Page 52 of Falling Faster
"How about captivating?" He steps into my space, swoops in, kisses me, and wraps me in his arms. "Can't argue with captivating."
"Can't I?" I nip his lip.
Chuckling, he traces his thumb along my jawline. "I'mhappy to spend hours convincing you how captivating I find you."
"We get hours together? Yes, please." The prospect of several uninterrupted hours is what I'm craving.
"We'll have a lot more of that soon. I've decided to be bi-coastal." Something I can't name swirls in those brown eyes and there's a catch in his voice, and an extra gentleness in the way he holds me. "Split my time between here and LA. And whatever touring comes up."
Surprise mixes with disbelief and I shift back until I can clearly see Craig's earnest, serious expression and kind eyes. I rest my hands on his strong shoulders. "You're moving here part-time? But I thought you said weeks ago, the night at the hotel lounge, that Devon might move to LA?"
"He is moving there. Cody's going now too. But you aren't there. I want to be where you are." The way Craig smiles and threads his fingers through my hair erases all my worries. "Short of splitting myself in two, this is the way to make that happen."
I swallow against my thickening throat and the threat of tears pricking the backs of my eyes. "I can't believe it."
He sweeps his hand back down and continues stroking my cheek. "I meant it when I told you there isn't much I wouldn't do for you."
"So did I." Happiness spins through me as the world shifts from muted, muddied grays into a brilliant rainbow of colors. I place my hand over Craig's heart. I now know what I need to do. What I want to do. What I was afraid to ask for before, when this was more up in the air. "The fact that you would've moved here means so much to me, but it makes more sense for me to move to LA. I don'thaveto stay here. You need to be there. Your band is there. So's the foundation."
The softest, sweetest expression crosses Craig's face. He sucks in a breath. "You'd do that for me?"
"Absolutely. I want to. I need to be where you are." Leaning into his touch, I soak it up. "Long distance is hard. We're both busy. I was afraid I'd lose you."
"No way that's happening."
Smiling, I kiss his palm. "I'll need to find a job and an apartment."
"You can stay with me." He bends so our foreheads rest together. We breathe each other in. The touch and scent of him grounds me. "We're hiring you to do our album artwork. I'll help you find a job, get set up for freelancing, whatever you need."
More and more good feelings wrap around me, weaving us tighter together. I bask in it. And in him.
Movement in the corner of my vision alerts me to my friends watching us. I release my hold, wait for Craig to do the same, then step back. "I'd still need to come here to visit Slater and Noah, and we have more comic books to bring to life."
With his arm slung around Noah's shoulders, Slater beams at me, his blue eyes twinkling. "We can work together virtually. Video chats, so it's like you're sitting across from me in the kitchen. But yeah, we need in-person visits, too." His gaze shoots to Craig. "Ty's our family."
Tears prick my eyes again, and I swallow hard at the protectiveness of Slater’s declaration. It’s what I imagined having a brother would be like. "You're my family too."
He and Noah both grin, and Slater pulls me toward them. He hugs me and Noah squeezes my shoulder. I’m beyond lucky to have them.
The bag in his hand crinkles when Craig slips his T-shirtinside it. As soon as Slater releases me, Craig tucks me into his side, like he never wants to let go. "You're welcome to visit us anytime you're in LA."
"We'll take you up on that," Noah pulls Craig into a hug, slapping his back, and I think I hear, “Take good care of him,” before he releases my man.
Craig shifts closer, until we're touching once more. His fingers skate along my arm from my hand to my shoulder and back again. "Maybe you'd want to join me volunteering with the foundation again? I think the kids would like seeing a villain show up. Batman apprehending the Joker. Thor capturing Loki. Or, maybe you could be a superhero once in a while too. What do you say?"
"One hundred percent yes, I'm in. I'd love that."
Slater clears his throat. "If you need any other volunteers in the off-season, Craig, count us in. Noah and I still have the superhero costumes we wore last Halloween."
I glance at Slater and Noah, smile, and gesture toward my friends as I say to Craig, "These guys visit the hospital a lot, representing the Bedlam. The kids always light up seeing them." Turning to Slater and Noah, I continue, "I'd love to have you guys visiting with us, superhero style."
"It would be fun." Noah sips his tea and the faint scent of mint wafts my way. "You can also count on us for a donation."
Craig shakes both their hands. "That's awesome, guys. Thanks."
"No problem." Slater grabs Noah's arm and tugs his boyfriend forward. "We'll get out of your way now, let you talk more. Ty, we'll see you at home. Craig, I'm glad you're here and that you guys have worked things out."
And then my friends are gone.
