Page 41 of With This Ring
A clatter of roller skate wheels blended with cheers as the girls began their journey around the rink. Anissa quickly fell to the back of the pack. With her adorable little brow furrowed and her tongue sticking out, she raced with all her might.
Hudson’s eyes once again betrayed him, and he found himself watching Dakota instead of the race. She clapped and hopped around on her skates, cheering on the girls. She was mesmerizing with her sparkling eyes and her thick, dark ponytail bouncing off her shoulders.
Suddenly, she turned toward Hudson—and when her gaze tangled with his, his breath caught. She nodded a greeting, and he returned it.
Parker tapped her shoulder. She fixed her dark eyes on him before laughing at something he said, and Hudson’s moment with her was gone.
The racers came around the rink, and a girl with bright-green skates crossed the finish line first. Kayleigh shook the checkered flag, signaling the end of the race.
“We have a winner,” Brice announced over the roar of the crowd. He beckoned the girl to skate over to him. “What’s your name?”
The girl took deep breaths. “Suzy Darst.”
“Let’s hear it for Suzy Darst and the rest of the young ladies who participated in our first relay!” Brice said.
As the crowd clapped, Anissa skated over to Hudson.
“Did you see me skate, Mr. Hud?” Anissa asked him.
Hudson bent at the waist to talk to her over the claps and whistles. “You did great.”
She beamed. “Thanks.”
A few more races took place before it was the adults’ turn.
“Now,” Kayleigh began, “let’s have our women ages sixteen and older join us in the middle of the rink.”
Several teens and women skated to the other side of the rink and stood on a line.
Kayleigh scanned the crowd and then pointed. “Dakota Jamison, where are you?”
A few people cheered and pointed to where Dakota stood with the guy who couldn’t skate.
“Get over here, Dakota,” Kayleigh ordered.
Dakota shook her head and held up her arms. “Not tonight.”
Kayleigh rested her free hand on her hip. “Why are you saying no?”
“Unfair advantage,” Dakota called back.
“Does anyone else think Dakota has an unfair advantage?” Kayleigh asked the crowd, and laughter broke out around the room.
Brice took the microphone. “I think you need to race, Dakota.”
Parker said something to Dakota, and she smiled before leaving him behind and skating over to join the race.
“All right,” Kayleigh said. “Here comes the legendary Dakota Jamison. I believe you were the champion when we were kids.”
A blush crept up Dakota’s cheeks, and she waved off her best friend. “That was a long time ago.”
Gavin leaned over to Hudson. “And you were the champion of the guys.”
Hudson snorted.
“Well, let’s see who’ll be tonight’s champion,” Kayleigh said. “Line up now, ladies.”
The contenders did as they were told, and Brice took control of the microphone.