Fear of Falling

break his death glare.
    Blaine turned to me and quirked a crooked smile. “I like the company.”
    CJ snorted from behind me, but was smart enough to keep his mouth shut.
    “So you do make the schedule. Oh my God, don’t tell me you’re like my supervisor or something.”
    CJ made a coughing noise behind me like he was choking, drawing the attention of Lidia, the waitress, who began to lightly pat him on the back.
    “What are you guys talking about?” she asked. I liked Lidia, I really did, but she was extremely nosey.
    CJ wrapped an arm around Lidia’s waist and gestured towards Blaine with a jut of his chin. “Blaine here was just explaining to Kami why he makes the schedule and not my pops.”
    Lidia shrugged and placed a hand on her hip. “Well, it’s his bar. He can make the schedule however he wants, as long as I keep getting Wednesday nights off for my Zumba class.”
    His bar?
    “Blaine?” I didn’t need to say anymore. Either he would be honest with me, or he would lie to my face. I hoped to God it wasn’t the latter.
    “Let me explain, Kami,” he said, rubbing the back of his neck nervously.
    That was all I needed to hear. Out of sheer humiliation, I turned and went straight to the back room that housed the employee lockers. I had done it again. I had gotten involved with my boss, the very thing I had vowed not to do again. No wonder Kenneth was such a prick towards me. I probably looked like some slut that just screwed whoever was in charge.
    “Watch the bar, motherfucker,” I heard Blaine growl before heavy footsteps approached the room. He left the door cracked and looked down at me, remorse written all over his face.
    “Were you ever going to tell me?”
    Blaine worked the barbell in his mouth, contemplating his answer, while I forced myself not to watch with rapt fascination. “Yes,” he finally answered.
    “When?”
    He took a step towards me but kept his distance. I was glad for the space. With my heightened emotions, I would either slap him or kiss him. At that moment, I wanted to do neither.
    “Eventually. When it came up.”
    “When it came up?” I shouted, disregarding the bar full of patrons. “Blaine, we work together just about every day. We’ve gone out on a date. Shit, we’ve spent the night together twice! You’ve had ample opportunity.”
    “I know, Kami, I just didn’t think it mattered. It’s just a bar.” He ran a frustrated hand through his already mussed hair.
    “Yeah. The bar I work at. Holy shit, I’m your employee. Do you know how this would make me look to everyone else? And you claim you want me to be yours?”
    He closed the distance between us in three long strides and imprisoned my face in his large, inked hands. “I do want that. Fuck , I want that more than anything. Don’t you think I wanted to tell you? That I went over the scenario in my head a thousand times? Kami, if you knew I owned this place, you never would’ve given me the time of day. Tell me I’m wrong.”
    I couldn’t. I couldn’t disagree with him there. I took a deep breath and shook my head anyway. “But now look. Now I feel like you’ve been lying to me all this time. I feel like such a damn fool, Blaine! I trusted you.”
    “Baby, you can still trust me. I’m still the same man that is fucking crazy about you. Still the same guy that is obsessed with these lips,” he murmured, running a thumb along my bottom one. “This changes nothing, I swear.”
    “But what will the other employees think?”
    Blaine shrugged. “If they have something to say, they can walk.”
    Without warning, his lips were hot against mine, coaxing my mouth open so his tongue could meld with mine. His kiss was full of apology and regret. It begged for understanding. It needed my forgiveness. His lips needed me to let my guard down and free fall into the unknown with him.
    “You’re crazy about me?” I asked breathlessly, once his mouth left mine.
    “Fucking crazy,” he smiled.
    “Well,” I said wrapping my arms around his neck. “You better get your crazy ass out there before your cousin drinks you dry.”
    He chuckled, and the sound chipped at the crumbling walls around my heart just a bit more. “Yeah, you’re probably right. So hard to find good help nowadays.” And with that, Blaine palmed my backside and squeezed, making me squeal. After I gave his rock-solid bicep a playful smack, he grabbed my hand and tugged me towards the door.
    “Oh, Ms. Patty has been asking when