Fall Back Skyward (Fall Back #1)(124)
Mom glares. “Mind your manners, Nick.”
I laugh and he looks at me, shaking his head. “I will get you for that one, big bro.”
After Nor takes her seat next to Cora and picks her glass up, she glances around the table, a soft smile on her lips.
“To the most wonderful, selfless man in the world, my best friend and a great father,” Nor says, her eyes finally finding mine, and I smile at her.
I swallow around the lump in my throat and say, “To my brother, my hero. A great son.”
After the toast, bowls of food are passed around. I pause and look around the table. My family and friends. Every one of them means the world to me. I couldn’t be any more blessed or happy.
The lights flicker several times, indicating someone is at the door. As soon as Nor leaves the table to answer the door, I notice the way Tate trails after her with his gaze. I nudge shoulder and glare at him.
“Stop staring at my woman before I punch your face,” I sign, glaring at him.
He sets his cutlery on his plate in favor of rubbing the spot on his shoulder, and then signs, “Calm down man. She’s a knock-out, I’ll give you that. But I wouldn’t risk our friendship like that.” He sneaks a look in Nor’s direction and turns back to face me. “Do the scars bother you?”
I shake my head. Most people don’t understand what I see in Nor. What lies beyond those white scars. “It’s simple. I see the beauty in her broken soul. I see a fighter who wears her battle scars with pride. I see my soul mate.”
He holds my gaze for a few minutes before blowing out a breath. “Dude, I think I’m crushing on you.”
“Sorry, man. I’m already taken.”
He grins at me. “You mentioned you might be working on a new project? In Jacksonville?” Tate asks. He picks up his knife and fork and continues wolfing down the food.
He looks away from me as his attention is claimed by the return of Nor, with Elon and Elise in tow. Tate straightens in his chair, subtly puffing out his chest. I can’t wait to teas the shit out of him. I go ahead and introduce him to the sisters. He keeps on staring as they settle in their respective seats across the table. His gaze lingers on Elise a little longer before he peeks at me and mouths, “Wow.”
I laugh, watching him dart a look in her direction again.
I touch his arm to reclaim his attention. “We’ll talk about this project without distractions,” I sign, smirking.
Later, when everyone has gone home, I slip between the sheets next to Nor and wrap my arms around her, then bury my nose into her hair. She shifts on the bed, and snuggles into me, her legs tangled with mine. I close my eyes and drift into sleep, a sense of completion filling me.
Summer
THE PAST FEW MONTHS HAVE been amazing. Cole finally moved in with us and the transition has been smooth.
I’ve been thinking about going back to school to pick up where I left off years ago, but I haven’t decided if I want to apply for Music Therapy or Psychology. Plus, the tuition is a bit higher than what is left in my college fund. I’ll need to check if the schools offer a scholarship or apply for a student loan. I managed to pay part of the hospital bills with the help of Maggie and Benjamin.
The four of us went to visit Josh today. Cora lit one of her scented candles that we made last week, and then placed it in a glass candle holder beside the headstone. She sat cross-legged on the grass and told him about the play house and that she, Joce and Cole were working on it. She also talked about Sirius, the cat. I teared up when she told Josh about his birthday party-get together which we had weeks ago. Cole took me in his arms and held me while I cried, unable to hold back the tears.
Joce was her usual quiet self as she lay a pair of black and white knitted gloves—she knitted them in her crafts club at school—beside the headstone on the grass. She was worried Josh was cold wherever he was.
We arrived back home three hours ago. The girls dragged Cole up to the roof terrace to put the final touches on their house and they have been up there since then.
Things have finally calmed down. Every time I think of Josh, I am so thankful to God that he blessed me with such an amazing friendship. He might not have lived his life to its fullest, but I’d never seen him more content. He had once told me that he couldn’t have asked for a better life.
I wipe the tears trailing down my cheeks with my hand and smile. “I could never repay you for what you did for me, Cole and the girls,” I whisper under my breath. “You are loved and will always be in our thoughts.”
After setting a beer for Cole and three bowls filled with vanilla ice cream with pieces of orange fruit tossed in on a tray, I head out to the terrace, my thoughts on the call I’ve just had with my mom half an hour ago. She and Pete will be arriving tomorrow before dinner. I’m really excited to see them.
Cole is sitting in a corner inside the house, his knees pulled up and his elbows planted on his thighs, listening to Cora and Joce discussing their plans for the house. Sirius is lying on a black and white pillow the girls set aside for him on the floor when Cole brought him over the first time a few weeks ago.
God.
That look on Cole’s face leaves me breathless. His entire world is right there in his eyes. His gaze shifts to mine and his lips tip up at the corners in that special Cole smile, spreading across his features until it reaches his eyes. Tingles sweep through me and I grin at him.