run. I guess I was never brave enough to start.”

“Okay, we’ll run, then.” He pushed up from the couch and took both of our plates to the kitchen.

“We?”

He rinsed them quickly and spoke over his shoulder. “I’m still your coach.”

“Yeah, my online coach.” I motioned with a pointed finger. “You’re supposed to be digital.”