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I did not want to fall and bruise my butt. Not only would I embarrass myself, but I’d also be sore.
“You can trust me,” he coaxed. His green eyes were encouraging.
I placed one foot onto the hardwood rink and immediately felt myself slip. I reached out, grabbing the half-wall that separated the rink, from the carpeted area.
“Olivia,” Trace warned.
I whimpered, letting go of the wall, and latched onto his arm.
I’m sure we looked strange, with him holding my left hand in his right, and me gripping his right forearm.
Trace made a face as my nails dug into his skin.
“I told you, I won’t let you fall,” he looked into my eyes. “Relax,” he added, soothingly.
Unwillingly, I let go of his arm.
I instantly felt even more off balance.
Why on Earth had I ever wanted to go roller-skating? I think I’d rather be pole dancing!
I held onto Trace’s hand like…well, like it was the only thing holding me up, which it was.
“It’s okay, Olivia,” he squeezed my hand, studying my tense face. I’m sure I looked like someone who just spotted a giant ass spider, but I couldn’t wipe the look of fear off my face. I hated that Trace was seeing me freak out like this. He didn’t know me well, and I didn’t want him to think I was a scaredy cat…which I was. But my father had made me that way, by sheltering me so much. Things that seemed normal to most people were completely foreign to me.
I eased off a bit on the death grip I had on his hand.
He smiled encouragingly.
I looked at the children around us. For most of them, this was probably the first time they’d been roller-skating. If they could do this without holding onto their moms and dads, then I could do this without hanging onto Trace.
I let his hand slip from mine and began to wobble.
His large hands clasped me by the waist before I could fall.
“I’ve got you,” he hummed, his chest pressed against my back.
I smiled in relief even though he couldn’t see. “Thank you,” I whispered.
“I told you I wouldn’t let you fall and I meant it. I’m a man of my word, Olivia,” he murmured and my stomach fluttered.
I had been attracted to plenty of guys over the years. I even had a few schoolyard crushes like everyone else. But no one had ever made me feel the way Trace did. The nerves and heart fluttering I felt around him were entirely new.
“How does this feel, Olivia?” He asked, resting his chin on my shoulder.
“Like freedom,” I smiled, closed my eyes, and let him guide me.
???
Trace didn’t make me skate for long, which I was grateful for.
It was okay, but I didn’t like it that much. Maybe, if I had tried it when I was younger I would have enjoyed it, but not now.
He helped me back to the carpeted area and I sat down on the nearest bench, yanking off the skates.
“You did good for a first timer,” Trace grinned, mussing his hair.
I laughed. Who was he trying to fool?
