Fall Back Skyward (Fall Back #1)(86)

“And I love you so much.”

“Miss Eleanor?” A deep voice says, pulling me away from Cole and his wound.

Startled, I look over my shoulder to find Mr. Taylor, walking toward us. He smiles wide, stretching his hand in greeting. “I thought it was you.”

I climb to my feet, surprised to see him here. I extend my hand to him and smile. “Mr. Taylor. How have you been? How’s your mom doing?”

He shakes my hand, then steps back, his gaze switching over to Cole and I swear his gaze softens slightly.

“My mother’s not doing so bad. Did you stop working at the center?”

I nod. “School has taken up most of my time. But I’ll come back in summer.” I pause, looking around the room. “Are you here for a visit?”

He shakes his head. “I work here. I’m the warden of this facility.” He looks at Cole and offers his hand in a handshake.

“You remember Cole. You two met when we dropped by at Grandma’s house a few months ago.”

“I remember him. Your grandmother speaks very highly of him.” He turns to Cole. “I heard about what happened. The people in here are messed up sons of bitches. Lie low and keep your head down, son.” He purses his lips, opens his mouth to say something but stops and directs his gaze at me.

“It was great to see you, Miss Eleanor.” He shakes our hands before leaving.

Maggie returns and we continue chatting. I can’t shake off the fear swimming in my belly.

Our visiting time comes to a close and we say goodbye.

I turn around to leave, my heart heavy and feeling sick to my stomach. Cole calls my name. I stop and turn around to face him.

“I need you to do me a favor, Nor,” he says, his gaze intense to the point of feverish.

“Anything.”

“Don’t come back. Please.”

I feel as if someone ripped my heart through my chest. “What?”

He braces a hand on the table as if he’s about to collapse and tears brim in his eyes. “I don’t want you to come back.”

Sweat beads my forehead and I’m getting a little lightheaded. “Cole, don’t ask me to do that. God, please don’t do this,” I beg him as tears start to burn my eyes. I blink back furiously. “No. You don’t get to tell me not to visit you.” I declare stubbornly.

He’s wearing this tortured look on his face now, as if whatever he’s about to say will cost him his life and his hands are balled into fists at his sides. Veins pop up along his arm. “Nor. I’ll request your name to be removed from the visitor’s list.”

“Cole! You can’t do that to her,” Maggie says, desperation in her voice. “Think about it, sweetheart. You don’t really want to do that.”

“Cole, please. Don’t do this.” I plead again. When he continues to stare at me, I finally let the tears fall, which is his undoing.

He wipes his face with his hands. “I don’t want you to see me like this. This is killing me. If you love me, stay away. Write to me. Wait for me. Don’t give up on me.”

He turns and walks away before me or his mom can say another word.

Once we step out of the room and we collect our belongings, Maggie puts her arm around my shoulder and we walk to her car.




When we arrive home, my father is standing on the lawn, his hands on his hips. He usually doesn’t spend his weekends around the house. He finds any excuse to stay away from home. The rumor flying around the neighborhood is that he was seen with a woman in town. It’s no surprise, though. The thought of my father having an affair has crossed my mind in the past. I don’t even care. He can do whatever the hell he wants.

Maggie doesn’t even justify his presence with a greeting or a look. She mumbles a goodbye to me, and strides toward the door of her house.

I don’t bother greeting my father either. As far as I’m concerned, he doesn’t exist, even though he makes sure I know he does by his mere presence.

“I hear you went to visit him.” His voice is casual, but it doesn’t hide the underlying threat.

I stop and finally face him, feeling hate pour through my pores. “You put him there. But you will never take away what he and I have,” I say calmly, which surprises me given the hate I have for this man.

I walk away, feeling defeated instead of victorious for standing up to him. I still can’t believe that Cole banned me from going to see him.

I feel my dad’s foot falls thudding behind me so I hasten mine, eager to get away from him as fast as I can.

“Is that what you think, huh? That I can’t take him away from you?” His voice is still calm, cold. Taunting.

I whip around to face him, preparing my words for my last blow, then freeze as I watch him looking at me with narrowed calculating eyes.

“I put him where he is. I have the power to end his existence.”

Blood roars in my ears. Oh God, please don’t let him do this to Cole.

“Didn’t he tell you what happened? Or was he too much of a coward to admit that I am winning?”

What the hell is he talking about?

“Be careful, daughter. That boy’s life is in my hands right now. I say he jumps, and he f*cking does.”

Blood drains from my face and pieces of what might have happened to Cole start to click in my head. “Oh, God. What did you do? Did you hurt him?”