I run my hand through my hair. “I only ask because therapy helped me when I started panicking about stunts. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with you. But therapy was where I learned to manage my panic attacks and keep myself grounded, and maybe it could help you, too.”
She nods, but I’m not sure the words are sinking in. “Yeah, maybe.” She glances down at the cupcakes, and a grin takes over her face, masking her uncertainty. “I bet the cupcakes are cool now!” She pulls away and picks up her piping bag, squeezing frosting all over the cupcakes.
I’m glad she’s smiling, but I can tell she’s hiding her feelings. I don’t want to push therapy on her if she isn’t ready for it, but maybe there’s something else I can do. She said she’s not really afraid of physical danger, but if I can give her some techniques, that might help, too.
“What if I taught you some self-defense?” I ask.
Her eyes dart up to mine. “Really?”
I grin at her. “Yeah. I could just teach you a couple of things to help you get out of a tricky situation. I know that’s not the main thing you’re worried about, but?—”
“No, no,” she says quickly, cutting me off. “That would be great.” She puts down the piping bag and steps into the living room, and that’s when I realize I’ll probably need to touch her and hold her to show her how to break out of a dangerous situation.
Oh, crap.
CHAPTER 23
Lily
FRÉDÉRIC CHOPIN — ÉTUDE NO. 7 IN C MAJOR (“TOCCATA”), OP. 10
“So, what do I do?” I ask Ryder. My voice shakes, and I wish it didn’t. But the idea of learning how to protect myself makes me nervous.
Ryder’s calm and collected, though. “First things first, you just need to be aware of your surroundings. So let’s say you needed to exit right now. Where would you go?”
I point at the bookshelf. “Secret door.”
“Okay. Where else?”
I gesture toward the balcony. “I mean, I wouldn’t want to, but I could always try climbing down the balcony.”
“Exactly. Anywhere else?”
I bite her bottom lip, looking around. “Window over there?” I ask, pointing at the window above the kitchen table.
“Yeah. But that would be a last resort. So always make sure you have your exits in mind.”
“Got it.”
“And then you just need to be aware of your surroundings. Does anyone look out of place? Or do items look out of place? Do you hear anything unusual? Those kinds of things.”
I nod. I can do that. I’m relatively observant, and I have afeeling I’ll already be semi-on-edge when I go out. “What next?”
“The next thing is to make sure your voice is heard. Don’t be afraid to tell someone no, or stop. You’re in control of your body and your boundaries.”
I sigh. “See, that’s hard.”
“Why?”
“Because I have three older brothers, right? They were always the ones watching out and speaking up for me.”
“And now you need to stand up for yourself,” he says.
I swallow hard.
“Try it,” he says.
“Try what?”
