“For what it’s worth,” he said, “we don’t have to do anything you’re not ready for.”
“I know,” I said quickly. Then, slower, more honestly, “That’s not what I’m worried about.”
He waited.
“I’m excited,” I admitted. “About being with you. About . . . us.” I laughed under my breath. “You’re treating me like your girlfriend, and I like it. A lot. But it also makes everything feel very real.”
He reached for my hand again, threading our fingers together this time. “Itisreal.”
That simple certainty made my throat tighten.
“I haven’t wanted something like this in a long time,” I said. “Not derby. Not . . . someone.”
He squeezed my hand. “Then let’s take it one thing at a time.”
The rink came into view, my stomach flipping.
“One thing at a time,” I echoed.
Practice first. Tonight second. Breathing always.
“You’ve got this,” he said. “And I’ll be right there.”
I nodded, heart pounding.
The rink rose out of the twilight like a cathedral of bad decisions and neon lighting. Concrete. Steel. The kind of place where you either fall in love or break something important.
Alex slowed as we pulled into the lot, tires crunching over gravel. I watched the rink doors, the way people moved in and out with skate bags slung over their shoulders, laughing, stretching, already sweaty. Derby girls. My people, even though I still felt like I was borrowing the word.
My hands were in my lap, clenched around nothing.
Alex didn’t even look at me at first. He just reached over and took one of them, warm and solid, like he knew exactly how much I needed grounding.
“Hey,” he said gently. “You okay?”
“I’m fine,” I lied, because of course I did.
He smiled, not calling me on it, just rubbing his thumb over my knuckles. “You’re nervous.”
“These women hit each other for fun.”
“They do,” he agreed. “But you already made the team. You survived Mel screaming at you like a drill sergeant.”
“That was character building.”
“That was you being a badass.”
I huffed out a breath. “I don’t feel like one.”
He finally turned toward me, all seriousness, that steady Alex gaze that soothed me. “You don’t have to be fearless. You just have to show up. You already did the hardest part.”
I looked away before he could see it, nodding once. “Okay. Let’s go get my ass kicked.”
“That’s the spirit.”
Inside, the rink music was already thumping through the speakers, some angry, glorious anthem that made my heart beat a little faster.
Mel spotted me first and threw both arms up like she’d just seen a long-lost soldier return from war. Belle was next to her, grinning like she’d already decided I belonged.
