Page 51 of Falling Faster
"You're right." I can picture us cooking in the bright kitchen, sharing a spacious shower in the primary bedroom and soaking together in the clawfoot tub.
Finished touring the rooms, we step outside. I walk onto the front lawn and stare up at the house, my memories of visiting Devon and jamming here mixing in with my visions for the future. "It's a great house, Dev. I'll take care of it while I'm here. And I can't wait for us all to be together in LA too. And on the road, sharing the stage."
He joins me and loops an arm around my shoulder, looking at the place that's been his home for most of his life. "Big changes coming for all of us."
"Yeah. Hopefully, they go the way we want." The cheerful flowers bobbing in the window boxes seem like they're rooting for me. Ty had to work this morning, then is visiting the comic book store with Slater and Noah this afternoon. I pull out my phone and glance at the time. They might be there now.
A text alert beeps, and I open the message and grin. Another sign that this is the right thing to do. I have a legitimatereason for visiting the comic book store now. Maybe I'll run into them there. I don't know if I'll be able to wait until tonight to see Ty.
As with my band, my relationship with him feels like it was meant to be. And I don't want to wait another second without telling the man exactly how I feel. I only wish I’d told him sooner.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
TY
I flip through the row of colorful comic books, my gaze jumping between the titles in my stack and the ones Slater is scanning by my side. Our weekly meeting at the comic book store to buy new issues has an added bonus competition to see who can find the most new artists to try out. The display of our books on a table near the window, with a sign notinglocal authors, is a thrill to see. I hope people give our book a chance.
We're still riding high from the launch. The Bedlam's media relations department mentioned the book on the team's social media sites and the hockey league picked up the story, and is running it on their website and social media too. They've asked us to do an interview that will run during one of the nationally televised games this fall. The wave feels like it's growing, and I wonder if this overwhelmed and exhilarated feeling is similar to what Craig and his bandmates are experiencing with their surge of success.
A soft stream of music echoes from the store's speakers. Aside from the few patrons scattered throughout the space, Slater and I have the back of the store to ourselves. To get thebest selection, we time our visits to occur on delivery day, straight after Slater and Noah finish with hockey practice. Even during the off-season, we stick to this schedule, and hit the store once their daily training is complete.
"Guys," Noah approaches us with a to-go cup of tea in one hand. "I was talking to the owner. He said the stacks of your books on that table are the last from the five boxes he bought. They sold out of the rest."
"That's awesome." I high-five Slater, and he grins. His audience has really come through for us. Turning back to the comics, I spy a special anniversary collection of the caped crusader on an end cap, and my thoughts shift to Craig. But then again, I think about Craig every single day.
Slater jerks his head toward the comic. "I can't see that character without being reminded of Craig."
"Same." Heat flashes into my chest at the memory of waking up wrapped in his arms this morning. I want that every day. "We're having dinner together tonight. He's been working hard with the band all day. I thought I'd take him to that Mexican place we went to last month."
"Did you decide when you're going to talk to him?" Slater pauses his flipping, pulls out a book and scans it, but returns it and continues flipping through the titles.
I keep my attention on the books I'm sorting through. "We talked about it a little bit last night, but I was too buzzed and sleepy for a real conversation. So, hopefully tonight. I'm a little nervous, but I don't want to put it off."
A triumphant smile bursts onto Slater's face. After giving me a series of enthusiastic pats on the back, he wraps his arm around Noah's shoulders and pulls his boyfriend in close. "Good."
'Ty…" Noah's thoughtful tone goes no further.
My fingers needling the strap of the bag holding my sketchbook, I turn away from the wall of books. "What?"
"Craig's here."
"Here?" I whirl to face the direction Noah points me in.
Craig's tall form strides through the store, his long strides eating up the distance. "Hey, guys."
Slater waves, tucking Noah against his side. "Good to see you."
"I'm glad you're still here." Craig stands before me, clad in blue jeans, sneakers, and a gray T-shirt. He's holding a bag with the store's logo on it. "I got a call that my special order came in. Check it out."
He unearths a black T-shirt from the bag and holds it up. The image of our comic book's supervillain is across the chest. On the reverse side is the villain's shield, and below it, the logo of our series. I designed the merch, and we've partnered with the store to sell it on our behalf, but this is the first time I've seen our product in someone else's hands.
Slater leans in for a closer inspection. "The quality's the same as the samples we approved. Thanks for the brand rep, Craig, we appreciate it."
I'm a messy swirl of surprise and happiness. "You bought the villain!"
"Told you I would." He glances at the figure. "He looks good. A complex character, much like his creator."
Holding tighter to the strap on my bag, I scoff at him. "I'm not that complex."
