Page 42 of With This Ring
“To make this race more challenging, the first to completetwolaps will be the winner,” he said.
Brice gave his daughter the microphone, and again she yelled, “Ready... set... go!”
Kayleigh shook the checkered flag, and the women took off around the rink. Dakota was graceful and agile, not showing any sign of the knee injury she had suffered when she and Hudson collided last week. She swiftly moved to the front of the line and battled another young woman for the lead.
The crowd cheered when they finished the first lap side by side. Dakota crouched and pumped her arms, her long legs picking up speed. She shot ahead of the pack, then came around the first curve while the spectators continued to hoot, holler, and whistle.
Hudson couldn’t help his grin when his ex lengthened her lead, putting a couple seconds between herself and the rest of the women. She had always amazed him with her athletic prowess. It seemed to come naturally to her, as if she’d been born to skate.
Dakota glided through the next two turns before launching across the finish line, where Kayleigh shook the checkered flag. Dakota slowed and spun before crossing her arms over her short-sleeved green shirt, then worked to slow her breathing.
“The winner is... my auntie Dakota!” Gigi cried into the microphone, and everyone clapped.
Dakota hugged Gigi and kissed her cheek.
Brice took the microphone. “Let’s hear it for everyone who raced.” He said something to Dakota, and she laughed before he addressed the crowd again. “Our winner Dakota has earned herself a gift certificate to the snack bar.”
Dakota leaned over and added, “Where else can you find the best pizza ever? Am I right?”
“Thanks for the plug,” Brice told her. “At this time I need all of the men who are sixteen and older to come out here. Whoever wins this next round will have to race Dakota.”
Anissa pulled on Gavin’s arm. “You need to race, Daddy.”
“No, sweetie.” Gavin shook his head. “I’m not fast enough. Plus, I can’t risk getting hurt and missing work.”
Anissa stuck out her bottom lip. “Pretty please. I was brave enough to race. Aren’t you?”
Hudson snickered. “I think that was a challenge, Gavin.”
“You think that’s funny, huh?” Gavin lifted an eyebrow at Hudson. “Areyoubrave enough, Hud?”
“Anyone else?” Brice called into the microphone.
“Yes!” Gavin tapped Hudson on the shoulder. “Right here.”
Hudson hesitated but then smiled down at Anissa. He’d always loved skating, and he had to admit, the competition was fun. “Fine, I’ll do it.”
As he skated off to the starting line, he smiled at the sound of little Anissa cheering him on.
Chapter 10
Hudson joined the other six men who were ready to race at the starting line. He turned to his right, where Dakota watched him with an expression of disbelief.
“No one else?” Brice asked the crowd. A chorus of cheers went up when two more men in the audience decided to join them for the race.
Kayleigh took the microphone. “Let’s see which of you is the fastest. Now, this race is two laps, just like the one the ladies just finished. The first to complete two laps will be our winner.” She beckoned for Dakota to come over to her, and they both bent down beside Gigi.
Together the three of them chanted, “Ready...”
Hudson crouched down.
“Set...”
He bent his arms.
“Go!”
Kayleigh waved the checkered flag, and Hudson took off. Adrenaline shot through every cell of his body as he weaved past the slower skaters. He felt like he was floating, flying above the rink floor while he negotiated two curves and then headed down the straightaway. The noise from the crowd became background to his heart pounding against his rib cage.