“What’s the matter?”

“Huh?” I’d stopped all movement at the realization of my screwup and was just suspended there in the air with my arms holding me up while looking down at her with what must be a look of terror and confusion on my face. What the hell have I done?

“Nothing, nothing’s the matter.” I forced myself to meet her eyes with a little smile to reassure her, but inside I was a chaotic mess.

Not once have I ever been this careless, but I found that ...