A Rose in Bloom

She risked a quick glance toward Jaxon’s treadmill. And then… her foot stumbled on the track.

It happened in slow motion. It happened in an instant. Her feet were behind her. Her arms flailed. Her face raced toward the rotating track. This is going to hurt...

Part 29: Falling in Love

JAXON WAS IN his element. Not even winded, he sprinted with ease on the gliding track, each step landing with the minimal impact of a perfect stride. He moved like a well-oiled machine. And he knew he had Elyssa’s attention. She struggled to match his pace, just as Nate had predicted. Her desperate and determined expression was adorable. Perhaps it was time to slow down and give her a break. He reached to press the down arrow, but paused as he noted she was now running at an eight-mile-per-hour pace. He turned to give her a benevolent smile and congratulate her before ending their impromptu race.

And then it happened. She stumbled, her expression changing from frantic to terrified in an instant. And she was down.

“Oh my God! Elyssa!”

He didn’t see it coming. One second he was running on the treadmill. The next, his feet flew out from beneath him, his body slamming down as his chin impacted the metal on the side of the treadmill.

“Are you okay?” Elyssa heard a voice in her ear and opened her eyes to find Sadie kneeling next to her on the floor with her eyebrows knit together. For a moment she couldn't find the breath to answer until the air rushed back into her lungs.

She stifled a groan as she pushed herself into a sitting position. She was mortified. She didn’t feel like she had any serious injuries except her pride, but that had been demolished. She couldn’t even bring herself to look at Jaxon as she gingerly fingered the elbow that seemed to have taken the brunt of the fall.

She heard a cackle of laughter behind her and ducked her face as her cheeks burned.

“Jaxon, that was a spectacular fall. I'm giving it a nine point five, but I’m taking off a few style points because your feet came apart.”

Elyssa turned her head to see Nate bellowing with laughter as he bent over Jaxon, who was splayed on the floor scowling back at his friend.

Ignoring her own discomfort, she crawled beside him. “Are you okay? What happened?” His gaze connected with hers and shot a current through her system. For a moment, she forgot anyone else was in the room. She saw only those clear blue eyes and her own reflection in their depths. She forgot she’d just fallen and embarrassed herself. She forgot why she had come to the gym that morning. She forgot everything. Her mind was a blank slate, and his eyes were writing her existence.

Then he smiled at her.

“Jaxon! You broke your front tooth!”

*****

Jaxon’s hand flew up to cover his mouth as his tongue investigated his teeth. An expletive slipped from his lips before he could stop himself, and he checked to see if Elyssa had overheard.

“It really is broken.” Jaxon couldn’t hide the anguish in his voice.

“You should call your dentist right away,” Elyssa urged.

“I don’t have a dentist.” Jaxon’s heart raced like mad inside his chest.

“You don’t have a dentist?” Her voice was incredulous. “How can you not have a dentist? Haven’t you been living here for a long time?”

“He’s been here for seven years.” Nate smirked as he pulled Jaxon to his feet. “But I can’t get him to go. He’s afraid of the dentist.”

“You’re afraid of the dentist?” Elyssa’s eyes were wide.

“I don’t need a dentist.” Jaxon dropped back to his knees, searching the floor and feeling underneath the treadmill. “If I can find that piece of tooth, I’ll just stick it back on with Superglue.”

“You can’t do that.” She put her hand over his on the floor, staring at him like he’d suggested he might murder a puppy. “You can go see my Aunt Lauren. She’s a dentist down in Ketchum; it’s only fifty minutes away.”

Jaxon swallowed hard, his gut churning at the thought. “Is she… is she gentle?” He imagined himself lying in the dental chair, gripping the arms, watching a maniacal woman hold him down with one hand while the other hand brandished a twelve-inch needle. His vision narrowed and the room grew dim in his sight.

“Jaxon, I can’t believe you can jump out of airplanes and ski double-black diamonds, but you’re afraid of the dentist.” Nate held his stomach, almost doubling over with laughter.

Jaxon took a long, slow breath, and his head cleared. “I don't like going to the dentist, but I'm not afraid. There's a big difference between not enjoying dental work and actual fear."

Nate grabbed his arm and hefted him to his feet again. “That's awesome, buddy. I'm glad you're not afraid. And here's your chance to prove it."

*****