Page 62 of The Upside of Falling
“Nothing. She did absolutely fucking nothing. She needed him, I knew that’s why she latched on because the medical bills wiped us clean and my grandpa could only help for so long. Instead of working, she clung to Ted and his wallet. There was a small point in time where my mom told him he couldn’t hit me anymore but that was short-lived, thank fuck.”
“What? Why? You wanted to get hit?”
“It was better than him breaking and ripping apart every last model airplane I built with my dad and grandpa.”
I . . . I don’t even know what to say to that. My heart shatters right before me, tears falling from my eyes, the image of Colby as a little boy upset over his plane digging an irreparable hole in my heart.
“I’m . . . I’m so sorry.” I kiss his cheek, then his jaw, and work my way to his lips. He holds me there, his hand on the back of my head, seeking comfort.
When I pull away, I look at him, his eyes full of water, his shame plastered to his face.
“He ruined my childhood. He tried to make me forget my dad every day. He separated my grandpa from me as much as he could, beat me until I blacked out, and taunted me whenever he got the chance.” Colby’s voice shakes.“You’re never going to be a pilot. You’re not good enough. You’re not smart enough. You’re a fucking little bitch without a single hope for a good future.”He pauses. “He tried to break me. He tried to ruin me. He tried desperately to ruin my dreams, but I didn’t let him.”
I shake my head, more tears spilling. “You’re so strong, Colby. Not many people could turn out the way you did with a background like that. You’re exceptional.”
“I wanted to provehimwrong. I still need to earn the privilege to fly a fighter.” Colby’s letter registers in my head. His biggest fear, hitting me harder now than before.
“And you did, so you should be proud of yourself.”
He slowly nods, wrapping his arm around me again, his hand twirling a strand of my hair, the tension in his body starting to dissipate with every breath he takes.
“I still have challenges ahead of me. I still need to be chosen to fly a fighter, but I’ll do anything it takes to make that happen. I will showhimhow his attempt to break me only made me stronger.”
His strength, his confidence, his energy . . . I have absolutely no idea how he overcame such adversity. I’ve never met someone like him. So . . . awe-inspiring. But his strength is also so sexy. He deserves each moment of glory he will receive in the future. And I want him to know that. I need him, and that need is so strong, it's as if I can't go another moment without him inside me.
Lifting my body over his, I straddle his lap and take off my shirt, followed by my bra. He moans and then sits up, taking me with him, leaning against the headboard and bringing both of his hands to my breasts where he starts to massage them. I grip his face and place my mouth on his, demanding, the need to forget consuming me, the need to help him forget even stronger.
Breaking apart, his lips travel down my chest to my breasts where he sucks my nipples into his mouth. “I want your birthday to be different,” I admit. “I don’t want it to be associated with or saddened by everything in your past.” I gasp when he bites down on my left nipple. “I want it to be enhanced by our beautiful future.”
“You’re my future,” he says, working his way to my mouth. We stare at each other, a silent understanding passing between us. This pull, this electricity, it isn’t just lust. There is more between us than simply sexual desire.
It’s the beginning.
The beginning of something so great, I’m not sure I’ll ever be able to let it go.
* * *
“Merry Christmas Eve,” I say into the phone, groggy and tired. I don’t think I’ll get used to these early morning phone calls from Colby.
“Were you sleeping? I’m sorry, I thought you had a class today.” I turn over and look at the clock in my kitchen. Seven in the morning.
“I have one in an hour. I guess it’s good you woke me up.” I stretch my arms above my head, incredibly sore from every which way Colby and I have had sex in the past few days. There was a family gathering with Stryder’s family last night, so I didn’t get to see him. Which is probably a good thing given how sore I am.
“What are you wearing?” His voice is deep and playful, sending chills to all the right spots.
“If I said nothing, will you hate me?”
“I could never hate you.” He pauses. “Is it nothing?”
The cool sheets caress my naked body, adding to the effect of Colby’s voice. “I took a shower last night and didn’t bother to put any clothes on after.”
He’s quiet just as I hear heavy steps move up the stairway of my apartment. And then a knock.
A smile is plastered across my face. “Are you at my door?”
“Why don’t you find out?”
“I’m not going to open the door if it’s not you. I’m naked.”
