Page 56 of Switching Skates

I’ve always envied their relationship, especially since Daphne and I have been apart.

I miss the closeness with Daphne that I used to have, the ability to read her mind with a simple look. But her defense system has been up for a while now, and unless she wants me to see past it, there’s no way around it.

“I love you too, Maeve,” I say genuinely because I mean it.

“I have to pee so bad.” She spins on her heel and walks away, heading toward the bathroom, dancing side to side.

It takes me a moment to recover from the whiplash of that conversation. My gaze wanders through the room before looking through the window and landing on the swing outside.

Daphne’s on the porch, swinging slowly, and I think it’s high time that I join her. I told her I was just running to the bathroom, which I was, but I got a bit distracted with the mess in here and with Maeve.

I can feel the buzz from the White Claw—the only gluten-free drink we had—as I walk back outside, snagging a throw blanket and tossing it over my shoulder. I tuck my hands in my hoodie pocket as a shiver runs through me. There’s a bit of a cool breeze tonight, but I think the weather is perfect.

Daphne grins at me as I approach. “There must’ve been a line.”

“Wrapped around the whole house.” I smile, dropping down on the bench seat next to her, my feet dangling above the porch.

Fluffing the blanket up, I drape it over us. “Thought we might be able to use this.”

She snuggles beneath it instantly, scooting closer to me, and my heart rate spikes.

“Perfect. I was getting a little cold.”

“Glad I could help.” I fight the urge to put my arm around her shoulders—for many reasons.

We swing in silence for the next couple of minutes, watching the sky and lake. Her leg bumps into mine, and goose bumps erupt from the contact. I expect her to pull away, but she doesn’t. If anything, she scoots even closer.

A tension builds between us, our bodies drifting closer together until there’s no space and we’re pressed against one another.

She continues to rock us back and forth with her feet on the ground as music hums through the house from inside.

“Tell me something,” she murmurs softly, not looking away from the calm lake.

“What do you want to know?” I ask, prepared to tell her anything.

“What’s something that scares you?” she asks, tucking her legs up into her chest and wrapping her arms around them.

A thousand things come to mind, but there’s one answer above the rest. “That when this is over, you’ll never talk to me again.”

“Mason.” She exhales my name painfully, her eyes falling shut.

I shrug. “That’s not a crazy assumption, Daph.” I pause, taking a shaky breath. “And I couldn’t exactly blame you for it if you did.”

She tightens her arms and looks down at me. “I-I don’t know what I want.”

My heart skips a beat at the glimmer of hope she just gave me, and I have to physically fight the smile from trying to take over my face. That’s progress, and I’ll take it.

“I know what I want.” My voice is soft but firm. “I’ve always known.”

“You say that,” she groans and looks ahead, tearing her gaze from mine. “But you don’t mean it.”

“I do.” My words leave my lips breathlessly.

“You don’t. Or you wouldn’t have left before.” Her voice is barely audible, but her words sound like an explosion going off in my mind.

“I’m sorry for leaving the way I did, Daph. Fuck, I regret that every damn day since that night. I …” I trail off, gathering the strength to tell her the truth for the first time. “I was fucking terrified of loving you.”

Her head turns my way, and I mimic her movement, finding her eyes upturned and teary.