I won't Fall

The Crash

"What?" I ask Sarah. She and I have been friends for over four years. I knew she had an older brother, but I had never met him as he was always out of town or busy when Sarah and I would visit her parents on breaks from college.

"He needs a place to stay, and we have an extra room. Plus he will be throwing money in on rent." Sarah said, putting her hands on her hips, getting ready to stand her ground on the matter. "He is my brother after all, it's not like it's a complete stranger."

I sigh through my nose and rub my temples, she has a point. It's not like it is a complete stranger and some more help on the rent would be fantastic right now. Sarah and I have just graduated from college and I have just landed my dream job at an editing company. I look into her hazel eyes that are surrounded by high cheek bones that are layered with olive skin that does not have a speck of acne on it.

"Fine." I breathed out, giving her a small smile. "You are right, we could use the help with bills, and he isn't a stranger, at least not to you. I trust you with this call and if you think it's a good idea, then I am all for it too."

"Thank you, thank you , thank you, and a million times thank you!" Sarah says as she barrels towards me for a hug.

"You owe me." I laugh as I hug her back. "I have to get ready for work. I will see you tomorrow afternoon."

"Be safe and make sure you have your taser." Sarah says over her shoulder as she heads off to her room.

I head off to my room to grab some clothes before getting into the shower and getting ready for my shift at the restaurant and bar I have worked at since starting college. Jack and his wife own the place. They took me in when I was a teenager after my parents died in a horrible car accident. No one talks about the accident, but my parents knew Jack and his wife Jess since they were all in college. Jack and Jess had two kids of their own. Becket was a year older than me and Ty was 2 years younger than me. I really couldn't have asked for better people to have taken me in though. They are amazing people who help however and whenever they can.

I quickly brush through my tangled dirty blond hair with natural highlights that goes down to the middle of my back. I braid my hair and throw on a little blush and eyeliner, it seems to boost my tips a little more because it makes my gray eyes pop out a little more. Throwing on my cowgirl boots as I hop/stumble towards the front door, grabbing my purse and keys, I holler at Sarah that I love her and will text her later.

I get in my beat up old truck that I have had since high school. I should trade it in for something that will save me money on gas but I can't seem to bring myself to do it. This truck was my dad's favorite thing to work on when he was home for the weekend, and he even taught me how to drive it. Not many people know how to drive a manual truck or car anymore, and it's one of my pride and joys in life. I just put the truck in reverse and as I go to look out of the back window, I'm backing out of my parking space when I hit something. No, not something, someone, and boy does he look pissed.

A solid body of muscle stalks towards my driver-side door, I swallow my nerves down as I use the hand crank to roll my window down a fraction. I have no idea what this man with the tree trunks for arms is about to do but I feel safer with as much glass in between us as possible. His black shirt is tight across his chest and shoulders, the short sleeves hug his biceps like they are hanging on for dear life and I imagine my hands doing the same thing as he... DO NOT GO THERE. I mentally yell at myself.

"I'm sorry, what?" I ask as I realize hes talking.

"Are you deaf as well as blind?" He asks, arching a dark eyebrow and scowling at me.

"No I am not deaf nor am I blind, but you must be." I say with as much confidence as I can muster.

"How do you figure that?" He says, frustration visible on his face.

"You have to be in order not to see my reverse lights on," I say in a matter of tone. "What are you doing in my driveway anyway?"

"I'm moving in here. Who the hell are you?" He says, crossing his arms and radiating anger in his voice.

"I live here, I'm Nikki, which I'm guessing makes you Sarah's brother, Sam."