“I’m anxious.”I kept it simple and already it worked, as if speaking the words pushed some of that emotion out of me.
Bryan came closer and grabbed my hand.“Okay.What is making you anxious?”
I blinked and glanced around.We were in our own little world surrounded by strangers.
“I feel like something this fun, this good, that something has to go wrong,” I finally said.“I look at a stranger and I can’t help wondering how they are planning to hurt me.”
“Do you need a break?Should we go find a place to sit and relax?”
I shook my head.I felt like if we did that, it’d be worse for me.“Let’s keep shopping.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes.I just need to be distracted.That it’s just us.”
He stepped closer, his hands going to my waist.“It is just us.We don’t exist in these strangers’ lives and they don’t exist in ours.We exist in the same space, but that’s all it is.We don’t matter to them and they don’t matter to us.”
Holy shit.I blinked hard as I stared at Bryan, feeling his sincerity.He said exactly what I needed to hear, and it was beyond perfect.
I leaned into him as he wrapped his arms around me.He was warm, his scent rich and spicy.I sighed, sinking against him further.
“Thank you,” I whispered, feeling a bit like a basket case, but at least I didn’t feel like I was falling over a ledge.Again, I had to wonder if whatever was wrong with Lindie was hereditary.Maybe I wasn’t crazy yet, but I would be as I got older.
“I got you,” Bryan said, kissing my cheek.“And thank you for telling me.I know it couldn’t have been easy for you.”
He still kept saying the right thing.
I swallowed hard and could only squeeze him in response.He held on until I pulled away, feeling a little drained and tired.Maybe a little hollow but in a good way.Like a weight had been lifted off me.
I felt good.
“Back to shopping?”I asked.
His eyes lit up.“Yes, back to shopping.”
We spent another hour going stall to stall, buying what we wanted.I purchased some artwork I thought some of the guys would like.There was a tent full of anime-related stuff, and I knew Toby and Paxon watched that, so Bryan helped me get some things since I wasn’t sure what they were currently into.
I even found some gifts for Micah and his parents.There was a really nice wood-carved kitchen set I got for his mom.Some artwork for Micah and a set of tools for sketching.I bought some silly stuff for his dad including a beard bib apron for when he shaved, and a magnetic snap-on wristband.Nails and screws and anything else magnetic would stick to it, perfect for when he was doing the home improvement projects that Micah was always talking to me about.I think currently he was working on remodeling a closet to be more efficient with space.
“Hungry?”Bryan asked after we dropped our load off in his car.
“Actually, yeah,” I said, a little surprised.
“I know the perfect vendor.”Bryan brought me to a decently long line with people patiently waiting to get their hands on paninis stuffed with barbeque food.
“I like the pulled pork panini,” Bryan said.“What are you thinking?”
I quickly glanced at the menu.“The pork belly one.”
“A great choice too,” he said.
As we waited, I glanced around and realized that the guy I had accidentally locked eyes with was right behind us.I stiffened next to Bryan, grabbing his arm.When I glanced at them, they were staring at me again and even smiled in acknowledgement when they realized I was looking at them.
“Cadence.”Bryan grabbed my hand.“Why are you squeezing my arm so tightly?”
“Oh, I’m sorry,” I said and let him go quickly.
“It’s fine, squeeze as hard as you need.Are you anxious again?”His concern helped me to relax.
