Page 72 of The Upside of Falling
I knew I shouldn’t have said anything.
I attempt to get off his lap, but he stops me, his grip growing stronger, his breathing picking up, his eyes running back and forth between mine. When I think he’s about to say something, he flips me to my back and hovers over me, his neck pulsing, his lips curving, his eyes turning soft.
Oh. . .
Blinking a few times, he shakes his head in disbelief and says, “I love you, Rory.” He nods, as if he’s agreeing with his statement and then repeats himself, conviction lacing his words. “I love you.”
“Really?”
He nods. “I do. I know it deep in my bones that I was meant to meet you, and you were meant to be mine.” He swallows hard. “But I won’t lie. It’s not going to be perfect being with me, because not only is my schedule abnormal, but my baggage will create issues, like today. I will pull away, I will block you out, and I will try to save you from me. But you can’t let me.Please.Fight me to the end, because this love between us, it’s the real thing, Rory. Just keep believing in us.”
I pull on the back of his neck, bringing him closer, inches from my mouth. “I’ll always believe in us. Always.”
And with those words, our souls entwined, our hearts molded, Colby spends the next hour making love to me, creating a breathtaking memory I will never forget.
Ever.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Dear Rory,
Night one, and I already regret leaving you. I know we’re only fifteen miles apart, but it feels like fifteen states.
This is going to sound crazy, especially since my life has been spent making it into the Air Force Academy and then flight school, but from where I sit, here at my metal desk, navy blue scattered all over my room, my bed tucked in tight, the atmosphere has lost its appeal. It’s almost as if while I was gone, someone came into my dorm room and sucked the color from it, making it feel dull and bland.
Life seems so much more colorful when I’m with you, when you’re in my arms, when you’re laughing, or looking up at me with those sultry eyes of yours.
It’s weird, because for the past three and a half years, my cadets have tried to describe this feeling to me, having to come back from break and turn on their military brain again. I’ve never had to cope with that feeling before, never had to reprogram myself to focus on what my task is here at the academy. Never understood it.
But here I am, struggling with getting back into a routine, because all I can think about is hanging out with you. Talking, laughing, kissing, fucking. Having you beneath me, my cock buried deep inside of you, and the beautiful look of awe on your face while I whisper to you how much I love you. Fuck, Rory. It’s all I can think about.
This weekend can’t come soon enough.
I love you.
Colby
Dear Colby,
I had a dream last night. Want to hear about it?
I’m going to tell you anyway. I dreamt you took me skydiving. You strapped me right to your body, walked me through the whole process, and when it was time to jump, you told me how much you loved me, and then flung us out of the plane.
I felt everything.
The quick intake of air.
The wind whipping us around.
The beat of your wild heart against my back.
It was vivid and everything I could have asked for, with you holding on to me. And when you pulled the ripcord, I woke up. Do you think it’s a sign? That I’m falling and falling hard for you?
Not sure if you believe in that kind of stuff, but I do.
And I’m falling hard . . . really hard, especially after the flowers you brought me on Sunday. My apartment still smells gorgeous because of them, reminding me of your sweet heart with every breath I take.
I love you.
