Page 69 of Skating Towards Danger

“Here we go,” Roman rasps, and I keep my eyes on Paige, who stiffens.

“And that is my queue,” I mutter and walk over to my wife. Gently, I wrap my left arm around her waist, and she looks down before gasping, seeing the gold ring on my wedding finger that, yes, I had blessed along with her wedding ring.

“I need you to breathe for me, little fairy,” I whisper in her ear as I lean over her with my other hand grab her left with mine, and slowly push the white gold wedding band onto her wedding finger, knowing she’s not a large diamond kind of girl, I got the jeweler to put diamonds around the whole thing. “I have waited for this moment exactly to put this ring on your finger, hoping to distract you,” she turns her head my way, and our eyes connect, “I know you're scared. I know you think you’ll mess up or you’re not good enough for the ice but I’m telling you, you are good enough and you will be amazing. I’m proud of you, Paige.”

Her eyes tear up, and she sniffles, “I love you.” I smile and mumble, “I love you too,” before quickly pecking her lips as Greg speaks.

“Today, we’re here to mark the anniversary of Rose Carmen’s death,” Paige flinches, and I squeeze her tight, “but not by being sad and mourning but by celebrating the life she left behind within her daughter Paige Marino.”

The crowd cheers wildly, and Paige sniffles.

“Now this young woman has bravely agreed to do this tribute in honor of her mother despite not skating professionally since she was sixteen,” Greg announces as he looks around the crowd, “Paige was in the car with her parents that fateful day, and not only did she lose her parents, but she also lost her baby brother, Royal.”

I gently rub my thumb along her tattoo of her brother’s name as her breathing picks up.

“So please, can everyone help me welcome this brave woman onto the ice to complete a set that her mother had taught her before she was seven years old.”

The crowd cheers, and I press my lips against my wife’s cheek and whisper, “I’ll be right here.” She nods, takes a deep breath, and steps on the ice while my brother, Rhett, and Morgan come and stand beside me.

Paige skates to the middle of the rink, then brings her left leg out a little and looks down trying not to look at the crowd. I see her take a deep breath before a Taylor Swift instrumental ballad begins to play. She gently brings her right arm up and behind her body, allowing her body to follow as she glides effortlessly on the ice then lets the music flow through her.

“Oh wow, that was beautiful,” Morgan whispers as Paige skates backward and spins before moving her hands in time with the music.

Everyone in the arena is quiet, watching in awe as Paige jumps and spins mid-air before landing on the left foot. She turns before doing some kick thing and hand movement before suddenly, she’s picking up speed and is in the air again, her ankles locked, and my mouth parts at how flawlessly she looks as she lands on the ice without fault.

“Oh my god,” Morgan gasps as she moves forward, she brings her left leg up behind her and grabs hold of the blade while holding her other hand out before suddenly she twists, drops her leg and stakes backward with speed then jumps mid-air again all while keeping a soft look on her face.

“She never should have quit skating,” Roman rasps.

I nod but keep my eyes on Paige as she lands perfectly again and brings her left arm behind her body, posing. She picks up speed before kneeling on the ice while still gliding, bringing her right hand up and back behind her, her eyes closed.

"Fuck, imagine the boys trying that," Roman mutters from beside me, and Rhett snorts while I grin because yeah, that shit would be funny to see.

“Maybe I can convince Coach to allow Paige to try and teach them,” I mutter and the others chuckle.

Paige stands then twits, skating forward again all while in beat with the song, her feet shoulder-width apart, then leaps off theice into a jump before landing perfectly then goes into spin, her body slightly bent as her speed picks up before she slows down.

Rhett mutters, “Fuck, I haven’t seen her do that move before…”

Paige breathes heavily as she looks down and slows the spin to a stop and poses how she started. The crowd goes wild around us as the announcer shouts, “Rose Carmen's daughter Paige Marino, ladies and gentlemen, the future gold-winning figure skater.”

Paige doesn’t move just yet, her eyes still shut, her chest moving quickly and Morgan rasps, “Oh god, I think she’s about to break. She can hear the crowd, but she knows when she looks up, her parents and little brother won’t be in those stands.”

I take a step forward so I’m in the light, and she can see me and mutter, “Look up, little fairy,” then wait.

I know she can feel my eyes on her, she needs a minute.

“Dante,” Roman says, but I put my hand up and wait.

“Three seconds,” I say, and just as I say the words, Paige looks up a little, and we lock eyes. They’re teary but the happiness that radiates, fuck…

I grin at her wide and begin to clap now that I know she’s with me then whistle loudly and shout, “That’s my fucking girl,” causing Roman, Rhett, and Morgan to follow suit. She gives me a watery smile as she gently stands straight and turns to the crowd then bows, causing the crowd to cheer louder.

“That’s our girl,” Rhett cheers beside me while Morgan sniffles and hands me the multicolored rose bouquet.

“Go get her,” she rasps, and I nod and kiss her cheek before walking out onto the ice. The crowd scream when they see me, and Paige turns my way. I can’t keep the smile off my face, and as I gain on her, her body physically relaxes.

She smiles a watery smile at me, and I pass her the flowers before wrapping my arms around her waist and lifting her slightly.

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