Page 53 of Catch My Fall

“What was all that?” Alec asks the barmaid.

“Apparently there’s a storm rolling in from the north, it’ll last through the night and be gone by morning,” she says before a customer calls her over.

“Do you want to head home?” Alec asks me, and it’s only now I realise I’m still squeezing the life out of his hand.

I let go, shaking my head. “No, I’m fine. Let’s finish our drinks, no need for them to go to waste.”

∞∞∞

“I’m just going to the restroom,” Alec announces about an hour later. “I won’t be two minutes.” He leans in close to my ear, his warm breath moving my hair. “Don’t move.”

His low voice sends chills through me and I watch as he slides off the stool and disappears down the hall.

I turn back to face the bar and take a sip of my drink. It’s not so bad in here.

I take in a group of girls on the opposite side of the bar, dressed to the nines in dresses shorter than the ones I used to own, and even they were pushing it. They look beautiful, and I see myself in them—well, the old me.

A warm body presses against my back as a hand skims my arms, it’s barely even a touch, but my body goes rigid. “Hey there, babe. Can I buy you a drink?”

A man comes into view to my left. He’s not much older than me, late twenties at most. Two months ago, I’d have considered him attractive, hell, I might have even taken him up on his offer of a drink, but as I stare up at his perfectly normal, handsome face, all I see is them.

He’s too close.

My bones lock up, and my eyes flick down to see his hand still resting on my arm. He’s not hurting me, or squeezing too tight, it’s a perfectly innocent gesture, but it’s one that has my body paralysed, unable to move.

“I—I…” My throat has closed up, like someone has their hand around my neck, squeezing hard enough that I can’t breathe.

“Did you want a drink?” he asks again, frowning, clearly confused by my reaction. “I’ll get you whatever you like?”

I search the bar, looking for the one familiar face that will put me at ease.

Alec, where are you?

“P—Please, just let go.” My voice comes at croaky, barely even audible over the music and the voices that surround me.

“What?” he asks.

I’m shaking now, tears pooling in my eyes as his hand skims up my arm.

“Are you okay?” He sounds genuinely worried, but all I can focus on is his touch, his close proximity, that distinctly masculine scent that sends me right back to that basement.

I swallow around the lump lodged in my throat. “I—I have a boyfriend. Please let me go.”

I stifle a sob.

“Where’s your boyfriend?”

“I’m right here.” Alec’s voice has relief rushing through me. His eyes find mine briefly, his face hardening when he sees the tears swimming in my eyes. “I suggest you take your hand off her arm and take a step back before you lose it.”

The man turns to face Alec, his face white as a sheet as he cranes his neck up to meet his eye. “I’m sorry, man. I—I didn’t mean to make her uncomfortable. I wanted to buy her a drink and she started freaking out.”

I can’t hold back my tears as I bury my face is Alec’s chest, clawing at his shirt to get closer. He holds onto me, his arms secured tightly around my waist. “It’s okay, princess. I’ve got you.”

“Is she okay, man?” the guy asks.

“Sierra?” he mumbles softly into my hair, his palm stroking the back of my head.

“Get me out of here,” I tell him, my words muffled in his shirt.