Page 26 of Falling Faster
"No worries. Noah should be back from the library soon, and we'll need to break for dinner anyway."
"Thanks."
Sliding back his stool, Slater stands. He moves to the cabinet, takes down two mugs, then pours coffee into both. "I'm glad you're staying in touch. The chemistry you had in LA was intense. I think everyone who saw you guys picked up on it."
"Yeah." I smile and warmth washes into my chest. "He's great. I can't wait to see him."
He sets one of the cups in front of me, then retrieves cream and sugar. "When's he flying in? I can't remember what you said."
An extra teaspoon of sugar makes its way into my mug before I realize that I've already heaped in my usual amount. Hopefully, the increased sweetness will keep me going a while longer. Caffeine and sugar are the key combination for powering through the crazy hours I've been keeping lately. "His flight leaves after the concert on Friday night. There's a layover in Chicago, so he's due to get here at eleven-thirty next Saturday morning."
"You seem happier since you met him."
"I am." I take a sip of the brew and my gaze falls to my notebook and the ideas that sparked into my head during lunch. "Craig is amazing. He's sweet, sexy, smart, and kind. I feel like I'm trapped under his spell, which gave me an idea for the next hero we're planning. I want to do something like that. Craig is all-consuming, and I can't get enough. But I don't know whether that should be in our hero's favor or detriment."
His head tips to the side as he studies me. "I like it, and can picture either route working well. We can discuss the pros and cons during dinner, and I'll show you the storyboard I played with today before we dive into more work."
"Good plan." And maybe we'll finish at an early enough hour that I'll get a decent amount of sleep.
Slater glances at the microwave clock. "Are you taking your call in your bedroom? Or did you want to do it out here? I can make myself scarce."
"It's your apartment. You don't have to hide away. I'll go in the guest room." Carrying my coffee, phone, and sketchbook, I head for the room I've been sleeping in for the past two weeks. They've both christened it my bedroom rather than calling it the guest room, and not for the first time, I wish I had the pair as roommates for real.
I change my shirt, comb my hair, and choose the chair by the window instead of the bed. If I lay down, the chance I'll fall asleep is too great.
A few short minutes later, Craig fills my screen. Shirtless, lounging on a bed, propped up against a pile of pillows, he smiles and his eyes crinkle at the corners. "Hey."
Just seeing his face on the screen is enough to brighten my world. "Hi. You look good, all sprawled out like that."
"You do too, with the light playing over your face. And I bet you feel even better. I wish you were here."
"Me too." I hide a yawn behind my coffee mug. "How was last night's show?"
The purple shadows under his dark gaze are deeper than when we video chatted last week. "The crowd was great. Tons of energy. But I'm exhausted."
He still has one week to go. I stifle another yawn. "I hope you're taking care of yourself. Staying hydrated. Eating as nutritiously as possible."
"I am." Craig's image zooms in on his face as he brings his phone closer to it. His brows draw together. "You look really tired. Just like last week."
"It's all the hours we've been pulling on the comic book series, coupled with going into work early for training on how to use the new software and claims system this week." I don't think the company should be allowed to schedule training sessions outside of our normal working hours, but the higher ups don't care, so I'm using my frustration as fuel to push harder on the comics.
Craig's brows lower and his chin raises. He tilts his head and seems to be choosing his words carefully. "Even though you're creating superheroes, remember,you'restill human. Don't overdo it."
Knowing he cares gives me a soft and cozy feeling. "I'll do my best. You should take your own advice. Hanging out with that big rock band famous for getting into problems, like bar fights…" I'm not kidding, but soften my warning with a smile.
"They've mellowed out over the last several years. I think starting Furious Records was a turning point for them. No fights or problems this tour. Even Zander's in a decent mood, considering he still can't play without pain."
I wince in sympathy. "I hope he's better soon. A few years ago, I sprained two fingers and couldn't properly grip a pencilfor two weeks. That's the longest I've ever gone without drawing. I hated every minute."
He shifts his position and adjusts the pillow. "How'd you sprain them?"
"I was getting out of bed and my legs got tangled in the sheets. I fell forward, hit the floor, and bent the fingers back too far."
With a grimace, Craig turns his head away from the screen. "Ouch."
"Yeah. Took even longer before I got my full range of motion back. I'm lucky it wasn't worse." I fight another yawn, but fail to hold it off.
Lines of concern etch across his face. "You keep yawning. I should let you go so you can rest."
