She looked like she might cry, or kiss me, or both.
Which was exactly when I realized I’d stepped too close to something raw and tender inside her. Something she wasn’t ready to open yet.
So I cleared my throat and fumbled for the nearest conversational escape hatch.
“Soooo . . . ” I said, too brightly. “Roller derby. Is that . . . something you think you’d want to do?”
Her head snapped up at the question.
“Yes.”
The answer left her mouth so fast it startled both of us.
She blinked, cheeks warming. “I mean— yes. I’d love to. But I . . . I’m not sure I can.”
I leaned against the wall, turning toward her. “Why not?”
She bit her lip, tucking her hair behind her ear in that way that made my brain short-circuit.
“I’m not tough like Belle,” she murmured. “Or a good skater like Mel. And I wouldn’t know what to do. Or who to be.” A soft, vulnerable laugh. “I’m not . . . derby material.”
“Hey.” I shook my head, earnest now. “Don’t sell yourself short.”
She lifted her eyes, uncertain.
I swallowed, feeling old memories stir. “I watched Becca go from a quiet, mousy girl who never spoke above a whisper to someone who could body-check a grown man into the wall without blinking.”
Eleanor’s eyes widened. “Becca? Really?”
I smiled. “Oh yeah. She’s terrifying on wheels. The first time I saw her do a hip-whip, I thought she’d broken the laws of physics.”
That earned me the sweetest laugh. It was soft, surprising, and deeply pleasing.
“If she could do it,” I said gently, “you can too.”
Something flickered across her face then, hope, fear, and longing, all tangled together.
She looked down at her hands. “Maybe.”
“Not maybe.” I nudged her knee lightly with mine. “Definitely.”
“I guess I didn’t realize she was on the team.”
With a little shake of my head, I said, “She’s not anymore. It was something new she tried, but she decided it wasn’t really her thing. Now we just cheer Mel and the rest of the Reapers on in the stands.”
When she looked up again, something new settled in her gaze.
“You know, I saw you at a bout a while back. You were there with Leo. There was something about that night that felt . . . I don’t know magic somehow.”
“Really?” As if on its own, my hand moved to her, my thumb gently caressing her knuckles.
“Yeah, my mother had just sent me on a date that I was not ready to be on. I escaped early, and I saw the building next door. Belle had mentioned I should check it out, so I decided to . . . and I’m really glad I did.”
I just stared at her, hoping she would continue.
“My mom doesn’t understand Ava and her struggles. She thinks it's a discipline problem and not sensory issues. I try to advocate for her, but it's exhausting. Then I saw you with Leo, just letting him exist . . . and the powerful women . . . and the accepting atmosphere of it all. I guess I just found myself wanting to be part of that world.”
“And here you are,” I said, squeezing her hand. “You're making it happen.”
