Page 64 of Rematch
“How’s it been going?”
He shrugged. “About as well as it can go. The little asshole has a nasty attitude.”
“Hm, it must run in the family.”
Rolling his eyes, he picked up his drink and muttered, “Whatever,” against the glass.
“I am happy for you though, Max. Seems like almost everything is working out for you.”
“Yeah,” he murmured. His eyes glanced down at the diamond around my neck before meeting mine. “Almosteverything.”
Sighing, I averted my gaze. “You know, I never apologized for the way we ended things, and I-”
“It’s not your apology to make,” he cut me off. “I was being a dick, and you had every right to cut me off.”
“No, I mean before Jordan…” I sighed, averting my eyes. “You had every right to feel the way you did. I wasn’t putting the same effort into our relationship as you, and that wasn’t fair. If I’d prioritized properly, then maybe-”
“Nah, you made the right choices.”
“Did I?” I asked, my voice small. Looking back now, I wasn’t so sure.
Max grasped my chin and tilted my head back up. “Yes. I mean, you were at one of the best schools in the country, pursuing your dream career. Keeping up with me and my bullshit was only holding you back. You deserved better than that. And besides, we’re here now, aren’t we?”
I nodded. “And we’re older, more mature - well, at leastIam. I’m still not completely sure about you.”
His firm expression didn’t falter. Sincerity burned in his brown eyes as he gently squeezed my chin. “I’m serious, Audrey. Somehow, we have another shot at this, and I’m not letting it go to waste.”
Smiling, I scooted closer to him and wrapped my arms around his torso. I pressed my head into the crook of his neck as his arm squeezed me. “I knew you wouldn’t,” I whispered into his skin.
After dinner, we walked across the street to the skating rink. Outside, a neon pink sign with blinking lights spelling out the name of the rink. We blended into the small crowd of adults milling into the building. Inside, the lobby was a bright neonblue with a sales booth and a small open area where small groups waited for their friends to join them.
Max paid for the entrance fee and skate rentals. Holding my hand tight, he towed me through the crowds and into the rental and locker room. This one was neon orange with paint blotches of blue and green.
There, we picked up our roller skates from the rental booth and locked our belongings in one of the lockers. With our skates on, we wobbled out into the dark main area of the rink.
Loud music boomed through the speakers, rumbling through our ears. The skating floor was a large, rounded area with a glossy wooden floor and black walls decorated with neon-colored shapes.
The room was dimly lit with flashing neon strobe lights to fill in any hints of darkness. A DJ booth sat within the wall above the skating floor, playing popular pop and hip hop music. Arcade games lined the perimeter of the sitting area with benches littering the space. Beside the sitting area was a concession area with cushioned booths and glowing overhead menu.
Max wasted no time tugging me onto the skating floor.
I held onto his arm for dear life at first, still wobbly on the roller skates. I hadn’t been roller skating since middle school. The clunky wheels under my feet were familiar yet foreign.
Max didn’t seem to mind my grip on his forearm. He towed me along with him as he glided around the first curve of the rink.
I looked around at the colorful lights around us in awe. The songs corresponded with the lights, changing colors and pulsing in unison to the mood and beats. I watched the colors change from a bright, flashing blue to a gentle purple that faded in and out as the songs changed.
By the time we reached the end of the first lap, I felt more comfortable on my skates. Slowly, I let go of Max’s arm and glided a few meters ahead of him. The wind against my face, andthe smooth movement beneath my feet made me feel like I was flying.
Max glided a few inches in front of me. Effortlessly, he turned on his feet and began skating backwards.
“Show-off,” I teased.
Grinning, Max extended his hand.
I grabbed it, and he pulled himself back to my side.
For the next few hours, we skated around the rink, enjoying the music and vibes from the other patrons. All of it transported me back in time to high school when I was just a teenager, skating around with the boy she adored. I’d almost forgotten how light I felt in moments like this. It was like all my worries were lifted off of my shoulders.
