Page 30 of With This Ring
Hudson looked over at Dakota despite Gavin’s discussion of his week at work. She and Kayleigh wore stonewashed jeans, pink leg warmers, and similar orange fluorescent shirts decorated with pink peace signs. Their wrists were covered with colorful jelly bracelets, their hairstyles were teased up high, and they both wore copious amounts of blue eyeshadow. They definitely looked the part of 1980s roller girls.
“Hud, are you going to skate tonight?” Gavin asked.
Hudson turned toward his friend. “I doubt it.”
“But you were a great skater back in the day. I remember you winning all of the relay contests. You were the fastest guy out there.”
Hudson shrugged. “That was a long time ago.”
“It’s like riding a bike,” Jeannie insisted. “It’ll come back to you as soon as you get out on the floor.”
Gavin looped his arm around his wife’s slight shoulders. “That’s right.”
When Prince’s “When Doves Cry” started playing over the speakers, Jeannie gasped. “I love this song.” She looked around at her family. “Who wants to skate?”
Anissa took her mother’s hand and pulled. “We do! Right, Mommy?”
“Of course.” Jeannie gave her husband a look. “You’re coming too, Gavin.”
“And you too, Hud,” Gavin said.
Hudson shook his head. “But I don’t have skates.”
“They’ll give them to you.” Anissa pointed to the rental counter.
Hudson smiled at the cute little girl. It had been a while since he’d been around kids.
“Yes,” Gavin agreed. “Now stop being such a stick in the mud and come out with us. Let’s have some fun.”
“Yeah,” Anissa insisted.
Hudson couldn’t disappoint Anissa. “Okay,” he finally agreed. “I’ll see you out there.” He weaved through a sea of people toward the rental booth and paid for a pair in his size. Then he sat down on a bench and pulled them on.
Once his skates were secured, Hudson stood and scanned the area. The rink was now packed with people skating to the beat of a lively Madonna song. Gavin, Jeannie, and Anissa sailed around the floor, obviously enjoying themselves.
Hudson took his time as he glided toward the rink, dodging people loitering near the snack bar and chatting beside booths. He reached the entrance to the rink, stopped, and leaned on the wall.
Dakota whizzed past him. She had always made skating look effortless, and she still had the gift. She gracefully turned to skate backward, her long legs keeping time with the music. She spun again, and her dark hair fanned around her face. Even her over-the-top ’80s outfit complemented her tall and athletic frame.
Kayleigh joined her, and they fell into a routine of skating back and forth, sharing high fives before spinning and skating backward.
Hudson waited until Dakota and Kayleigh were on the other side of the rink before he stepped out into the flow of the crowd. He hit his stride and continued around the rink, keeping pace with the music.
When he wound up behind an older couple, he slowed, hoping for an opening to pass. Movement out of the corner of his eye caused him to turn just as Dakota glided up beside him. She glanced over at him and then took off, expertly weaving past the slower folks. Her moves were just as crisp as when they were teenagers.
Unable to stop himself, he followed.
She sailed past a group of teenagers as a group of older men appeared around her, boxing her in. She moved to the right, and Hudson caught up to her, their gazes locking for a moment.
Then an older man in front of them started to teeter, his arms flailing. When Dakota stumbled, both she and Hudson pivoted—but instead of getting out of the way, they crashed into each other.
Chapter 8
As soon as Dakota collided with Hudson, his feet went out from under him. He twisted his body in an effort to cushion her fall, which slammed him down on his back. Dakota landed in a heap on his chest, knocking the breath from his lungs.
“Oof,” he grunted.
He raised his head and saw her eyes were still closed. She hadn’t even moved.