Page 58 of Stick Side
Ben:So, what does your day look like? Is there any way I might entice you to spend some more time with me today?
Melody:I think that could be arranged. I’m just finishing up breakfast with my dad, but I should be free in an hour or so.
Ben:Do you think you might be interested in joining me and some of the guys for an escape room? For full disclosure, we’llbe accompanied by some of the youth from the team’s Learn to Skate outreach program. I’d love to spend some more one-on-one time with you, but my schedule is crazy again this week and I don’t want to miss the opportunity to see you if you might be interested.
Melody:That sounds fun. I’ve never done an escape room before. Are you sure it would be okay for me to crash a team event, though?
Ben:Interesting you should ask. I woke up this morning to an email from our all-knowing PR manager informing me that there was an extra spot in our reservation if I wanted to bring a plus-one.
Melody:Of course she did. I shouldn’t even be surprised. Shawna is practically omnipotent.
Ben:A fact for which I find myself feeling most grateful this morning.
Melody:Me, too. *blushing emoji
Ben:So, you’ll come with me?
Melody:I will. It should be fun.
Ben:I’ll pick you up at your place in a few hours?
Melody:Sounds perfect. See you then.
Ben:See you then, beautiful.
Chapter 27
Ben
Therewassomethingabouthaving an incredible woman by one’s side that managed to elevate the ordinary into the extraordinary. As Ben walked into Escapism, Melody’s hand in his, he could barely believe how lucky he was.
It wasn’t a particularly nice day. It was overcast with the threat of rainfall, but he felt on top of the world. The pre-rain mist felt fresh and cleansing. The deafening sounds of the city seemed to shout out a welcome. Even the heavily trafficked roads and sidewalks gave him the impression of being part of a big, boisterous family.
Ben felt alive in a way he hadn’t experienced in a long time. The more time he spent in Melody’s company, the more he fancied he’d been gifted with some kind of enhanced vision that enabled him to see artistry and potential in things others simply couldn’t.
He felt in sync with the world around him. In his more fanciful moments, he could believe the planets themselves had aligned to bring him to this place.
“Thanks for asking me to join you this afternoon,” Melody spoke as she gave a gentle squeeze to the hand cradling hers.
He returned the soft pressure of her hand as though he were reciprocating a hug. “I’m just happy you could make it.”
It was still early days, but Ben could already tell he and Melody had something special. With time and care, he had no doubt that whatever sparked between them could ignite into a vast and wondrous blaze the likes of which he could only begin to imagine.
Melody continued to impress him at every turn. She cared deeply for the people in her life. She’d worked hard to find her place within a career focused on helping others. She’d acquired great skill in activities that appealed to her. If that weren’t enough, she radiated a warmth and goodness that made him want to close his eyes and simply bask in the sunny glow of her company.
He’d had to exert considerable willpower to pull himself away from their kiss the other night. Melody had felt like magic in his arms, but he’d seen too many relationships crash and burn because people had jumped into a physical relationship too soon. While he would have loved to take Melody up on the invitation he was pretty sure he’d seen in her eyes, he’d also sensed her hesitancy. She might have been interested, but he’d bet his last dime she wasn’t ready for anything more intimate than a kiss.
As much as Melody may have thought she wanted to take things to the next level, she didn’t strike him as the type to jump into a physical relationship. He’d had a feeling that, had they dialed things up a notch, Melody might have come to regret it in the light of day. And that was the last thing he wanted. Better slightly blue balls and a shot at forever than instant gratification and the ruin of the tremendous potential he saw before them.
Melody checked every box he had. She was a beautiful human who left him with an insatiable hunger to get to know her and uncover all her mysteries. It was almost embarrassing how swiftly she’d taken up residence in his mind and, he suspected, his heart. He hadn’t realized what he was missing until they met and the puzzle pieces of the life he longed for started to fit together.
He felt like he was in the middle of a beautiful romantic dream. If he was sleeping, he didn’t want to wake up.
“There you are!” Shawna called to them from across the room, jolting him out of his musings.
Melody glanced down at her wrist to check a watch she wasn’t wearing. “Are we late?”
“I don’t think so,” Ben answered, glancing down to check his own.
