Page 50 of Falling

“Thought you’d be in here,” Seth said, looking the two of us over with the hint of a smirk playing around his lips. “Sorry to break up the cuddle party, but I have to borrow Miles,” he went on. “The town council want to tour the library.”

19

MILES

Joel:

how’d it go?

The message from Joel was timestamped four hours ago, and I’d only just had a chance to check it. I wanted to nap. I wanted to hide in the woods forever. I wanted to cry.

I wanted Booker. I wanted him to hold me again, like he had on Sunday, and idly play with my shirt. Maybe run his hands through my hair. I wanted to tilt my head back for a kiss and feel him smile against my mouth and bask in the presence of someone who made me feel so safe and comfortable after what had been, I was pretty sure, the worst day of my career so far.

Miles:

there was a slight hitch in my plans

That was an understatement.

I had no idea what the council had thought. Seth had been in my corner, playing up the things I’d accomplished, but all five of the other council members had taken it all in without so much as blinking, as far as I’d seen. No enthusiasm for anything.

I felt like I was letting Seth down. Like I was letting Otter Bay down.

Joel:

well, you know what they say

if at first you don’t succeed…

Try, try again.

My feet took me to the bar without conscious thought. As soon as I stepped inside and heard Booker’s voice calling out to me, I made up my mind. I knew what I wanted. It was time to ask for it.

There was no one else in the bar yet, just the sound of Andre setting up in the kitchen. We were alone. This time, no one was going to interrupt me.

I was behind the bar a second later, still operating on autopilot. I didn’t need to think about this anymore. I’d done all my thinking already.

Booker’s brows were knitted together as I approached him, but they softened when I took his injured hand and he laughed softly.

“Still haven’t lost a patient,” he said. “I’m here.”

“I know,” I said, looking up at him, meeting those steady grey eyes and feeling as though a weight had lifted off me.

Booker was here. He was right here.

“That’s why I’m here,” I said.

And then I kissed him.

Or... I kind of crashed into his mouth. But it was the best crash I’d ever experienced. Nothing, I was pretty sure, had ever felt as good as this. The soaring sensation of finally flying after a lifetime of not knowing what the hell my wings were for.

At least, for the three seconds it took me to realize he was frozen still, tense as an elastic band about to snap.

I swallowed past a lump in my throat as I backed off, cold horror rolling down my spine. I’d ruined everything. Booker wasn’t... Booker didn’t...

“I—I’m sorry,” I stuttered. “I... shouldn’t have... just because you’re gay doesn’t mean... I’m so sorry Book, I didn’t mean...”

Booker’s hand tightened around mine, squeezing firmly. I looked down, taking a deep breath, trying to gather my thoughts.