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Chapter Twenty-Five
MACKENZIE
“Hello?” The voice on the other side of my phone was so soft and sultry that it sent a shiver through me. I could almost picture the cute little crinkle in her freckle-specked nose as she strained to hear me.
“Well, hello, Sunshine.” I smiled.
She laughed softly. “You know you live ten feet away, right? You could’ve just knocked on my door.”
I grinned even though she couldn’t see me. I wanted her to hear the smile she put on my face. “If you wanted to see me, all you had to do was ask.”
She huffed out a laugh. “What do you want, Kenzie? You’re interrupting my dinner.”
I wondered what she was eating. Did she cook dinner, or did she have it delivered? Did she eat super healthy, or just whatever she was craving at the time?
“Oh no, how ever will you go on? I just wanted to see if you were busy tomorrow.” I was always nervous about asking her to hang out, expecting her to come up with some excuse to say no.
I could practically hear her scowl. “Why?”
“I was thinking of going ice skating. Want to come long?”
The line was quiet for a moment, and I was preparing myself for the reason she didn’t want to go. “You want to go ice skating? And you want me to come with you,” she finally said, her voice soft.
“That was the idea when I told you where I was going and asked you to come.” I laughed.
“Okay, smart-ass. You know I love ice skating. Sure, that sounds fun.”
The breath I let out was full of relief and excitement. I couldn’t wait to see Fallon, not just to spend time with her but to watch her do something she loved. I was determined to do whatever it took to put a smile on that perfect face.
“Great! So, I’ll pick you up tomorrow, say eleven?”
She laughed. “In the hallway? Sure. Goodbye, Mackenzie.”
“Bye, Fallon.”
The next morning, I was embarrassed to admit just how excited I was. I loved ice skating, and honestly, I would’ve made any excuse to see Fallon. She was becoming a good friend, and I really enjoyed having her around.
“Hi,” I said with a smile, waiting at my door with a bag of banana bread and her favorite coffee. My eyes drifted to the small baby-blue duffle bag slung over her shoulder. “Do you plan on spending the night?” I asked, teasing lightly.
She rolled her eyes. “It has everything I need. Ice skating is serious business.”
I laughed. “Okay then.”
Her gaze drifted to the items in my hand, and I shrugged. “Sorry I didn’t get you anything,” I said with a grin.
Her smile was bright when I handed her the bag and the coffee.
“I’m starting to feel spoiled.” She laughed, her cheeks flushing slightly as she accepted the coffee. “Thank you.”
“You should. You deserve to be spoiled,” I replied honestly, my voice softening. Her smile faltered for a brief second, like she wasn’t used to hearing that. It made me want to say it again, to make sure she believed it. “You do, Fallon.”
We walked down the hall in comfortable silence until we stepped into the elevator. “You clean up nice,” I said with a smile.
She laughed. “I’m getting déjà vu from the last time we went out, but thank you. So do you.”
“Well, stop looking beautiful, and I’ll stop saying it. Although, I don’t think that’s even possible,” I replied with a wink, causing her cheeks to turn pink.
We rode the rest of the way, stealing glances and smiles without a word. It was quiet, but not awkward.
“I can drive if you want,” I offered.
She shrugged. “If you want, sure.”
We got to my car and paused for a moment. “Well, this is me,” I said, opening the passenger door for her. It was an all-black Jeep Renegade, the kind of car that looked tough but still had a touch of softness to it.
“Nice car. Thank you.” She smiled as she climbed in, and I gently shut the door behind her, the soft click echoing in the quiet parking garage. I circled around to the driver’s side, still feeling the warmth of her smile. The whole moment felt unexpectedly easy, like we’d been doing this for ages.
The car ride was quiet, the silence felt awkward compared to the ease of the elevator ride. A few minutes passed before she spoke. “You look cozy.” When I scowled, not sure how to take her comment, she added, “I like it.”
I went with black leggings and my favorite gray sweatshirt, topped off with a beanie and gloves. Casual, but practical. It wasn’t too cold outside yet, but ice rinks were always chilly until you started skating. But her? She looked like an absolute knockout, of course.
Fallon chose a pair of black leggings as well, paired with thick socks that went past her ankles, almost like leg warmers. The socks were black, white, and a hint of gray, soft on the outside and silky on the inside. She insisted I felt them.
“Oh my God, you have to feel this,” she said.
“Wow, they are soft,” I replied casually, as if it was totally normal to feel someone’s foot in your car.
When I asked her why she was wearing a dress, she just shrugged and said, “You have to look the part when you’re ice skating.”
“I thought you just had to be warm,” I said. She rolled her eyes at my clear ignorance on the subject, and I couldn’t help but wonder if she knew the thoughts that crossed my mind every time she did.
Apparently, there was a dress code. The dress she wore hit just above her knees, with spaghetti straps and pockets. It was the same shade of green as the shirt she wore to the arcade, paired with a white long-sleeve underneath.
“You are going to freeze,” I argued.
She just smiled, her expression softening as she tilted her head slightly. “You’ll learn,” she said with a playful sparkle in her eye, as if she found my confusion endearing. “Ice skating is not about being warm, it’s about how you look. And I won’t be cold for long, trust me!”
I frowned. “That is not how it works, but okay. Just at least tell me you brought a sweater or something. I don’t need this day to be cut short by a trip to the ER.”
She laughed and pulled out a cream-colored oversized sweater from her bag. She definitely looked like a figure skater.
“It’s nice to know you care about my wellbeing.” She smirked.
“Don’t get too excited. I just don’t want to spend the day at the hospital,” I joked, laughing when she swatted at my arm.
We had similar styles, but there were definitely differences. I was all about comfort most of the time—band tees and black shorts worked for pretty much anything in my book. Fallon, though? She always put effort into her outfits, like she cared about looking good. And, honestly, it worked for her.
“This is the first time I’ve been in your car. I don’t know what that says about me, trusting a stranger with my life.” She glanced out the window, her fingers lightly tracing the edge of her seatbelt as a small, playful smile tugged at her lips.
“It can’t be worse than letting said stranger fuck you senseless in every room of their apartment.”
She let out a laugh, soft and full of disbelief. “You have a very high opinion of your abilities.”
I tilted my head, letting a slow smile play across my lips. “And why shouldn’t I?”
Her gaze narrowed slightly, a challenge dancing behind her eyes. “Confidence is one thing, but arrogance? That’s another story entirely.”
“Arrogance?” I feigned offense, letting my elbow nudge her arm just enough to make her shift her weight. “Darling, I prefer to call it… self-awareness. But if you’d like, I’d be more than happy to help you test that theory.”
Her brows arched, a laugh bubbling up as she tilted her head. “Oh, is that so?”
“Absolutely,” I said, my grin widening. “Though, I can’t promise you won’t be begging for more.”
She rolled her eyes, but a slight blush appeared on her cheeks. “So, where are you taking me?”
It was the beginning of September and the weather was starting to cool a bit, but not enough to skate outside.
“I was thinking… Kraken Valley ?” I smiled.
“I’ve never been there. It should be fun.”
Kraken Valley was the biggest rink in the city. They had locker rooms with showers, a small food court, a little coffee shop, a game room, and an area to just lounge in, watch the rinks, and get work done.
When we walked in, Fallon’s jaw dropped, her eyes going wide as she took it all in. It was like watching a kid in a candy store, the way she lit up.
“The horses are to the left. There’s also a spa, if you wanted to start there,” I joked, trying to lighten the mood.
“They have horses?!” She looked at me, wide-eyed, and I couldn’t hide my grin.
“Very funny.” She nudged me with her elbow.
Before reaching the front desk, we decided to grab some drinks. Our session wasn’t for another hour, so we had time to kill.
We sat down, sipping our drinks as we watched the skaters. She went for a hot chocolate, and I had an iced gingerbread latte that was absolutely delicious.
I looked at her and smiled. “Warming up your body to prepare for the frost you’re going to feel in that outfit, Sunshine?”
“You’re so funny.” She smiled, turning her attention to the skaters. The kids were holding their parents’ hands, stumbling now and then when they let go, but quickly getting back up.
There were some couples holding hands and skating together. Some of the girls were holding on for dear life on their partner’s shirts or arms so they didn’t fall, and some were holding on to the wall.
After a few minutes, she broke the silence without turning to face me. “So, do you come here often?”
I laughed. “Are you hitting on me?”
She snorted. “I mean here, to this rink.”
“I’ve been coming here a few times a month since I was little. My mom used to bring me and Harper all the time. It’s the one place I can find peace, out on the ice, away from everything. I’m not an Olympian or anything, but I stay upright most of the time.”
She finally turned toward me for the first time since we sat down. There was something going on with her, and I was itching to find out. Whatever it was, I wanted to take it and hide it away so she would never feel it again.
“What about you? You love skating, so you must do it often.”
She shifted in her seat and her smile faded a bit. “Not as often as I’d like. I haven’t been since I was a teenager. I took lessons as a kid every week for five years, then my parents divorced, and it was a luxury we no longer could afford. Between working at the hospital and the bookstore with Dre, I just haven’t been able to get back out on the ice.”
“Oh, I’m sorry.” I didn’t know what else to say. She shrugged and quickly turned her attention back to the skaters, and I didn’t press her for more.
We sat in silence, watching the people on the ice, until I finally cleared my throat, unable to handle the tension any longer. “Fallon, is there something wrong? You’ve barely looked at me since we got here.”
“I just really like watching them, that’s all.” Her eyes flicked toward me once more, but she turned away just as fast.
There was something going on with her. Something she wasn’t telling me.
“This isn’t a date, Fallon,” I said.
Her brows furrowed in confusion. “What?”
“If that’s what’s wrong. It’s not like the arcade?—”
She grabbed my arm and gasped. “I knew that was a date!”
I looked down as she removed her hand, and I laughed. “Whatever! Anyway, this isn’t like that. I promise.”
She smiled and looked away again.
We sat for a while longer, just watching until the hour was up.“Well, it’s our time. Shall we?”
She stood up quickly. “Right. Yes, we shall.”
“Are you sure you aren’t a professional? You’re way better than me!” I shouted over the music.
I’ve seen all kinds of people on the ice—professionals, kids, and those who looked like baby giraffes taking their first steps. Then there was me, wobbling around and occasionally managing to stay upright without clinging to the wall. And then there was her—graceful, breathtaking, elegant. It was like the ice was made for her, following her every move and going wherever she wanted.
I finally caught up to her when she replied, “Yes, I haven’t skated in a long time. Guess it’s like riding a bike.”
“Yeah, I guess.” I laughed.
We skated alongside one another for a while, and after a few minutes, I sat down on the benches. My body wasn’t as young as it once was, and I was out of breath. It could have also been from the fact that I was watching Fallon glide across the ice, stealing my breath with every move.
“What’s wrong, getting too old to keep up?” she joked as she slid in next to me.
“It’s a workout!” I said, barely breathing. “I’m sorry we can’t all be beautiful angels like you.”
“I’m not an angel.” she blushed and looked away again, like she was embarrassed.
“Are you sure you’re okay?” I asked. I wasn’t going to question her again, but she had been acting strange, and I needed to make sure I hadn’t done something to upset her. Part of me felt a need to protect her, even if we were just friends.
“Yeah, I just haven’t done this in a long time, too long. It feels really good to be back on the ice.”
I looked at her. “I’m glad you came, but I feel like something else is bothering you.” I waited for a response, and when she didn’t give one, I added, “If you’re still upset about the other night?—”
“No, I’m not upset about that. It’s just…” She sighed before continuing, “I’m fine, really. Come on, granny.” She smacked my thigh and stood up, offering me her hand. “We’re wasting time.”
I gave her a questioning glance, but stood up and went with her back to the ice. You’re a few years older than someone, and suddenly you’re a grandma .
We skated for about another thirty minutes. She skated circles around me while I tried not to hold the wall, and practiced my turns.
Eventually, she slowed down, and we skated side by side for a few minutes. Without thinking, my hand reached for hers. She glanced at it for a moment, then took it and smiled. “Not a date, huh?”
I grinned. “Nope. Just making sure if I go down, I pull you down with me.”
She glared at me. I winked, but she didn’t pull her hand away, and I never wanted to lose her touch.
I wasn’t sure how she felt, but for me, this “just friends” thing wasn’t going to work. You couldn’t get close to someone like Fallon, really get to know them, and not want more. I needed more. Even if I didn’t know exactly what that looked like, I was willing to figure it out.
We were doing our last lap when she must’ve lost her balance and stumbled on an uneven patch of ice. It took her less than a second to begin to fall, almost dragging me down with her. We fumbled, and I quickly pulled her close to me and turned us, so she wasn’t the one to hit the ice.
She lay on top of me, our faces inches apart, breaths coming out in heavy pants. We didn’t move or speak, just lay there staring at each other. It wasn’t exactly how I envisioned her on top of me again.
“As much as I enjoy this position, Sunshine, the ice is really cold,” I finally said in a whisper. Unable to help myself, I shifted my hips slightly, causing her eyes to flutter closed for a brief moment. Oh, that was a dangerous move. We needed to get out of here and place some space between us.
She opened her eyes and cleared her throat. “Oh, right. Sorry,” she said, her cheeks flushing a light shade of pink. She stood up and extended her hand to help me up.
“Thanks. Maybe we should go?” I didn’t want to go, but I knew it was the smarter thing to do. I needed to get away from her.
She nodded. “Yeah, I think our time is up soon, anyway.”
The whole car ride home was quiet, maybe even a little tense. I couldn’t tell if it was because of the fall or if it was just me, overthinking everything.
We stopped in front of our apartments when she spoke. “Thanks for dragging me along today. It didn’t suck as bad as I thought it would.”
“You’re welcome. I guess I can tolerate you, if only for a few hours.”
She laughed and shook her head, walking toward me and putting her hand on my arm. I put my hand on her elbow, drawing circles along it.
She kissed my cheek and whispered softly, “Goodnight, Kenzie.” She looked at me, as if she had more to say, but the silence stretched between us.
I brushed my thumb across her bottom lip. “Goodnight, Fallon.”
“About the other night,” she started.
I looked at her and dropped my hand. “I know, it was a mistake. We already talked about it. I’m sorry I didn’t stop it like I should’ve.”
“What? No, Mackenzie, why are you apologizing? I wasn’t going to say that, and I started it, remember? I…” she stopped herself but continued with a whisper. “Wanted it. I’m really glad you didn’t stop it, but it wasn’t?—”
“I know… goodnight, Fallon.” I smiled and planted a soft kiss on her forehead.
“Goodnight.” She gave me a light kiss on the outside of my mouth. She pulled away slightly and stared at me with heat in her eyes.
“Fallon…” My voice was a faint whisper, and as I gazed deep into her eyes, there was no hiding the feelings I had for her.
Her reply wasn’t much louder. “Yeah?”
I licked my lips, watching her eyes trail down to see the motion and seeing her own lips parting in a silent breath. “Tell me not to kiss you.”
“I can’t.” Her voice trembled, and the words came out in a breathless sigh.
With a grin, I cupped her face, gently traced her lower lip with my thumb, and brought my lips to meet hers.
I could have gotten lost in that kiss without a second thought. Every touch made me crave her more intensely than before. It was bad. It was so bad.
I was losing my sanity with every exchange. I risked everything when I looked at her. I told myself I wouldn’t get close to someone, not after Rebecca. It was just… Fallon.
That kiss was just like our first. It was like I was discovering a whole new world, and I wanted to take my time and soak in every single detail.
My hands moved to her waist and I gripped tight. I wasn’t letting her go, not yet. She grinned into the kiss and gripped my shoulders.
When we parted, I took a step back and rubbed my hands over my face. Fuck. She had no idea the power she held over me. Hell, even I didn’t know. All I knew was that I didn’t want it to go away, and that terrified me. It would break me if I found out the feelings weren’t mirrored on the other side.
“What are you doing to me, Fallon?” I whispered. My body lit up with desire, like a wildfire burning only for her.
She laughed nervously. “What am I doing? What are you doing to me, Kenzie?”
“I think we should...” I shook my head, gathering my thoughts, refusing to say what was really on my mind. “Goodnight, Fallon.”
She cleared her throat. “Goodnight, Kenzie.”
And then she was gone. I went inside, trying to catch my breath. This woman was incredible, and I was screwed.
Table of Contents
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- Page 25 (Reading here)
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