ALLY

"Ow, shit!"

My filthy mouth instinctively responded as my body collided with something hard and solid.

I was in a state of confusion from the impact. My foot rested on something uneven, making me unstable. Then, I felt the warmth on both sides of my arms. This secured my feet flat on the ground, preventing me from hitting the wooden counter of the bar, or worse, the floor.

What the actual fuck just happened?

Due to my discombobulation, I hadn't noticed that my body was still locked in between the warmth of a man's hold. Embarrassment replaced the light in my eyes as my pupils began to dilate from shock.

It was his.

I could feel the warmth of his hands on my skin. Our collision shook the earth. My earth. My cheeks reddened as the initial steam of humiliation began to accumulate.

"Oh my God," covering my mouth with my palms, which felt cool on my face from its moisture.

"I'm so sorry," I apologized for my clumsiness and looked down on his shoes, covered by a dust print of mine.

I tried to free myself from his secured hold, slowly leaning back from him. He loosened his grip as a response to my withdrawal.

"Are you alright?" He voiced his concern with a deep yet soft voice, which left a pleasurable echo in my ears.

I nodded with assurance and felt a pang of cold breeze replaced the fire he ignited in me with his touch as he withdrew his hands back to his sides.

"Sorry, again," I repeated and hastily turned away before he could say another word. I walked through the double door separating the restaurant from the kitchen. I hadn't thought of asking if he was fine because my nerves simply took over.

Instead of awkwardly just standing by the double door with nothing productive to do in the kitchen, I decided to go into the freezer. It was the best and most convenient place to cool down, figuratively and literally. I stayed inside with the door cracked open until a shiver coursed through my body.

It was my very own cryotherapy.

The freezer had eased my mind and body to a calmer state.

I looked down at the golden band wrapped around my wrist. I surveyed the ticking motion of the hand on my wristwatch.

It was a quarter past nine. The night was coming to an end. The bustling restaurant should finally be settling down by now.

I took a deep breath and returned to my post in front of the restaurant. There were no newly customers waiting to be seated. No phone call orders. My hands were free to do as I pleased, for now.

Cautiously, I walked around the fireplace and found myself standing in his direction as he walked out of the restroom.

He stopped in front of me, distancing himself enough for me to observe his redwood-high, sculpted body. I could see the veins on his arms pushed towards the surface of his skin. I gasped for air from the flooding insecurity that immediately drowned me.

God, he's tall. And hot. Too hot. I shouldn't even be allowed to look at him. I'm fangirling too hard right now. It's ridiculous.

"Hey. Are you all right? I'm sorry about earlier."

"Yes, I'm fine," I reassured him.

"It was my fault," I admitted as I placed my hand on my chest. I could feel my heart pummeling against it.

Fuck, I shouldn't feel like this. I'm not allowed to.

"I wasn't paying attention. I didn't mean to run into you like that. And I'm sorry about stepping on your shoes." I mentioned, acknowledging the damage I might have caused.

He chuckled and looked down on his spotless Sperry boat shoes.

"No worries. You're so light. I barely felt it." He formed a grin on his face.

I didn't know whether to take that as a compliment or a joke on me.