Page 49 of Boots & Scars

"Nothing like that," I quickly interjected.

"Then you'll come by the house tonight." His tone brooked no argument.

I forced a smile onto my face, hoping it looked genuine. "Sure," I said.

He finally stepped back, satisfied. As I turned away from the counter with my skates in hand, a shiver ran down my spine that had nothing to do with the cold air around me. I took them and headed towards the benches to lace up.

As I tightened my laces, I glanced around, hoping to catch a glimpse of Cooper. My heart raced with every passing second. Would he be here today? Would he still be angry? The thought made my hands tremble slightly as I finished with my skates.

I stepped onto the ice and took a deep breath. The cold air filled my lungs, calming me somewhat. Skating had always been my escape, even if I wasn't particularly good at it. It was a place where I could let go of everything that weighed me down.

I pushed off, gliding across the rink with as much grace as I could muster. Each movement felt like a small victory over my own fears and insecurities. For a few precious moments, it was just me and the ice.

I couldn't believe Zach cared that I didn't show up. He was the kind of guy who seemed to float through life without a worry, always surrounded by admirers. Yet here he was, genuinely upset that I had missed his party. It made my heart skip a beat.

Maybe this was the first step to falling in love. The idea excited me, sending a thrill down my spine. I had always wondered what it felt like to be cared for by someone outside my family. To be seen as more than just the helpless girl.

As I skated, I thought back to Friday night. After getting to Cooper's place and seeing him in such a vulnerable state, I had completely forgotten about the party. Cooper had needed help, and it felt right to stay and take care of him. But I hadn't realized Zach would actually care about my absence.

I glanced around the rink again, hoping for a sign of Cooper but finding none. The empty expanse of ice mirrored my swirling thoughts. It felt strange to think about falling in love with someone like Zach while still being so affected by Cooper's presence.

But what did I know about love, anyway? My life had kept me from experiencing much beyond the walls of our home and the pages of my books.

I took another deep breath, letting the cold air clear my mind. Maybe tonight would give me some answers. Maybe spending time with Zach would help me understand these new feelings inside me.

For now, I focused on skating, letting each glide and turn distract me from the confusion in my heart.

Cooper never showedup at the ice. As I skated around, my eyes kept darting to the entrance, hoping to catch a glimpse of him. With each lap, disappointment settled deeper in my chest. I had wanted to make sure he was okay after what happened Friday. But he wasn't there, and the emptiness of the rink felt even more pronounced.

After what felt like an eternity, I decided to call it a day. My legs ached from the effort, but it wasn't just physical exhaustion weighing me down. I glided to a stop near the benches and unfastened my skates.

Carrying them over to Zach, I tried to push away the thoughts of Cooper. Zach looked up as I approached, his ever-present grin widening.

"Eight o'clock," he said as he took my skates from me. "Don't be late."

"I won't," I promised, hoping my voice sounded steadier than I felt.

"And wear something nice," he added with a wink.

I smiled and nodded.

Even after I got back to my dorm, I couldn't stop thinking about Zach. His easy smile, the way his eyes crinkled when he laughed—it was like he had stepped out of one of my childhood fairytales. Every minute dragged on painfully slow. I triedreading ahead for my upcoming Sociology class, but my mind kept wandering back to our conversation and his invitation.

Dinner time came and went, but I couldn’t bring myself to eat. Excitement and nerves twisted in my stomach, leaving no room for food. Instead, I rummaged through my closet, looking for something to wear. My hands brushed past dresses that seemed too formal or too casual until I settled on a navy blue dress. It was slightly shorter than what I usually wore, but its high neck and long sleeves made it feel just right.

I winced as I slipped into a pair of flats. The blisters from Friday night’s heels were still raw, only exacerbated by the skating from today, and I didn’t want to risk aggravating them further. Flats would have to do, even if they weren’t as elegant.

Staring at myself in the mirror, I tried to tame my hair into something presentable. It never quite behaved the way I wanted it to, but tonight it looked decent enough. My reflection showed a mix of anticipation and uncertainty in my eyes, but there was also a flicker of excitement that couldn’t be hidden.

I grabbed my phone and checked the time—7:45 PM. Fifteen more minutes until meeting Zach. My heart raced at the thought of seeing him again, mingling with his friends, experiencing a side of life that had always been just out of reach.

Stepping out into the cool evening air, I felt a thrill run through me. This was it—a chance to step out of my life and into something new and exciting. As I walked toward Zach’s place, the anticipation built with each step.

Tonight was going to be different; tonight was going to be special. I could feel it.

As I walkedtoward Frat Row, my thoughts drifted to Cooper. His house was surprisingly close to the frat houses, and I couldn't help but wonder if he was home. If he was, I hoped he was doing okay after what happened on Friday.

The frat house loomed ahead, its facade a mix of brick and wood. Music pulsed from inside, the bass thumping through the walls. Strings of lights were draped haphazardly across the porch, casting a warm glow over the scene. A group of guys lounged on the steps, their laughter carrying through the night air.

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