Falling Faster (The Falling series Book 1)

  Falling Faster

  Susan Scott Shelley

  Copyright 2020 Susan Scott Shelley

  ISBN: 978-1-944220-43-3

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental. This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person from proper authorized retail channels. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author. All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book or portions thereof in any form whatsoever.

  Falling Faster

  For Ty Allen, a trip to Los Angeles for a comic book collectors convention with his friends is the perfect place for the Buffalo based artist to hunt down rare issues for his collection, and take a much needed break. When he falls onto a display table, taking it down with him, and is saved from bodily injury by a man dressed as a popular comic book character, the trip takes an intriguing turn. One look into the dark eyes and sexy smile of the masked man with the lightning fast reflexes, and Ty wants to learn more.

  Rock musician Craig Simms spends his spare time in a mask and a cape, bringing happiness to sick children in LA through his foundation. When he dives in to rescue Ty from a close call with the concrete floor, he ends up wrapped around the cutest guy he’s ever seen. As they work together to clean up his wrecked display, he’s drawn to Ty’s friendly, sweet nature, and doesn't want their interaction to end.

  A whirlwind weekend of chemistry and connection has them free-falling into something bigger than they'd anticipated. Ty is like a perfect melody for Craig’s weary heart, and for Ty, Craig shifts every experience from muted tones to vibrant hues. But when the weekend is over, does what happens at the comic convention stay at the comic convention, or can they find a way to fit into each other's universes?

  Table of Contents

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Epilogue

  Acknowledgements

  About the Author

  Susan’s Books

  Chapter One

  Ty Allen flipped through the row of colorful comic books, gaze jumping between the issue numbers on the books and the numbers on the printed list he’d compiled. Finding everything on his wish list would likely be too much to hope for, even at the largest comic book collectors convention on the West Coast, but if he could score at least a few issues before the weekend was over, he’d consider the entire trip to LA well worth the cost of the plane tickets and hotel room fees.

  Sounds came from every direction of the crowded convention center’s vast hall. The convention had drawn people from all areas of the country. Excited exclamations over items scored were mixed with weary tones of exhausted defeat, and it was only day one of the con.

  He reached the end of the bin. Great issues, but nothing he needed. Ty turned away from the table.

  A sea of people wove around the grid pattern of vendors like slow-moving, congested traffic escaping the city for a holiday weekend. Aggressive, laser-focused souls dodged and darted around those content to meander and explore every item they encountered. Groups of friends and families passed by, a reminder that he needed to check in with his crew. Scanning the tables covered with comic books, memorabilia, artwork, clothing, and fashion accessories, he spotted his friends standing a few vendors away and made his way over.

  Having them along for the trip eliminated the loneliness that usually accompanied his forays to various cities for conventions, but their frequent PDAs were a tough reminder of his solo relationship status.

  "Ty!" Slater Knox’s red T-shirt emblazoned with a lightning bolt stretched across his muscular chest and rivaled his ginger hair. He held up a comic book in a protective bag like it was a trophy and a triumphant grin lit up his face. "Look what I found."

  "No way." Ty recognized the rare edition’s yellow and green cover at first glance. That issue was one of the most coveted of those missing from his own collection. A thin blade of envy twisted in his gut, but he smiled and focused on happiness for his friend. "Want to discuss a trade?"

  Slater’s eyes bulged for a moment before he laughed and shook his head. "Are you kidding? I’ve been looking for this issue for years."

  "Same." He rolled his shoulders and shrugged away the disappointment. The convention still had two and a half days to go. Plenty of time left in his quest to find a hidden gem like one of the other rare comic books on his list. And if he didn’t have any luck by Sunday afternoon, he’d drown his sorrows by buying something fun and impractical.

  Noah Alzado, Slater’s boyfriend, slung his arm around Slater’s waist. "Sorry, Ty. The guy who sold it to me said it was the only copy he had. No idea if he was bluffing though. I didn’t know you wanted it too. We can go back to see if there’s another one."

  "I doubt he’d have another, but I’ll check out his table anyway. Maybe he’ll have something else I need. I haven’t made it anywhere near to that side of the room yet."

  "Did you find anything on your list?"

  Shaking his head, he pulled the sketchbook from his bag and then flipped through the pages. "I got an idea for the project Slater and I are doing and wanted to get it down before I lost it. So I spent most of the past hour sketching. Have a look."

  The project, a collaboration sparked by Slater’s idea for a comic book series about a hockey player who gained superhero powers, had taken over most of Ty’s free time for the last few months, as he and Slater took advantage of the hockey season’s summer break. Most of their sessions, held at Slater and Noah’s place, ended up with Ty crashing on their couch or stumbling to the spare bedroom at the end of a late night. At this point, he felt like their extra, sometimes absent, roommate.

  Noah’s eyes widened as he scanned the sketch. "You did all of that in the hour since we last saw you? Damn, you’re talented."

  A flush crept into his cheeks. "Thanks."

  Slater leaned down and peered at the page. "I love it. The clashing of the hero and villain facing off on the ice would be a great scene to start off the next issue in the series."

  "I thought that too." Thinking along the same lines worked well for their plans for the series.

  Slater held up his hand for a high-five. "Awesome."

  Ty raised his in response. Overshooting the connection, his palm passed by Slater’s. Laughter stole his breath as he shrugged at his friend. The second time they tried, with Ty holding his hand still and Slater doing the action, worked perfectly. They connected with a clap.

  From his place in the middle of their trio, Noah laid his hands on both of their shoulders. "That has to go into the story. One of your superheroes could be a little uncoordinated. Think of how funny you could make things."

  "A little uncoordinated, or we could go bigger and make him a walking disaster." Inspiration sparked, Ty nodded at Noah and then jotted down ideas on a fresh page. "A little like me. Like crashing into things—"

  "And flying into things," Slater added, his blue eyes shining. "You aren’t a walking disaster, Ty, but we could embellish some of the things that have happened to you. It’s going to be so good. Great idea, Noah."

  "I’m glad I thought of it. You guys have been working on the stories non-stop, and I’ve felt bad not havin
g anything to contribute to help." Noah scuffed the toe of his sneaker on the concrete floor. He often spent the hours while Slater and Noah worked, close by, lost in a book. The man was a voracious reader. "I feel like I’m out of my element when you’re both hardcore into planning worlds and characters."

  Slater bent his head and kissed Noah on the temple. "Just having your support means everything to me. Both with the series and with being here now. I know this convention isn’t your thing or your idea of a mini-vacation, but I’m glad you’re here."

  Love shined bright in Noah’s eyes as he leaned into his boyfriend’s side. "Are you kidding? I’m loving watching you get so excited over everything here."

  Their lips met in a brief kiss and something deep within Ty ached to find that level of love. The two of them together were sweet. Besides being boyfriends, they were best friends, roommates, and teammates on Buffalo’s pro hockey team, the Bedlam.

  Trying to ignore the stab of loneliness, Ty flipped the sketchbook closed. Work had consumed all of his time. Maybe when they returned home, he could steal some hours from his schedule and try to get back out there and meet someone new.

  Noah turned to him and swung a friendly arm around Ty’s shoulder. "Come on, we’ll help you find one of the books on your list."

  "Thanks. I appreciate having a second, or I guess third, set of eyes and hands to check." Ty fell in step beside Noah and allowed Slater to lead the way.

  In the six months that Ty had been friends with the couple, he appreciated how they always looked out for him. He’d met Slater first, at a bar when they were both nursing broken hearts and had bonded over a shared love of comic books. Lucky for Slater, he and Noah had worked out their problems. And lucky for Ty, he’d gained two supportive friends.

  After a few unsuccessful stops at tables, they wound their way to the far side of the room. Large sponsor logos lined the wall, interspersed with larger than life cut-outs of superhero figures, and the foot traffic wasn’t as heavy as it was in the rest of the convention.

  Slater paused under a giant vinyl banner with the convention’s name. "We need to get a selfie with this. Come on."

  Used to Slater’s penchant for selfies and social media, Ty crowded in close to his friends and grinned at the image of the trio on Slater’s phone. "I want a copy of this."

  "Sure." Slater clicked a few photos, then sent one to Ty’s phone.

  The vibration in his pocket alerted Ty to the text. He murmured his thanks then held out his hand, indicating he wanted Slater’s cell. "I’ll play photographer. Let me get a wider range shot of you and Noah, so you get the whole poster."

  Gaze on the screen, he backed up several steps. His foot and lower leg connected with something solid and Ty fell backward. Fear flipped through his stomach. The phone dropped away as his hands flew up. Seconds seemed to stretch out. He caught the looks of horror on Slater and Noah’s faces and their dash toward him. Too late to help.

  His back slammed into hard and unyielding metal—a table—and then it tipped with him. Breath caught in his lungs. The ceiling rushed by amid the sounds of chairs scraping the ground and footsteps pounding. Legs in the air, he tucked his chin to his chest and cradled his head with his arms. A storm of colorful pamphlets rained around him.

  His meeting with the concrete floor was imminent.

  Bracing for impact, he wished he embodied any one of the superhero powers he’d given his characters.

  "I’ve got you." A deep voice called out.

  The swish of a dark cape obscured Ty’s vision. Strong arms wrapped around him, and a hard body softened Ty’s landing.

  His back bowed as they hit the floor, and he winced at the pull in his muscles. The stranger’s hold ensured that Ty’s head stayed safely away from the unforgiving concrete. He lay, gasping for breath, heartbeat galloping away in his chest strong enough that the stranger could probably feel it through the gloves he wore.

  "You okay?" That deep voice spoke again.

  "Yeah, thanks. Are you?" Ty craned his neck, but couldn’t see more than bits of black costume.

  Slater jumped over the upended table. "Ty! Are you okay?"

  "Yeah. I think so." He reached for his friend’s extended hands. As Slater pulled, Ty attempted to get his legs under himself, and pushed the rest of the way to standing.

  Beside Slater, Noah reached to help Ty’s rescuer.

  Readying his thanks, Ty turned. And stared. His mouth fell open.

  "No freaking way." He shook himself and dropped to his knees, holding out a hand to assist Noah in hauling the man from the floor. The guy’s Batman costume looked like a top of the line model. Ty gave it an appreciative glance. He’d briefly priced those last Halloween before learning that his ex had no intention of joining him at the comic book store’s party. He’d gone alone as the Joker. "Um, wow. Dude, thanks for saving me."

  Brown eyes as warm as whiskey peered at him from behind the mask. A smile curved lips marred by a scar that ran the length from his lower lip to the cleft in his chin. "Anytime."

  Their hands met and clasped, and together with Noah’s help, pulled the guy to standing.

  "I..." Ty dragged his gaze away and surveyed the damage he’d caused.

  In addition to the upended table and what appeared to be hundreds of pamphlets covering the floor, he’d knocked over posters, two life-sized superhero cutouts, and a tablet.

  Embarrassment covered him like a heavy blanket. Heat flushing through his body, Ty raked a hand through his hair and blew out a breath. "I’m sorry. I’ll help clean it all up."

  "Hurricane Ty strikes again." Slater’s smile was kind as he wrapped his arm around Ty’s shoulder.

  Ty elbowed Slater in the stomach, then took two steps to close the distance between himself and the stranger. "As my buddy said, I’m Ty. Did you get hurt?"

  "Craig. And I’m fine." Craig clasped Ty’s hand again. "I think you tripped over one of my boxes, so what happened was my fault. It must have gotten pushed out from beneath the table."

  Soft leather encased his hand in a secure grip. He had to tilt his head back a bit to meet Craig’s gaze which put the man somewhere in the six-one or six-two range. Craig smiled again, and sparks of attraction tingled in Ty’s core. He wanted the mask gone so he could see all of Craig, uninterrupted. "I should’ve been watching where I was going."

  "Let’s call it even."

  Ty nodded and as he held Craig’s gaze, an electric thrill shot through him, hot and lightning fast. The world around him dimmed to Craig and then to the strong fingers holding Ty’s tight. He raised his gaze from the point of contact and the world flared into brighter focus. Sounds and scents crept in along with the realization that he and Craig were still joined together, and that they had an audience. Ty forced himself to release his hold. His muscles quivered when he staggered a step and then banged into Slater. Either Craig had dazzled him or he was still feeling the surge of adrenaline from his fall. "Uh, these are my friends Slater and Noah."

  As the men shook hands, Ty crouched and began gathering pamphlets. They advertised a foundation that sent volunteers dressed as superheroes to visit sick children in hospitals, houses for those those bound to home care, and other charitable endeavors. And Craig, in his costume, was right there in the center of the picture.

  Damn it.

  Ty felt even worse.

  "Um, Ty." Slater’s hesitant voice pulled his attention.

  He glanced to his left, then to Slater pulling his sketchbook from a puddle of coffee.

  "No." Horror and panic flashed as he made his way to the book. His bag, which had slipped off his shoulder during the fall, was open. Beside it, a to-go coffee cup lay on its side next to the remainder of the pool of tan liquid. Dread increasing, he took the book from his friend’s hands. Coffee dripped from the pages. Helplessness welled as he spun and then sank to his knees, searching for something to wipe the mess and stop further damage.

  "I’ll grab a bunch of paper towels from the restroom," Noa
h called as he sprinted away.

  Not a single napkin or tissue to be found in his bag, Ty leafed through the book. Parts of sketches had bled. Pages stuck together. Hours of work, gone. He pressed his hand to his forehead. "Come on, no."

  Craig crouched beside Ty. The warmth of his hand seeped into Ty’s shoulder. "I’m sorry. Is any of it salvageable? It seems I owe you a sketchbook. That was my coffee."

  Ty sat back on his heels and fought through the tangle of feelings. Focus on the positive, not the negative. Everything could be drawn again. It would take ages, but could be done. He was lucky that the entire book hadn’t been ruined. Most lucky of all was that neither he nor Craig had been hurt during the fall. "It’ll be okay. I owe you a coffee."

  The sound of sneakers pounding over concrete announced Noah’s return. He thrust a wad of towels at Ty. "Here."

  "Thanks." The rough, folded papers were thin and coffee soaked through faster than Ty could change them. Craig’s gloved hands interrupted his intense focus on his book. The man joined in, passing Ty towels and helping to wipe the book’s exterior down. Ty murmured his thanks, then began the task of layering the towels between the stained sketched pages, careful not to tear any of the weakened sheets.

  That heated touch landed on Ty’s shoulder once more, and was gone in the span of a heartbeat. "You worry about saving what you can of your book. I’ll get the rest of the coffee."

  Beside him, Craig mopped up the rest of the coffee in between handing Ty extra towels for the book. As he worked, Ty glanced over his shoulder. Behind him, Slater and Noah were slowly straightening the mess. Guilt over his friends restoring order to the chaos he’d caused hit hard and fast. He owed them at least a drink for their trouble. With the last of the paper towels, Ty lined the bottom of his bag, in case any drips worked their way out of the dampened pages, then tucked the book into his bag. "Craig, I’m sorry about all of this. I can be a bit of a walking disaster."

  "Hence, the nickname." Slater righted the table as though it weighed nothing and cost him zero effort. "But we love you, Ty."