Page 82 of Sugar and Skulls

Once we are on we take it slow. He scowls at me. “This is not fun,” he informs me.

I laugh. “We are just getting started.”

Then we fall. Him on his butt and me square on top of him. When our eyes meet he smiles.

Not a smirk. Not a half smile. A true, genuine, freely given smile.

My heart melts.

“I give up,” he says, still smiling.

“No. People like you and me, we don’t give up.” I rise and try to pull him to his feet.

Every time I almost have him up we fall again. Soon we are both in hysterics. “Oh my god. I’m going to pee my pants,” I cry, tears of laughter running down my face.

This is the first time I’ve heard Dirk laugh and it’s wonderful. It makes my heart happy in ways I didn’t know it could be. Eventually, we get to our feet and continue on. As we pass the sitting area I notice Raffe is watching us. He offers me a small smile as we pass.

I wouldn’t say Dirk is a natural but in the long run he gets the hang of it. He’s able to let go of at least one of my hands allowing me to skate beside him, instead of having to skate backwards.

As the skating winds down, we gather in the food court for pizza then we have cake and I open my presents. This is a day I will never forget. I’ve never felt more loved.

Everyone heads home offering me final birthday wishes. Dan finds me and asks if I’ll ride home with him. “Yeah, just let me tell dad.”

I hug my dad and the guys telling them I’m riding with Dan. “He has a surprise for me.” I jump up and down on the balls of my feet, excited.

They all chuckle.

“You guys already know don’t you?” I ask, accusingly.

“Go on, now,” my dad says. He turns me and pushes me towards Dan’s bike.

Dan is waiting, he hands me a helmet and off we go. However, we don’t go far. He parks on main street and hops off before holding out his hand to help me. “Okay, close your eyes.”

I clap like a little kid and then close my eyes, a big smile plastered on my face. He laughs lightly and then guides me down the sidewalk.

When we stop he spins me to face the buildings lining the street. “Ready?”

I nod like an idiot.

“Go ahead and open your eyes.”

“Dan,” I whisper.

“I decided it was time for me to get out of that godforsaken county too.”

I turn to face him. Tears in my eyes.

“It…” he drops his gaze to the ground and kicks a rock sending it skittering across the pavement. “It wasn’t the same without you.”

My eyes go back to the neon sign blazing over the building.Big D and Little J’s Tattoos,flashes brightly in the dusky, evening sky.

“I.. I don’t know what to say,” I whisper.

“Jesse Miller at a loss for words. That’s new.” He smirks.

I rush him, throwing myself in his big arms. “Oh, Dan. You’re one of the best things to ever happen to me,” I cry.

He pats my back keeping me cradled to his chest. “So, what do you say? Are we partners or what?”

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