Fall Back Skyward (Fall Back #1)(77)

Elise laughs, and I turn back to face her, just in time to see her punch the air with a fist, and yell, “Success!” She shrugs and says, “I made her talk, didn’t I? It’s so good to hear your voice, Mom.”

I shake my head, fighting a smile, grateful for her free spirit and energy because today, I need it badly.

Elise steps aside to let Cole through, and my world comes to an abrupt stop. Every snippet of air stolen from my chest at the sight of him.

God.

Cole.

His usually tousled hair is brushed back from his face but a few curls escape the perfection I’m sure he spent hours taming. He looks taller, his shoulders broader in his black tux, with a black bowtie. Seriously, I’m one lucky girl to be loved by this special guy. The enormity of it all sends my heart racing.

I clear my throat and face my mom again. “Mom. . .” I trail off, when I see her eyes have that blank look again, which tells me she’s locked in her own world once more.

My body jerks with awareness as a large warm hand frames my lower back. That touch is tattooed in every cell of my body. Every part of me, even the dormant parts, wake up to that potent touch like they always do whenever Cole’s skin is on mine.

I turn around and I’m automatically in his arms, my head hitting his chest. He bends and kisses my hair, his arms holding me, comforting me.

He pulls back and eyes me up and down in slow, deliberate caresses. I’m happy that he doesn’t hide his appreciation and desire for me. When he meets my gaze again, his eyes say it all.

“You look gorgeous.” He swallows, tares his gaze from mine and faces my mother. He moves around me and drops on his knees at my mom’s feet. “Mrs. Blake. Thank you for trusting me with your daughter. I’ll make sure Nor is home by eleven.”

Mom’s lips quirk in a faint smile, but she doesn’t meet his gaze.

We say goodbye to her and leave the room. After collecting my clutch—which I tuck in tighter under my arm—and mask we head downstairs, with Cole’s palm on the small of my back. I slip on the silver heels at the door then pose as Elise takes pictures to her satisfaction. Ten minutes later, my sister seems content and we finally leave. Cole leads me to his car and after making sure I’m seated in the passenger seat, he rounds the car and slides onto his. Seconds later, we are driving out of his usual parking spot, Cole’s fingers already linked with mine, and toward Fair Tree Hotel’s ballroom with where the Winter Formal is being held.

Crap. My breathing is coming too fast. Heat pools between my legs and I have to press them tightly to squelch the craving there. We stop at a traffic light and Cole turns to look at me, frowning.

“Is everything okay?” he asks.

I nod too quickly and my head spins.

His eyes drop to my chest and he swallows hard before lifting my hand and kissing my wrist. “I love you.” He murmurs on my skin and I’m a bird flying, soaring through the night sky.

“I love you too. And you look obscenely hot,” I tell him when he lifts his head and stares at me with dark eyes, full of desire. Can he read my mind? Know what I’m planning for tonight? Oh God, I hope Megs didn’t tell Simon and ruin my surprise.

The lights change to green, he doesn’t say anything. Just focuses his gaze on the road. I exhale, relieved.

When we arrive ten minutes later, Megs and Simon are already there waiting in the hotel’s parking lot. Simon looks handsome in his tux, his hair slicked back and a cocky grin on his face.

“You look great in Keds. But in these,” Simon says the second his eyes drop to my feet, “You look phenomenal.”

I grin up at him. “Thank you. You clean up well, Simon.”

“Better than your boyfriend?” he points to Cole with his chin, who’s darting looks around us, taking in the crowd of students and loosening his collar a bit.

“Nope. He looks spectacular,” I say, wrapping my arm around Cole’s waist and tugging him to my side. The look of uncertainty on his face fades. Warmth blooms inside my chest and my heart skips a thousand beats when he pulls me to him and holds me so tightly I can hardly breathe.

God, I love him.

After a round of hugs and kisses on the cheek, we put on our masks. Cole’s is a black Phantom of the Opera, with gold gilding around one eye, and Megs’ a cute red and gold butterfly mask, the colors resembling her gown, and Simon a black and white mask that covers his eyes only. Cole glances at the hotel entrance and bites his lip, taking a deep breath as if to prepare himself for something.

I touch my hand on his arm. He looks at me, and I ask, “Let me know if it’s too much, all right?”

He nods and shakes his arms as though he is preparing for a fight before offering me one. I stare at him, worriedly. He straightens his shoulders and nudges me with his elbow. I hook mine around the crook of his elbow and we walk toward the hotel entrance, which is decorated with blue and white balloons.

The moment we step inside the ball room, I hold my breath, looking around. I feel like I’m in a dream. A band is playing a rock song on stage. Strobe lights blink on and off, illuminating the elegant, colorful gowns with equally colorful masks filling my vision. I tighten my hand around Cole’s arm. A few people wave in our direction and I wave back. We stop on the edge of the dance floor. Simon and Megs excuse themselves and wander off. Cole and I stand awkwardly, watching the crowd in front of us gyrating to the song blaring from the speakers.