2brown-eyes rocks this pre-reader thing!
Step by Step—New Kids on the Block
Cat's in the Cradle—Ugly Kid Joe
Vogue—Madonna
Blaze of Glory—Bon Jovi
The top is down on Alice's Mustang, and we're on the way to the rink. It's been a rough summer so far, so it feels good to fall into old habits and visit some of our favorite haunts.
Ugly Kid Joe blares through the speakers, and my hands are waving in the air as we yell the lyrics…
He learned to walk while I was away
And he was talking 'fore I knew it, and as he grew
He'd say "I'm gonna be like you, Dad"
"You know I'm gonna be like you"
The parking lot is packed, and familiar faces turn to wave or yell at us as we drive past before whipping into a spot beside Jasper's Pinto. I reduce the radio to background noise and get up on my knees, giving Mase a once-over as Alice shifts into park and kills the engine.
"'Sup, Mase," I say, smirking as I run my eyes over his black tank and skin-tight acid-washed jeans. "I sure hope you can skate as well as you dress."
"I do all right." He smirks right back, his eyes roving down my body as I open the door and step out.
My stomach flutters.
And it takes me a second to realize what's happening.
We're flirting.
And I'm okay with it.
Like it, even.
Alice practically drags me away from him as soon as the doors open. "Damn, B. It looks like you were about to fuck in the back seat of my car."
"Mase is proving to be a great distraction," I reply, giving her a side-eye.
We break into a fit of giggles as we line up to pay our way inside. "I'm gonna miss skate nights," Alice says, sighing. "I wish we didn't have to outgrow everything."
I huff a laugh. "Who knows, we might end up bringing our kids here."
"Shut yo mouth." Alice jabs me with her elbow. "This tight coochie ain't pushing out no brats."
I bark a laugh as we settle into a bench to change into our skates. The music kicks off with Vogue, and I shimmy my shoulders to the beat as I lace up my speed skates. It's shifting into Blaze of Glory before I'm up and heading to the floor.
The lights are low, and a few kids are already on the rink. I match my pace to Jon as he belts out the ballad, swaying from side to side and letting the lyrics move through me. Alice catches up on my second lap, and we match moves, skating in perfect sync like we have for years.
Thirty minutes later, Step by Step is blasting from overhead, and another body swoops in beside me. Mase twirls backward but stays off to my right instead of skating directly in front of me. He echoes the shift of my feet and matches my movements without it seeming like we're couple's skating.
"This is proper fun, innit?" he asks, rocking his shoulders to the beat.
I bob my head, shimmying my shoulders in tune with his. "You seem like you've had lots of practice."
"Too bloody much." He laughs, spinning to fall into place beside me. "Jasper wanted me to get your attention, but I couldn't resist a bit of fun first."
"Oh." I search the rink for my BFF and her beau. "He must be ready to smoke."
"Don't wanna get too trollied," he says, eyes on me. "I'm looking forward to spending some more time on the rink with a certain bird."
"Did you just refer to me as a feathered animal?"
"Birds are beautiful, majestic creatures," he replies, never taking his eyes off mine.
My cheeks flush, but it's probably from all the exertion. It definitely couldn't be Mase. I focus on my skates, as if I'm some remedial skater who needs to watch her feet.
"Thanks, I think," I say, glancing his way.
His eyes jump to mine, and he smiles. It's this part boyish charm, part full-on cocky expression that not many guys could pull off. "Well, I'm chuffed," he says. "My first week in America and my grafting is on point."
"Not sure what that is," I reply as we skate onto the carpet side-by-side. "But I think I agree."
Someone mentioned picturing Jere from TSITP, and yes, let's do that! Hahaha!
See ya tmr :)
