Touch the Sky (Free Fall Book 1) Read Free Page B

lock myself in the Employees Only bathroom. The first thing I do is splash water on my face as though that’s going to change a damn thing. Oh, hey, my face is wet. That means Gabriel didn’t drop me like a bad habit five years ago, and I didn’t lose my shit just now because I saw him.
    The water still runs as I grip the edges of the porcelain sink and stare into the small, square mirror above it. I see the anger there, the fire blazing in my own eyes, hiding hurt beneath.
    For years I wondered if I’d ever see him, silently knowing that I wouldn’t. I’d told myself it wouldn’t matter if I did. Fuck him. He’s nothing to me, the way I was nothing to him. There hadn’t been a part of me that anticipated this—the tremble in my hands and the memories trying to work their way to the surface of my brain.
    I’d trusted him, when I didn’t let myself trust anyone.
    I’d depended on his friendship.
    I’d needed him, when I didn’t let myself need anyone, and he hadn’t been there.
    As though I’m on autopilot, I look away from the mirror. Turn off the water. Lean against the bathroom wall. Slide down it until I’m on my ass, knees up and feet on the floor.
    Closing my eyes, I fill my lungs with the sour-smelling air of the bathroom, before slowly letting it out again. I do that a few times with each breath in, telling myself it’s over, in the past. With each breath out, I remind myself I don’t need anyone. Seeing Gabriel doesn’t mean shit.
    I push to my feet, pull my beanie out of my back pocket and pull it down on my head before walking out of the bathroom, over letting myself act weak.
    My eyes shift, glancing over to where Gabriel had been sitting. He’s not there. For a brief second, I wonder where he went before I remind myself I don’t give a shit.
    Apparently he doesn’t either because he doesn’t make an appearance for the rest of the night. Just like when we were kids, he’s gone.
    “Are you doing okay?” Conner asks when the bar closes for the night and we’re cleaning up.
    “Yep. Thought I saw a ghost, is all.”
    He frowns, but I don’t stick around for him to ask any questions. I finish doing what I have to do before clocking out and leaving for the night.
    I use the back door, which leads into the alley. As soon as the heavy metal closes behind me, I see him. He’s sitting on the dirty-ass ground in the same position I was in the bathroom earlier.
    Gabriel scrambles to his feet, brushing his ass off with his hands. My first thought is that he’s fucking gorgeous. He grew up nice. His hair is blonder, longer in the front. He runs his hands through that chunk of hair and licks his lips like he’s nervous, and all I can think is that I used to wonder if Gabriel would be my first kiss. The first time I kissed a guy at least. I’d been a kid. A stupid fucking kid who tried to pretend I didn’t live in my reality. Like some rich kid from San Diego who I met online would change my life. Like it wouldn’t mean I wasn’t the drunk’s kid. The kid who sold weed, stole, and got into trouble. I pretended Gabriel and I would meet like we were in some lame-ass movie, and we’d kiss and everything would be okay, but the truth is, I can’t count on other people for shit like that. If I want something to be okay, I make it okay myself.
    I take a step toward him, then another and another. The anger is back, my chest a boiler room, full of blazing-hot steam. My right hand balls into a fist before I reach him.
    My brain is shut off, my vision firmly holding on to the boy I used to want to kiss, but who now makes me see red.
    “Lucas…I…”
    My arm pulls up, back, and then I let my fist fly. Pain shoots through my hand as my fist connects with his face. Gabriel stumbles backward, his hand jerking up to cover his bleeding lip.
    “You done?” he asks, before holding his arms open. “Wanna hit me again? Will that make you feel better?”
    My brain stumbles at his response. His lip is