by Taylor Rose
I cleared my throat again.
“Come with me,” I said, moving my arms to usher her towards me.
She cocked her head to the side and placed her hand on her hip.
“Why?”
I scowled.
“Let’s go. Just come on, baby. Go grab a jacket, walk your fine little ass out this door, and get in my car. No questions. No complaints. No bitching or whining. Just fucking listen this once. You got me?” I arched an eyebrow, daring her to fucking challenge me.
She sucked in a breath. Her hands flew to her chest, but she didn’t challenge me. She nodded her head yes and scurried away.
Turning my head, I waved Cooper over to let him know he could come over here now without getting his balls chopped off. He climbed out of his truck, slammed the door, and stalked over in a matter of minutes.
His feet stomped hard with each step he took, the thudding of his pursuit loud enough to be heard from a mile away.
He wasn’t wasting any time.
He rushed past me into the house, dipping his head in acknowledgment of my presence before skidding to a stop. His entire being was tuning in to the reason for him being here.
Little Aqua.
Aqua was sitting on the dining room table, her right hand twirling her hair around her finger while she studied a book sitting in front of her.
Her gaze was focused and unmoving.
Cooper just stood there staring at her with his back towards me.
They may not have a relationship that I understood, but I knew without a doubt that Cooper would die to protect her and I needed to make sure she was safe while I wooed her sister.
Figgy walked into the living room a minute later with a jacket draped over her arm.
She walked right up to me, stretched onto her tiptoes, and placed a light kiss on my jaw.
“Can we go yet, Charming?” she asked me, curiosity pouring from her gaze.
I nodded and threaded my fingers through hers, the warmth of her hand giving me hope.
I pulled her through the doorway and slammed the door closed, unable to focus on anything but what I was about to do.
Once we got to my car, she was bouncing on the balls of her feet with excitement. I opened the passenger door and waited until her little body was fully in the car before closing it.
The most important cargo of my life was tucked inside my vehicle.
I always wondered why men opened and closed doors for a lady. Now I understood.
They wanted to know without a shadow of a doubt that the person that meant the most to them was safe.
I took a deep breath before climbing into the driver’s side. This was a surprise, so I pulled out a blindfold from my back pocket. Without asking, I pulled the blindfold over her eyes and tied it into place.
She didn’t bitch or argue. Surprisingly.
Backing out of my driveway, I pulled into the street and started driving to my destination.
I interlocked our fingers together while we drove in silence.
I focused on the feeling of her skin on mine, needing to brand it into my memory.
There’s a possibility that this would be the last time she let me touch her and I needed to make the most of it. No matter what.
*****
Your life could change in the blink of an eye.
One second, you’re so rich you could shit money, and the next you’re dirt poor.
One second, you’re so high on life you feel like you’re flying, and the next you’re down so low nothing could lift you back up.
One second, your heart was exploding with love, and the next it was breaking into a million pieces.
One second was all it fucking took to change your life.
I should know.
I was a walking example of the fact that fate was a cruel, bitter bitch.
So going from one second to the next and coming out above wasn’t something I knew was possible. Until I met Kieran.
One second I felt like I was alone, and the next I felt like I had finally been found.
A miracle.
He was my miracle. I still had to pinch myself to be sure that this was my life.
This was why I was sitting in his car with a blindfold covering my eyes.
I trusted him with my life.
I trusted him with Aqua’s life.
I trusted him with everything that I was, including my heart.
The car came to a stop so I reached up to pull the blindfold off of my eyes.
Before I could, Kieran’s hands covered it.
I scowled.
I mean, what the hell was such a big deal that I couldn’t see it yet?
All I wanted to do was see.
Surprises had never been my thing.
“Almost, baby,” he murmured, his voice shaky. Was he nervous? Why would he be nervous?
My pulse spiked and my heart hitched.
His nerves transferred over to me.
He pulled me out of the passenger seat, but instead of walking with me, he picked me up and cradled my body to his chest.
I wrapped my arms around his neck and buried my head into his chest.
I took the opportunity to inhale his spicy scent.
His footsteps sped up until he stopped and pulled open a door.
A blast of icy cold air shocked my body.
The muscles of my body locked up involuntarily.
The familiar feeling flowed through my soul.
Panic clawed its way to the surface but I pushed it down, unwilling to let it ruin whatever he had planned.
We went through a couple of other doors before he finally set me down on a bench.
He pulled the blindfold off my face, and my heart started to race.
Kieran was squatting in front of me, both hands lingered on my thighs to keep me in place.
Looking around, I noticed we were in his locker room. Cubbies with jerseys and equipment lined the walls.
A smirk played on his lips while his eyes shone with fear.
There was a box sitting next to me with a note on top.
He leaned in and placed a kiss on my lips.
“Trust me,” he murmured against my lips before he stood up and disappeared out of the room. I was alone.
My heart hammered in my chest.
With shaky hands, I picked up the note on the box.
My name was written in scratchy writing on the front.
I flip it open to read it.
To my beautiful Figgy,
You gave me something I never thought I would have.
Now it’s my turn to give you your life back.
Trust me the way I trust you.
With all of me,
Your Prince Charming
I read and re-read his note. So simple, yet packed with so much meaning.
His scratchy and messy writing brought a small smile to my face even though I was nervous.
I folded the note into a small square and shoved it in my purse to keep it as a memory of what was to come.
Hands still shaking, I lifted the lid to the box and gasped.
Tears burned my eyes.
A broken sob escaped my throat.
I covered my mouth with shaky hands.
I almost couldn’t fucking breathe.
Almost.
Sitting in the box were my old figure skates. The skates that I competed with in the Olympic Games only a few years ago. The skates I sold right after my parents died because I was desperate for the money.
I gently picked them up out of the box, as if they would shatter in my hands.
My signature was on the right outside boot where I placed it to add more value.
Jesus Christ.
How? Why?
Oh my fucking god.
I had no words. Not a single goddamn one.
My heart constricted in my chest because that wasn’t all. I softly placed the skates on the grou
nd. At the bottom of the box was my routine outfit, the white and blue fabric sparkled as I picked it up and examined it in the light.
A sob broke free and ripped out of my chest.
Hot tears rolled down my cheeks.
Emotions I had trapped inside of me all of those years ago broke free.
The life I never let myself think about was sitting right in front of me.
Looking back in the box, I noticed another note on the bottom covering my tights. Placing my skating outfit next to my skates, I picked it up and read it.
A laugh bubbled out of my chest.
Put them on and follow the signs to reach me.
What the hell was he up to?
He already blew my mind by giving me something I never thought I would see again. He had already won me over, way before all of this, I just didn’t realize how much until this moment.
Deciding I wanted to know what else he had planned, I peeled my clothes off and put my tights and skating dress on.
The tights and dress fit me like a second skin. I ran my hands down the fabric covering my body, letting my fingers feel the familiar material. My eyebrows hit my hairline once I looked in the mirror. I wasn’t expecting it to still fit me like it used to. If anything, it fit me even better.
I never had curves before, but now they were there. The outfit showed them off perfectly.
My eyes were red, puffy, and blotchy. I didn’t care, I had no one to impress. Kieran’s opinion was the only one that mattered to me, and he thought I was beautiful no matter what.
I pulled my skates on, and after using my lucky kiss on the laces one last time, tied them into strong double knots.
I closed my eyes tightly and pinched myself before opening them again, hoping against hope that this wasn’t some kind of cruel dream.
It wasn’t.
When I opened my eyes again, I noticed an arrow pointing out of the room.
I followed the arrow as it led me down the hallway and into another room.
Three arrows later, I was standing in front of the ice rink.
Frozen solid.
Unable to move.
My heart was lodged in my throat, more tears streamed down my face and yet another sob ripped from my mouth.
There, in the middle of the ice rink was a small table set for two. Kieran was standing right next to it, his hockey skates on his feet. A dozen deep red roses were clutched in his hands and rose petals were scattered on the table along with dark blue colored candles. Twinkly lights were strung on top of the rink, casting a glow onto the ice which added to the already romantic ambiance.
Taking a deep breath, I used the back of my hand to wipe the tears from my face and wobbly stepped out onto the ice.
Slowly, to make sure I didn’t fall over, I skated over until I was standing in front of him.
“Thank you,” I breathed out.
He handed me the roses and ushered me to my seat without saying a word. Pulling the chair out, he waited until I was seated before pushing me in. He went to sit across from me.
Looking into his eyes, I could feel him. His heart. His mind. His everything.
Leaning over the table, he pulled my hands in his and cleared his throat.
“You, Figueroa Ryan, are perfection at its finest. Your haunted eyes pulled me in, snaring my body, mind, and soul from your first glance. I was infatuated with you from the beginning. You took my breath away. Your killer body. Your voice. Your laugh. Your scent. But, it wasn’t until I started to learn the little things about you that I became obsessed. Your spitfire attitude. Your headstrong mind. Your iron will. Your generous heart. Your endless love,” he explained, his voice cracking with emotion. “You pulled at a part of me that I never knew was there. Our broken souls knitted together, strengthening both of us. You make me stronger. You make me better. You make me, me. I didn’t just fall for you. You fucking tripped me. Made me face plant on the ground, bowing down at your feet. I never want to get back up. You made me love you more than I’ve ever loved anyone in my life,” he whispered.
I sucked in a huge gulp of air.
“I love you, Figgy. So goddamn much that it hurts.”
Giant hot tears poured down my face.
My heart was hammering so hard in my chest it was a wonder I could hear him speaking over it.
The final piece to my puzzle clicked into place, only it wasn’t only just my puzzle anymore. It was ours.
“I don’t care what you call me, labels have never mattered to me. The only thing that matters is that I need to call you mine,” he murmured, clutching my hand tighter.
His eyes bore into mine, trying to make sense of what I was feeling.
“You’ve always been mine, Charming,” I hoarsely replied. I smile as tears continued to fall.
He exhaled, all the tension and nerves fell out of his body.
“I never knew what love really was until you. I love you too,” I dreamily sighed.
“Thank fuck,” he breathed out. He was breathing very fast, but his hands didn’t leave mine as his eyes gazed into mine as if he were looking into my soul.
Neither of us said anything, the only thing that could be heard was the sound of our breathing.
After what felt like an eternity, someone next to us coughed to get our attention.
I jumped, surprised to hear someone else in the room with us.
Looking up, my eyes widened.
Standing in front of me was Jade Stonewall, my former US Olympic teammate. Laughter danced in her eyes as one of her hands covered her mouth, trying to hide her smile.
Damn, she looked fucking great.
“What are you doing here?” I squeaked out.
I didn’t understand.
She couldn’t stop her laugh, it was deep and loud.
Her left hand was propped on her hip, and she flicked her head towards Kieran.
“When he told me why he was buying your old uniform, I had to see it for myself,” she explained, nothing sinister or mean in her tone. “I always wondered why you disappeared without a trace.”
My chin fell down, making my mouth pop open in shock.
“I didn’t think anyone would really care,” I murmured, more to myself then to her. “I mean, I was the competition.”
Jade laughed again and shook her head.
“Being the best, means beating the best, Figgy. How am I supposed to know if I’m the actual best, without you there for me to try to beat?” she asked, shrugging her shoulders. “I moved to couples skating after you left, at least there, a win means more than just a win by default.”
Holy shit.
I started to hyperventilate.
“I… It’s not like… No…,” I muttered, shaking my head back and forth so fast that I had whiplash. “I didn’t have a choice,” I breathed out, horrified.
Jade skated over to me and placed her hand on my shoulder.
Her eyes pleaded with me to understand.
“I didn’t mean it like that, Figs. I know you wouldn’t have left unless you were forced to…we may not have been friends, but I knew you better than anyone else did.”
I nodded my head, and then shook it.
“I don’t like thinking we weren’t friends, Jade. Clean slate?” I asked, hoping for her to take my suggestion.
The only friend I’ve ever had was Aqua. I needed some friends my age.
“The Zamboni cleared our marks years ago, Figs,” she said with a smile. “I need friends.”
A laugh bubbled out of my mouth.
“Me too.”
“Catch ya on the flip side,” Jade exclaimed as she skated away, landing a double axle without any effort. “I’ll send in your dinner.”
Shaking my head back and forth, I tried to clear my mind.
My mind wouldn’t stop reeling. I couldn’t wipe the smile off of my face, as I looked back into Kieran’s eyes.
The last twelve hours seemed surreal.
I laughed again.
“How? What? How did you know and then do all of this?” I asked him, my voice light.
Not that I cared, but I mean, how?
There was no way I would have been able to find the one thing in the world Kieran loved and needed, and have been able to give it to him.
But he was able to do it for me.
He gave me everything I ever wanted, including him.
Finally, I was able to call him mine.
*****
Feeling anchored in place had never felt so good.
She loved me.
She. Fucking. Loved. Me.
Unbelievable. No one had ever loved me before.
Not my parents.
Not my foster father.
Not any of the women I had hooked up with.
Not any of my teammates.
No one.
Not even Cooper.
I knew that he cared about me, but loved me? Nope.
So hearing that not only made my day, but it made my life.
Falling was the scariest thing that had ever happened to me. Mainly because you don’t know exactly where you’re going to land, and even if you know where your final destination is, you don’t know if someone will be there to catch you.
Thankfully we were able to catch each other.
Figgy had always held me captive. My mind, my body, and now my heart as well.
My eyes were trained on her, looking over every piece of her body.
Seeing her in her skating outfit and skates took my fucking breath away. I had never seen her look so goddamn beautiful. It was as if she was made to wear them, as if they were a part of her.
Her smile reached her eyes, her teeth gleaming in the candlelight. Her eyes were red and puffy from the tears she had been shedding, her makeup was running down her cheeks, and her nose was red, but I had never seen her look more gorgeous.
For the first time since I met her, she was wearing her heart on her sleeve. It wasn’t locked away somewhere, it was out in the open.
It was mine.
She was mine.
The caterer that I hired delivered our food. We ate, eyes still locked on each other as if afraid one blink of our eyes would make this moment disappear forever.
