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‘We are, uh, well, we came to go roller skating, but that dream is gone,’ I say, motioning around the store. ‘So we’re making the best of it.’
The man smiles. ‘I used to skate here as a kid. Wait right there!’ he commands before rushing off, disappearing down one of the many aisles.
‘You think he’s calling the cops?’ Jade asks.
I shake my head. ‘He didn’t seem mad. So, I’m not sure what he’s doin’. Searching for his sex store-bought handcuffs he’s yet to use, maybe?’
Jade laughs. ‘There’s a scene I never wanted to imagine.’
A moment later, the radio blasts a station playing Billy Idol’s ‘To Be a Lover’. As I shut my phone tunes down, the overhead store lights dim, and the skating rink lighting, apparently still installed, starts flashing around the room.
‘Oh, my God!’ Jade squeals. ‘Part of it does exist!’
I can’t help but laugh. This turned out better than I expected. I push her around the place until she insists she does me next. She only knocks me over once – partially my fault because I couldn’t quit dancing in my chair – I mean, Billy Idol, how can you not dance? But it was totally worth it.
When we get to the store’s back corner, where her kiss with Aiden Turner took place, she spins me around to face her. I hold my breath for a second, convinced this gorgeous girl is about to kiss me. The vibe is there, and I am suddenly nervous. Like I’ve never been kissed. But she kisses my cheek instead, and I’m not mad about it. Her lips send shivers through me. I can imagine what kissing her might be like – absolute magic.
‘This is seriously the nicest, most fun thing anyone has ever done for me,’ she says. ‘If I had already broken up with Conner, I’d kiss the hell out of you right now.’
I heard two things. Kiss and Conner.
‘You’re breaking up with him?’ I ask suddenly, my mood lifting almost instantly. This is the first I’ve heard this.
‘I think so,’ she says with a nod. ‘Love shouldn’t hurt. I’ve recently come to discover this.’
What did that asshole do? Besides all the douchey things I know about already. I hate the sound of her hurting, let alone him being the reason behind it.
‘You’re right; love shouldn’t hurt.’
‘Being with you doesn’t. I just want you to know that.’
I grin, suddenly shy. ‘It doesn’t hurt at all.’
She deserves to know how love feels, or at least a proper engagement. Instead, here she is, thinking love is painful when that’s not the case at all. At least not when it’s right. I don’t know about her, but being here, ridiculously pushing each other around in an office chair, feels so incredibly right.
The store has now flipped off the skating rink lights and turned down the music. Boo.
‘Thanks for the memories, guys,’ a voice says over the loudspeaker. ‘But back to business.’
‘Now what?’ she asks.
‘Do you work tonight?’
She nods.
‘I’m gonna come see you. If that’s alright?’
‘It’ll be the best part of my night,’ she says with a grin. ‘Just like it always has.’
* * *
As much as I wanted to spend all damn day with Jade, I dropped her at her apartment so she could get ready for work. Now to work on my plan to ensure she dumps that weasel, Conner.
The door to Dax and Hollyn’s flower shop dings open as I storm through. Compared to what this place was when they bought it, the building now stands out on the street, with flower boxes full of whatever is in season, and the windows are bordered with brightly colored painted flowers that match the ones on Dax’s delivery truck. The shop looks even better than it did when Dax’s father owned it.
One wall is made up of refrigeration for flowers arranged by color like a rainbow. Displays are sprinkled around the place, and I’ve never been here when there wasn’t at least one other client.
‘Dax!’ I holler, startling a woman looking at a stand of houseplants, causing her to drop the one in her hand to the ground, breaking the pot it’s in and spilling soil all over the floor.
