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Chapter 25
“What are those?” Cornell asked as Ali opened the trunk of her car. “Roller skates?”
“They’re Rollerblades,” she corrected him. She slid a box of dishes over to him. “These are heavy.”
“Why do you have Rollerblades?” he asked, lifting the box. “And what are these dishes made of? Lead?”
Ali grabbed the Rollerblades and closed the trunk. “You want to host Thanksgiving for both of our families. What would my mom think if I served your dad a turkey leg on a paper plate? We should have enough now.”
“I still don’t get the skates though,” Cornell said, following her into the open garage. He placed the box on a folding table.
“Max Fisher and I were the champions of the squat race at the roller rink three years in a row.”
“What’s a squat race?”
“You know.” Ali squatted down. “You stay like this, and the other person pushes you around the rink. And then you switch.”
Folding his arms over his chest, Cornell leaned against the table and cocked his head. “Who’s Max Fisher?”
Ali rolled her eyes and stood, grabbing one of the skates.
“What are you doing? Do those even fit you?” Cornell asked when Ali pulled off her sneaker.
“Not all of us were lucky enough to keep growing after the seventh grade.”
Cornell pursed his lips together as Ali sat on the ground. “Do you know what you’re doing?”
“Did you not hear me say I was the squat race champion?” She buckled the snaps on one boot before doing the other. Ali held out her hand. “Help me up.”
“Am I supposed to believe you actually know what you’re doing on those things when you can’t get off the floor?” Cornell shook his head and pulled Ali up, not letting go of her hand.
“See?” she said, slowly backing away from him. “Like riding a bike.”
Cornell scratched the back of his head. “You should wear a helmet then,” he told Ali as she glided out of the garage and onto the smooth pavement of the driveway. “One head trauma is enough for the year.”
Ali moved smoothly in circles before pausing. She motioned toward the street. “Come on.”
“Are you crazy? It rained last night. The roads are slippery. And there are cars.”
“Yes, that’s normally where cars are. On the road.” Ali rolled her eyes before turning, skating out of the driveway. Cornell quickly followed, grabbing her hand and spinning her. She giggled as she lost her balance, pressing herself against his chest.
Cornell held her by the shoulders. “Okay, I believe you, squat champ. Now take them off. I know you said you wanted to move your body more, but we could go for a walk instead.”
“Do you know what this feels like?” she asked, swiveling in his arms before tugging him down for a kiss. “Fun.” Ali pulled her head back and tilted it toward the street. “Come on. You can be my crossing guard.”
Ali didn’t leave much room for Cornell to argue because she pushed out of his hold and skated down the driveway. “How about the sidewalk?”
“It’s bumpy,” she told him as he jogged after her. “Look,” she said, balancing on one foot. “I told you. Like riding a bike.” Almost losing her balance again, Ali caught herself with a giggle.
Cornell shook his head as he walked beside her, pulling his phone out. “I’m going to need video proof for your mom that this was your idea, and you refused to wear a helmet when she finds out you fell.”
Ali turned her head sharply. “Have a little faith in me. Let’s go to the street with the cul-de-sac around the corner.”
“That has a hill,” Cornell warned her.
Ali shushed him. “This is Texas, not the Swiss Alps. It’s barely a slope.”
“Okay, Tony Hawk.”
