Page 42 of Falling Faster
Behind him, Noah steps up, grinning, and lays his hands on our shoulders. "Congratulations. I'm so proud of you both."
Swallowing hard, I find my voice. "Noah… This is amazing. Thank you."
A large table holds stacks of paperback copies of our book. Another table has a tiered cake in the colors of our hero and villain. Themed treats and signature cocktails decorate a third table. The tablecloths are the same blue as our superhero's hockey uniform, and the cocktail napkins are imprinted with both the hero and villain's likenesses. Noah has outdone himself.
Slater grabs him and pulls him into a tight hug. The emotion working over my ginger friend's face tugs at my heart. As a kid, Slater had trouble reading, and his mother getting him into comic books encouraged a love he might never have found otherwise. He still has reading difficulties now, and told me early on in our working together that he hoped our books would help people like him to not give up either.
Leaning back, he brushes his hand along Noah's face. "I can't believe you did all this. Thank you."
Noah clasps his wrist, holding him in place. "Anything for you. I love you."
"I love you too." He bends his head, drawing Noah closer, into a kiss.
Smiling at the pair, I step around them and take a video panning the room. I want to remember everything about tonight.
We've put in countless hours on the project. Early feedback for the comic is positive. My phone has been going off all day with notifications. Pride at what Slater and I have accomplished together fills me. Collaborating with him on this feeds so many parts of my soul.
A bunch of Slater and Noah's Buffalo Bedlam teammates, other friends, and a few of my co-workers mill around the bright, modern space, drinking cocktails, taking in the comic book artwork, and talking. I'm swept up in a sea of hugs, handshakes, and well wishes.
I should be happy. And I am. But I miss Craig.
He is supposed to be here, but instead of arriving yesterday, work kept him in LA an extra day. He texted me from the airport a while ago, but traffic is a mess, the rain isn't helping things, and I don't know when he'll arrive.
I end the video, then take a few photos. No new text updates appear from Craig.
It's been three weeks since our weekend together in LA. He's been busy with collaboration meetings with clients, songwriting for his own band, and duties for the foundation. He and his friends signed the contract with Furious Records, then did an impromptu studio session, playingBetter Days Aheadthe same day Craig recorded the duet with Luke. After the Fury released the song on their social media channels, the video went viral, and Falling Midnight's star has been steadily rising.
I can't help but worry over what will happen when the band dominates his time. Things are already changing. He's pulled in so many directions. Will he grow too busy to want to keep talking to some guy on the other side of the country?
I'm terrified the answer to that could be yes.
Slater gently nudges my shoulder. "What's wrong? You look worried."
Blinking at him, I paste on a smile. "No, I'm good."
Noah crosses his arms over his chest. "Want to try that again? Talk to us."
My face heating, I gesture to the crowded room. "We have guests."
"Who are all enjoying themselves. We can take a few minutes. Talk."
I tuck my phone into my pocket. "Fine. Craig's on his way here to support me tonight, but aside from that, we've only spent two weekends together in person. I feel so connected to him, but I've been thinking about what happens to our relationship now that his band has plans for recording and touring. Will he get too busy for me?"
Slater's expression turns doubtful. "Every time I turn around, you guys are texting each other. Like the other night, when you were so distracted with those texts, Noah said it reminded him of how I used to be."
I snort. "Yeah, right. I am nowhere near your level of social media addict. Though, you have gotten a lot better."
"Your phone is in your hand as often, if not more than, Slater's." Noah lifts his chin and his expression dares me to argue. Which I can't, as Noah is correct about the amount of times I look at my phone.
"I can't help it. Talking to Craig is one of my favorite things. I always want more. And I never know when something will come in, so I check it a lot. His hours are gettingodder and he's so busy now, I don't hear from him as often as before."
I open my phone's photo gallery and angle the screen so the guys can see it. "He sent me flowers today for the book release." Red roses, yellow sunflowers, and blue delphinium. They're the same colors as the book cover's graphics. And that superhero congratulations card continues the theme.
Leaning into Slater, Noah smiles at me. "He put a lot of care into this."
"I know. It made my day. There was a small box of chocolate truffles too that also matched the book cover. My pain in the ass roommate swiped the box and ate them."
Slater exchanges a look with Noah, and they both turn toward me, side by side, like a united front. "You should just move in with us."
