Page 57 of The Comeback Road
When we finally pulled up to a vibrant outdoor roller rink, my eyes widened in surprise. I found myself unbuckling the seat belt, wanting to get closer to where the music was coming from.
“Wait until I can get your door please.” He circled around, opening it, but my eyes were still totally glued on the venue before us. “This is freakin’ amazing!” I exclaimed, my excitement bubbling over. It was the last thing I had expected, and yet it felt…absolutely perfect.
“Surprise!” Jace said, his grin widening as he reached for me to step down and out of the truck. His energy was contagious.
Once we made our way inside to the rink entrance that also seemed to hold a few seats that were packed full and a concession stand. The pulsating music and colorful disco lights were easy to see from where we were. I had to stop myself from bouncing up and down as we waited in line to get our skates.
It didn’t take nearly as long as I expected. Jace stepped forward and told them my size without me even having to say a word. He paid and guided me over to a bench, where he sat me down, unlacing my current boots. I couldn’t help but bite my lip at the sight of him on his knees before me. He leaned up to pull them off. “You’re going to love this,” he whispered in my ear, sending shivers down my spine.
Once he got me all laced up into my skates, I continued to have impure thoughts. “Lex, you have to stop looking at me like that. There are children here.”
I stepped onto the rink, wobbling slightly at first, but Jace was right there beside me, his presence grounding and exhilarating at once. “Just relax, Lexie. I’ve got you.” His voice was steady, the way he looked at me making my heart race even faster than the surge of adrenaline I’d had when I stepped into the rink.
As I found my balance, the world around us blurred, and it was just him and me, skating under the flashing lights. Jace moved with effortless confidence, and I couldn’t help but admire him and the way his body moved. “You make it look so easy!” I shouted over the music.
“Just wait until you see my best moves!” he called back, a playful challenge in his voice.
Trying to embody the carefree spirit of the music that surrounded us, I felt alive, vibrant. For a moment, all my worries faded away. But as I skated closer to him, I felt the tension that had been building since I first met him—the undercurrent of something deep between us, something life-changing. I faltered at that idea.
“Whoa there!” Jace said, grabbing my waist as I stumbled. Our bodies collided, and I felt the heat that radiated off of him, a magnetic pull that made me pulse in desire. “Careful,” he murmured, and then Jace was skating backward and holding me to his chest. I felt like I couldn’t breathe.
“Thanks for saving me,” I murmured, breathless. His gaze locked onto mine. The air felt thick as he looked at me.
“Anytime,” he replied, his voice low, and I could have sworn that I felt him in my bones. “Let’s take a break,” Jace offered, and I knew he was just as affected as I was. We skated over to one of the exits and found a small corner where two people could barely fit.
We were close enough there was a palpable heat pulsating between us that made it hard to think straight. “You’re really good at this,” I said, nudging him playfully. But my voice came out almost breathless.
“Only because I had you to keep me motivated,” he said. His eyes never left mine. The sincerity in his tone made my heart swell.
“Jace…” I started, but the words caught in my throat. I could see desire flickering in his gaze, a longing that made my pulse quicken.
“Lexie…” he said, leaning in closer, our faces inches apart. The world around us faded, and all I could focus on was the way his breath mingled with mine.
“Are you ready for round two?” he asked, and I didn’t miss the implication.
“Put me in, Coach,” I replied, standing up and taking his hand, leading him back into the rink, ready to dive into whatever came next.
The night was alive with possibility, and so were we.
Chapter Fifty-Eight
Jace
As we returned our skates, the laughter from the rink still echoed around us. Lexie’s cheeks were flushed from the wind, and I couldn’t help but admire how beautiful she looked, even with her hair slightly tousled. I swallowed hard.
“Hey, Lex,” I said, trying to sound casual as we walked side by side to my truck. “Would you like to come back to my place for a bit? I have something I’d like to show you.”
She turned to me, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. “What is it?”
“It’s a surprise,” I replied, not wanting to give too much away, and I silently cursed myself. I hoped she didn’t think it was some lame excuse to get her to come to my place.
“Okay, I’m intrigued,” she said with a huskiness that made my stomach flip. “Lead the way.”
As we drove back to my place, I could feel the anticipation building. I was nervous about showing her thewine roomas I currently called it—I didn’t want to name it without her. What if she thought it was weird or creepy? I had put a lot of thought into it, wanting it to be a space that celebrated Lexie, thatshowcased her strength and how important she was. But what if it was too much?
When we arrived, I saw Lexie look over the house in appreciation like she had the first time she stopped by. I took her inside, the familiar warmth of my home wrapping around us, and I led her to the back of the house—a room that had been empty when I gave her a quick tour last time, so she never saw it.
“This isn’t your murder room, right?” she asked as we made our way back there.
