Page 27 of Falling Faster
"No!" Clutching my coffee, I widen my eyes and do my best to look wide awake. The adrenaline shooting through my system at the thought of the call being severed helps, as does gulping half of the coffee. "I want to talk to you. I've looked forward to this all day. Stay. Please. It's only some missed sleep. No big deal."
"Yeah, it'sonlysomething your body needs to function properly. No big deal," he mocks gently. "If you go for something like fifty hours without sleep, you can start hallucinating."
"Are you speaking from experience?"
Craig's rich chuckle flows from the speakers. "Just something I read recently."
"I did some interesting reading, too. Today, actually, during my lunch break. On narwhals."
"Oh?"
"I was thinking about your tattoo. Sketching it out. So I looked them up. Did you know, some people call them the unicorn of the sea because of the tusk?"
"Makes sense." He glances at the colorful tattoo adorning his biceps. "I told you I don't remember picking this out, so I don't know how I ended up with it over something else, or why, in my inebriated state, I thought permanently inking this onto my skin was a great idea."
Sympathy swirling, I shift closer to the screen, wishing I could somehow allay Craig's discomfort. "Maybe it's time to consider covering the tattoo with something else? Something that will make you happy. If you want, I could draw something for you. I've designed tattoos for one of my coworkers and for Noah."
Light comes into his eyes and Craig beams. "I could be walking around with a piece of art, a Typhoeus Allen original, on my arm?"
"I like when you put it that way." Stretching out my legs, I savor this talented man's appreciation of my work, and the way it makes me feel buzzed, like the most potent drink. "I can draw whatever you want."
"I really like that first dragon you have in your portfolio. The one I'm using as a lock screen. Maybe something like that?"
Fingers itching to get started, I set the coffee on the windowsill and grab the sketchbook. "Definitely. Think about colors you want, the feel of the dragon. How big? Will it be flying? Breathing fire? Breathing music notes? Have music notes etched into its scales?"
"I love the way your mind works. Definitely yes to music notes."
My pencil scratches over the paper as I jot down some thoughts. "I'll play with some ideas and send them to you."
"I can't wait to see them. Send me an invoice too. I don't know the going rate for this sort of thing. Whatever you charge works for me."
My pencil pauses, mid-word. "You don't have to pay me. It was my idea, and I'm happy to do it for you."
"You arenotworking for free." The lift to his chin dares me to argue. "I've seen some of the comments under your social media posts, so I know too many people already ask for things and want them for free. That isn't right. I'm paying."
He's not wrong about those people. "Okay. I'll send an invoice once we finalize the design. That's how I've done it with Noah."
Craig gives one sharp nod. "Deal." And we grin at each other.
Sunshiny warmth radiates through me, and I long to bask in the glow for as long as he'll have me. Craig makes me so happy. Is this love? Is this too soon to be love? I want what is best for the man, want him to be safe and content. And I want to be my best self for him too. But saying all of that only one month into knowing him could scare him off. It's too soon to share. Way too soon. There's still so much up in the air. I settle on a safe topic instead. The saga of his hotel room experiences up and down California. "How's your hotel room?"
"The A/C's working, so it's already better than the last place. And there's a piano in the lobby, which is cool. Remember the ballad I played for you? I played it for the guys earlier. They asked if I'd go into the studio and record it with them after the tour's over."
"That's amazing. Ask them if you can sing too. Your voice is so good."
Craig's head dips, and that almost shy look he'd worn while playing the song reappears. "They heard me today. Luke said he wants us to do it together as a duet."
Pride in Craig puffs up my chest and I pump my arm intothe air. "Yes! I can't wait to hear it. Of course, hearing it in person, with you right next to me was really special. Like my own private concert."
"Speaking of in person and private." He shifts his position, rustling the sheets as he turns onto his side. "I know we'd planned for me to hop on a flight after the last show and come see you."
"Yes, and I can't wait." My heart skips and my pulse jumps at the thought of having him here with me for a few days of uninterrupted togetherness. I shift forward in the chair. My sketchbook and pencil slide off my lap, and I scramble to catch them before they tumble to the floor. "I already cleared it with my roommates and we'll be finished the training on the new system at work next week, so I won't have to worry about putting in extra hours while you're here."
His expression a mix of hesitation and stress, Craig drags his hand through his hair. "Thing is, the guys want to get into the studio on Monday next week, fresh off the tour, to do the recording."
"Oh."
He's not coming.
