Fall Back Skyward (Fall Back #1)(94)

She pats back the tresses of red hair that have escaped the bun after my manhandling and adjusts the front of her dress where her breasts are eagerly calling for me. She opens her mouth and says, “I’m leaving now.”

“We are not done talking.” I step around to block her way.

She looks up at me, one eyebrow raised. “Well. Boo-freaking-hoo. Don’t. Follow. Me. You big brute.” She adds the last part with a swift lift of her chin, and then she spins around and strides away.

Whoa. I feel like a tornado just whooped my ass, and instead of destroying me, it left me wanting more.

After taking deep breaths, I’m hot on her trail as she rushes toward Abe—the whoring motherf*cker—as though Satan is after her ass. The magnitude with which I crave that cute little ass is immense, Satan has nothing on me. Simon intercepts me, causing me to stop.

“Can I speak with you? Alone?” Simon signs, staring at me meaningfully.

“Get out of my way, Simon.”

“Not going to happen. Unless you want to continue entertaining the guests with your He-Man tendencies, then, by all means.” He smirks, wagging his eyebrows.

I scan the room, my heart still racing after that hot little session in the kitchen. My parents are standing near the front door, staring in our direction. Mom is frowning and my dad is rubbing his chin as if he’s contemplating something.

My gaze flickers to where Nor is staring nervously in my direction. She gives Simon a look of relief and then shoots me a grimace. Her chin juts out and she turns back to face Abe.

I follow my idiotic best friend while gritting my teeth.

“You’re treading on very dangerous grounds, Simon. What do you want?”

He stops and turns to face me. “Jesus, Cole. What kind of foreplay was that? You and Nor literally eye f*cked each other in front of everyone. And then you dragged her out of the room, looking like you were about to kill her. Or f*ck her. You need to dial down whatever you’re going through. I thought you hated her.”

I clench my jaw. “What do you want?”

He rolls his eyes. “Fred Kiplinger wants to meet with you and Tate as soon as possible. Tate will meet you in Boston.”

Fuck. “I can’t leave Nor and the girls just yet.”

He stares at me hard. “I agree with you. They need you. But you are not in a position to be here for them acting the way you did. Dude, that shit would be hot if it weren’t for Josh being dead.”

“Stay the f*ck out of my business.”

He raises his hands in surrender and takes a step back, grinning. “Look at it this way. That trip to Boston will be you putting things into perspective. And when you come back, you can go and get her before you drive everyone crazy with your shitty attitude, you moody bastard.”





MY PHONE ON THE WOODEN table beeps and then lights up with a text message. I reach for it, squint at the screen, and smile as I tap on the yellow envelope.

Megs: How are you and the girls?

Me: Girls are sleeping. I’m on the roof.

I press send and then grab the glass of Bailey’s and Coke, and take a sip. I set it back on the table just as my screen lights up.

Megs: I’m coming over.

Crap. I’m not sure I am up for company tonight. Megs has been amazing as always. After Cole left, her friendship had been my life vest keeping me from drowning those first years. It’s unfortunate that she and Simon broke up after he moved to New York with Cole. They’d have been together if it weren’t for me.

Me: Please don’t worry about me. I’ll be fine, I promise. I just need to be alone tonight.

Megs: What happened at the wake? That kind of tension was off the charts. Have you told him yet?

Me: Not yet. God. He was being such a cave man. We kissed again upstairs. What the hell am I doing, Megs?

Megs: You are Nor. He is Cole. It’s a given.

I huff a breath of frustration.

Me: He might have a life in New York for all I know. A girlfriend or a wife.

Megs: He doesn’t.

Me: How do you know?

This time she takes longer to reply. A thought tickles my mind and I feel excitement soar through me.

Me: You little vixen! Have you and Simon been humping like rabbits? Did he tell you that while he was reacquainting you with his Batman?

My phone beeps.

Megs: Simon told me. And no. There hasn’t been any reacquainting going on. I need to sort out the mess in my life first. Plus, I kind of hate men at the moment.

I chuckle under my breath. Yeah, right. Anyone with eyes could see how those two affected each other.

Me: Want to bet how long you’ll hate men?

Megs: I’m not even going to dignify that with an answer. Good night. Call me if you need me.

I smile and reach for my glass then gulp down its contents before I set it back on the table. I look around, taking in the string of lights hanging low above me. After moving in with Grandma, she had given me free rein to redecorate the roof terrace. We celebrated the twins’ birthday here on the roof last year.

I snuggle deeper into the loveseat, the fire crackling in the fire pit. I sigh and continue star-gazing. Cora and Joce fell asleep two hours ago, exhausted and emotionally spent. Lying here like this, reminds me of Cole and the nights he and I used to sit on my roof for hours. Sometimes the pain is just too much but I’ve learned to embrace it over the years. To turn it into something positive. Something peaceful.