Page 31 of Falling Faster
Cody's eyes grow wide. He looks at Devon, then me, then hits Patrick in the stomach with the back of his hand. "We got to see you in your rock star gloryandwe get to meet Ty? This visit just keeps getting better."
Patrick lays his hand on Cody's thigh to stifle his movements. "You're making me seasick with all that flailing around."
Ignoring the pair, Devon rubs his hand over the back of his neck as he settles onto a chair near the window. "Sorry we're ruining your reunion with Ty. Maybe we shouldn't have shown up here without any warning."
"Sorry, Craig. The surprise part was my idea." Cody winces and regret dulls the excited shine in his eyes.
I've really missed these guys, and wish I could clone myself so I could spend as much time as possible with both them and Ty without anyone feeling left out. "It's good to see you. I'm glad you're here."
"I wish we could stay longer. Cody and I are flying homeon Monday night. I have to be back at work for inventory on Tuesday." Devon stretches his arms overhead, then cracks his neck from side to side. An avid runner, he manages a shop that sells running gear and pairs runners from beginner to advanced levels with coaches and training programs.
A knock on the door sends my heartbeat skyrocketing, and we all stand. Weaving past Cody and Patrick, I head for the door. The peephole shows Ty standing in the hall, like sunshine himself, wearing a bright yellow T-shirt and jeans. "He's here."
My pulse pounding, I open the door. Ty standing before me is almost surreal. I keep thinking about when we had to say goodbye that morning at his hotel, and how I didn't want him getting on that plane. "You made it. You're really here."
His smile grows bigger and brighter. "Hi."
Aching to pull him into my arms, I don't want to begin our reunion in a hallway, so I step back and swing the door open wide. "Come in. Meet my friends."
"Friends?" His smile dims as surprise overtakes his features. Hiking his travel bag higher on his shoulder, Ty slips past me, but doesn't venture farther than a few feet beyond the entryway. The view of the rest of the room is hidden by the narrow mini-hall created by the bathroom and closet.
"Old friends. They flew in to surprise me."
"Oh." His hand tightens around the strap of his bag, and he bites his lip. His gaze darts from the hallway to his sneakers and then lands on my eyes. "Your old bandmates? I…"
He's all vibrating nerves, and I am, too. I slip my hand to the small of his back and pull him into my chest. The travel bag hits my side as he wraps his arms around my torso.
Holding him feels as good as before.
Having him here, holding him again, how tight he'sclinging to me, I'm bombarded with longing, relief, satisfaction, and desire. He lifts his face to mine. After weeks of seeing him through a phone screen, I get to touch him, to feel that soft skin under my stroking fingers, and gaze into those light brown eyes. "Damn, it's good to see you."
Leaning into my hand cupping his cheek, he nods and his trembling fingers fan out on my upper back and flex, then shift higher to grasp my shoulders. "You too. It's silly to say that I missed you since we chat all the time, but I did."
"I did, too." The urge to kiss him pulses with every heartbeat. Sliding my hand into his hair, I bend my head. His tongue peeks out to wet his lips, then he smiles and pulls me the rest of the way down.
His lips are warm and soft, and I draw his scent into my lungs. That overwhelmed feeling crashes through me once more.
He's here. In my arms. And damn, he feels so good.
His hands roam my back, the strength in his arms keeping us banded together. Ty opens for me, allowing me to deepen the kiss, and with a groan, presses against me, matching me with the same eagerness and passion.
"Aw, look at them. So sweet." Cody's whisper reminds me there are three people waiting to meet Ty.
Ty's short hairs tickle my palm as my hand journeys from the back of his head to rest at the nape of his neck. With one last brush of my lips against his, I raise my head. Gaze misty, Ty smiles at me. The tight hold he has on my shoulders eases, and his fingers graze along the sides of my torso like he's reluctant to lose contact. His travel bag slips off his shoulder and hits the floor with a thud.
"Come meet the guys." Keeping my arm around him, I guide him down the short hall to the large room. Patrick and Cody are again lounging on the bed and Devon has movedfrom the chair to the couch. "Guys, this is Ty. Ty, that's Patrick, Cody, and Devon."
Cody is the first to stand, bouncing from his spot to embrace Ty. "So good to meet you."
"You too." If Ty's taken aback by the enthusiastic embrace, he doesn't let on. Released from Cody, he shakes hands with Patrick, then Devon. My friends reclaim their spots. Standing at the foot of Cody and Patrick's bed, Ty glances at the other empty bed, then the desk chair, then the couch, and then me.
Lacing my fingers through his, I gently pull him to the side of the free bed, and we both sit. He presses his thigh against mine as though he can't get close enough. I hope he's not intimidated or overwhelmed by the guys. The nerves over how things would be when Ty and I came face to face have now shifted into anxiousness over how everyone will get along and if they'll all like each other. My skin feeling too tight, I roll my shoulders. "I hadn't expected your paths to cross so soon. But I'm glad you all have the chance to meet."
Cody leans forward with a friendly smile. "We've heard a lot about you from Craig, Ty."
"Including how he saved me from crashing headfirst into a concrete floor?" Brown eyes shining, Ty presses his shoulder into mine. "All I saw was the costume and for a second thought I was being rescued by a real life superhero. And I was right."
Chuckling, I settle our joined hands on my thigh and press a kiss to his shoulder. "Of all the booths in all the comic book conventions in the world, I'm just glad you crashed into mine."
