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I hold on for dear life, one arm curled tightly around his with the other out to my side for extra balance. I can do this.
Jesse moves, and by some miracle, I actually stay up. “Okay, this is happening,” I say, eliciting a soft chuckle from beside me.
“You’re a natural,” he jokes and I huff out a laugh.
“You’ve already used up your quota of lies, remember?” I expect Jesse to laugh again, but he’s obviously not ready for that joke. “God, I’m sorry. That sucked.”
“Nah, it’s okay. I just…” he trails off but I get it. I shouldn’t have brought the mood down.
We skate in silence for half a song and then I get the crazy idea to try it alone. I’ve been slowly moving my feet rather than letting Jesse drag me along, and I genuinely think I’ve got it.
“I’m ready to fly,” I say before loosening my hold slightly, while Jesse’s eyes flash to mine, his brows rising.
“For real?”
“For real.”
“Okay, I’ll let go on three. But I’ll be right here beside you. You’ve got this.” My chest fills with warmth, and it’s his words that give me confidence, managing to glide the second he lets go. I actually glide.
“Am I really doing this?” I ask, my eyes focused on my feet, hoping Jesse hears me.
“You really are,” he says with a smile in his voice. “I’m proud of you, Buttercup.”
My gaze shoots to his and I wobble slightly. Jesse reaches forward but I shake my head, trying to right myself. “It’s been a while since you called me that.”
“I know.”
“Was that my nickname before?” I ask hesitantly, giving up the idea of figuring it out for myself.
Jesse smiles, and it lights up his entire face. “It was. I gave you that name the first day I saw you. When I was fourteen.”
“Fourteen?” I half shriek.
“Yep,” he chuckles, sounding embarrassed. “That’s when it all started.” He shrugs while I bite back a gasp. He mentioned seeing me before, but I never really thought about it.
“And the nickname?” I ask, now even more desperate to know.
“I’d love to say it was because of the long blonde hair, the fact that you were forbidden, destined for someone on your own side of the mountain, while I was nothing. You know, likeThe Princess Bride. But the reality is, it’s because the first words you ever spoke to me, way before we met on that mountain, were ‘Chin up,’ and I remembered that saying, ‘Chin up, Buttercup.’”
We spoke? And he remembered my words?He only ever mentionedseeingme. My eyes widen as my chest fills with butterflies. The good kind.
“So, it’s not because I was a damsel in distress?”I’ve looked the movie up since realizing where the name came from.
“Hell no. You had this spark, and every time I saw you…” he trails off as I stare at him confused. “It wasn’t the damsel thing at all. That thought never occurred to me. All I ever saw was strength.”
I think on that for a moment. “I like that. Thank you for sharing.”
“Yeah, well, you asked,” he says, clearly embarrassed by the story he just told.
“Jesse—”
“You know you haven’t looked at your feet in a good two minutes, and you’re still skating,” he points out, changing the subject.
But he’s right. “I’m a natural.” I wink, picking up the pace…a tiny bit.
We skate side by side for another few songs, and when Katy Perry’s “Firework” comes on, I decide I really want to soar.
“I’m ready to lose the safety net,” I announce, much to Jesse’s confusion.
