Page 70 of Darkness

Jumping up in the air, I spin around, landing on my left foot and I spin landing on my left foot with my right leg out. I always loved spinning on the ice, it was something which took me a long time to learn, but when I finally did it, it was something which gave me a lot of happiness doing it repeatedly.

This is my world, and I’ve missed it. Would I ever go back to competing if I ever had the chance, probably not? Why? Because I haven’t been doing it everyday like I used to, I can’t do half the tricks I was able to do, this wasn’t something I did once or twice a week, no. I was in the rink at five in the morning training, then school, then back to the rink to train more. All I wanted was to be the best, I wanted to win everything I could. I was a whole different person back then.

I smile to myself as I skate faster to one side on the rink, there was a move I practiced for months and months. It was a move I knew I could never do in any competition because they had banned it. It was more for me. Wanting to prove I could do what they thought was dangerous.

I skate around the ice, gaining some speed. I know it might not happen, it’s been a few years since I’ve done it, but it never stops me from trying. Turning a little, and I go backwards, then forwards and backwards once again, and jump up to do a backward flip. Just like I thought, I miss my landing, and hit the ice hard.

“Shit,” I shout as the pain hits me. That’s going to leave a fucking bruise.

“Autumn?” Cain shouts.

“I’m good.” I get up and skate over to him as I smile. “I used to do a backflip with my eyes shut,” I tell him as I reach him and place my hands on his shoulder as I lean in for a kiss. “I’m guttedI missed my landing.” I rub my hip, because the pain burns at the moment.

Cain pulls me to the side and through the gap to get me off the ice, and starts rubbing my hip. “First, I thought we agreed all bruises on your body would be from me, and second I didn’t think you were the type to give up.” He pulls me in closer to him, and I see him quickly scanning the rink to see if anyone is here.

“I still have your finger marks on my hips from last night, and I’m not a quitter. I’ll try it again and again until I land it.” I move my hands through the sides of his hair, which always makes him close his eyes. He thinks I don’t notice it, but I do. I feel his body relax even if it’s only for a few seconds, and knowing I give him even a few seconds of peace makes me happy. “Do you have to go to the club, or can we grab some tea before I go to the shop?” I ask him, sitting on the bench so I can remove my skates.

“I can get coffee,” he looks away from me, and taps a message back on his cell. “Aunt Jane wants to know if you would like to go on a girl shopping trip, I’ve just sent her your number.” Cain kneels to grab my skate and helps me take them off, then he puts them back in the bag while I put on my ballerina flats.

“Can I go?” I ask, because I know what’s happening at the moment, and I’m not sure if he thinks it’s safe or not.

“Yes, I’m not stopping you from living your life, all I ask is you let me know where you are going and if you change location make sure you tell me. Plus Uncle David taught Aunt Jane how to use a knife, so if anything happens she can fight them off until someone gets there.” Cain opens the door for me as we exit the rink and go to his car while I process the fact that if anything was to happen they all know how to fight and protect themselves.

“Are you going to teach me how to defend myself?” I ask Cain as he holds the car door open for me, and I wait for him to reply.

“No,” one simple answer with no reason behind it, but I want to know why he isn’t even open to the idea.

“Why?” I might be pushing it with the question, but he might be in a good enough mood to answer me.

He looks around again making sure there is no one around, before turning back to me.

“Because you have so much brightness in your life, you smile while you sing, you ramble about things no one understands, you dance around the apartment like no one is watching. I’ve covered your brightness with my darkness. I won’t take anymore. I want you to ramble about shit I don’t understand, dance in the kitchen while you’re cooking, and sing, or make up your own songs. Leave the crazy side to me.” He leans in closer and kisses me, then tells me to get in the car.

He enjoys me rambling about nothing, no one likes that about me, but Cain does. He watches me, notices all the little things I do, and he enjoys everything. I don’t care what anyone says, this man loves me, and I can’t wait to hear the words from him.

Olivia Rodrigo plays in my ears, and I dance along to her music. I’m sitting on the floor of the window display and making up the coffee boxes I got from Cain’s mom. She loved the idea of coffee with flowers as an afternoon treat for your loved one to brighten up their day.

I designed the sticker which had both our shop names on it, and a color theme which is so stunning, and I can’t wait to have it finished so I can post it on our social media pages. I’ve been taking photos while making the boxes, so people know the shop has something fun coming.

I take the pod out of my ear when Katy waves her hand to get my attention. “You know the date I have tomorrow night,you think I should wear a dress or short dress?” I laugh at her question because she hasn’t really given me many options.

“I say the dress.” The guy she’s going on a date with was a customer in the shop buying flowers for his mom. I told her, he sounds too simple for her. She needs someone who will give her a ride, put her in her place when needed. She’ll get bored and then moan to me that she needs someone who gives her butterflies and not in the stomach parts either.

“The black one, I was thinking about that one, too.” Katy walks over to me, as the shop is quiet today, a little too quiet and I don’t like it. “You and Cain want to go on a double date?” Now that question makes me laugh hard.

“Does Cain look like the double date type? Hell, he hasn’t even taken me on a date yet.” Now that I think about it, Cain has never taken me out for dinner, I mean he sends me a gift every morning when I get to the shop. Even when I’m with him in the morning, he still gets a gift for me without me knowing and Katy gives it to me when I get to the shop. But I’ve never got dressed up for a date.

“He has never taken you on a date? I think I need to talk to that man of yours.” Katy shakes her head and walks over to the woman who’s walked through the door, and I get back setting up the window.

I stop for a moment and wonder what Cain would do on a date. I’ve seen him dress up smart, and I’ve seen him do all the amazing things people do after a date, but never seen the part in the middle. I grab my cell from the side, and send Cain a message.

Autumn-Rose

Can we go on a date?

I don’t have to wait too long for a reply, and smile.

Cain

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