Chapter 24

Giselle

My skates carved the ice, the cold air prickled inside my lungs when I breathed in, and my mind was anywhere but here.

“You’re looking good,” Coach Bailey said, sitting at the side of the rink with Emma, another one of the figure skaters. I pushed out of the center of the rink and glided towards them, coming to a gentle stop at the edge and leaning on the barrier.

“Thanks. Still don’t feel ready, though.”

“You’re never going to feel ready. Just about figuring out how to do it anyway without psyching yourself out.”

I laughed drily. “So just pretend it’s not happening and do it half-awake.”

“The program has to be all muscle memory by competition time anyway, so might as well. That’s probably why you’ve been doing well. Spending so much time thinking about your new girlfriend that you don’t even notice that you’re skating.”

“Um.” I shifted awkwardly on the ice. We still hadn’t really had the conversation about what we were… “I don’t have a girlfriend, actually…”

“Yeah?” She gestured back to the vestibule. “Got yourself a stalker then. Cute girl with red hair who’s been watching you practice. Might want to do something about it, she’s talking about you to Jordan.”

My heart picked up, and I glanced through the glass where—I hadn’t even noticed, I was so distracted daydreaming about last night, Primrose sitting in the vestibule with Jordan, the two of them sharing snacks. Primrose lit up, waving to me, and I felt like I might just die on the spot.

She was so good. Showing up to all my practices, skating with me, meeting my friends, letting me meet hers. It made my heart ache so badly, thinking how all of those things I’d shamed myself over wishing for when Andrea and I were together, Primrose was all of it and so much more—just every dream come true, and I felt like my heart could burst just thinking about all the things we could be. About all the things she might want to be.

“Giving some credence to the girlfriend thing, the way you’re looking at her,” Coach said, and I jerked back to reality, feeling my face prickle.

“It’s really not… forget it.” I waved to Primrose, pushing away from the barrier. “I’ll fit another run of the program in.”

Coach raised her hand. “Do it for her.”

Yeah, yeah… not like that wasn’t already why I wanted to squeeze in one more.

And just like before, there was magic to doing it with Primrose’s eyes on me. Knowing the way she watched like I was doing the best thing she’d ever seen, I felt like a goddess of the ice, and I came out of my best performance yet feeling like I could do anything.

I barely stopped to clean my skates and get them off and into my bag once I was off the ice before I pushed through into the vestibule, and Primrose darted forward from where she sat next to Jordan, throwing herself on me in a hug.

“You’re doing amazing,” she said.

“You didn’t have to come watch,” I laughed. “It means a lot, though. Thanks.”

“I just like seeing you, you goof. And you skate beautifully.” And Primrose decided to finish the job, because she stepped back halfway from the hug, put her hands on my arms, went up on her tiptoes, and pecked my lips, a swift kiss that had me swimming. “I’ve got to go catch my class, but I’m really glad I got to watch. Are you doing anything for lunch after your noon class?”

“Oh—probably just heading back to my dorm and throwing something together.”

“Can I join you? I’ll cook.”

“Yes, but I’ll cook. I want to spoil you too.”

She stifled a laugh. “You do every day.” She gave me another quick kiss before she stepped back, and I got knots in my chest seeing the way her eyes sparkled at me. “See you later, princess.”

“See you later! Just drop by any time after one.”

She waved to Jordan on her way out, too, giving her a quick goodbye, and then it was just me left alone to face Jordan. I couldn’t quite look at her.

“Hey, Jordan. You’re a big fan, coming here to watch.”

“I’ve got my session right after yours.” She stood up, coming over and leaning against the column next to me. “You’d know that if you weren’t too distracted with your new girlfriend.”

“Ah…” I cleared my throat. “I haven’t been paying a lot of attention to the ice schedule outside of my own blocks.”

“Hm.” She folded her arms, smiling. “I wonder why.”

I looked away. “Er… we’re not girlfriends, strictly speaking…”

“Okay, but that’s just because you haven’t had the conversation yet. Right?”

I cleared my throat, my hands in my pockets. Words were really hard to come by all of a sudden.

She laughed. “You’re so in love. Ugh. I’m so happy for you it makes me sick.”

I scratched my head. “Thanks, I guess?”

“She ranks way, way higher on the girlfriend power ranking than Andrea did.”

“Girlfriend power ranking. That’s a thing now?”

She ignored me. “You know it, too, right? That’s why you’re so stinking happy.”

Ah, what the hell. Primrose had just kissed me in front of her. Twice. While we talked about cute things. I wasn’t pretending this away. I covered my face, looking away. “Yeah… seems too good to be true. I’m almost worried it is too good to be true. Thinking the other shoe’s going to drop.”

“You have a really cute girlfriend who’s showing up to shower you in affection, and you still find a way to be moody about it. She’s perfect. Don’t ruin it by overthinking it.”

I sighed. “If I didn’t know any better, I’d say you’re smitten with her yourself. Are you gay too now? Because congratulations if so.”

“Oh, nah.” She scratched her head. “I mean, I don’t think dating a girl would be the worst, but I like dick too much.”

“Okay, I did not want to know that.”

“Maybe a girl with a dick? That would be hot.”

I put my hands up. “You know—godspeed, Jordan, finding that for yourself, really. But please don’t tell me.”

“Hey, you know what I like, and I know what you like. And Primrose is every single one of those things you’ve always been, like, all sad wishing you could have.” She grinned. “It’s cool when you bring your girlfriend around. I’m still trying to get Dale to, like, pretend he cares about me enough to come to skating practice, but no way. Don’t think he’s even going to come watch me at the tryouts.”

“You know, you could just go break up with him and look somewhere else for the penis of your dreams.”

“That’s so much work, though…” She slumped. “Wish I could have some hottie come skate right into my arms. You’re lucky.”

I did feel pretty lucky. And maybe she was right. Maybe it was okay to just stop worrying about it and enjoy being with Primrose. And even if the other shoe did drop, well… I’d had fun.

I shot off some emails on my way to class, going scanning through some forms for the honors society, and I was the first person into the classroom, as if I could get out of it and into Primrose’s arms sooner if I got in sooner. Even sent off a text to Dad asking if we’d heard back anything from Sanchez—not really relevant to me, but just to let him know I was on board with things.

And of course, one to the girl who was front and center in my thoughts. About to have my quiz! I’ll let you know if I fail and humiliate myself.

She replied right away. uh-huh I look forward to hearing about your 96 and how you’re a bit disappointed with yourself

Ouch. Called out. Still, I wouldn’t be surprised if I did fail—all I had was Primrose on my mind—but it turned out I’d studied too hard. Professor handed us a gimme quiz, and I handed it back in ten minutes after having checked a dozen times to make sure I wasn’t missing anything and it really was that easy.

Everything got cleared up with the email scuffle at the honors society by the time I was out of class, and I exchanged a couple texts with my father on the way back to my apartment, keeping up with minor business. I’d barely gotten inside before Primrose texted me saying she was outside, and I went down to the entrance of the complex and opened the door for where Primrose took my breath away a little in a sleek, fitted black tank and loose jeans with a bold makeup look—and then took my breath away a lot when she fell through the doorway and pulled me into a deep kiss before either of us could even say a word.

“Hi,” she said, once she’d pulled back, her face flushed, smiling impossibly.

“Uh—hi. Want some food?”

“I mostly want you, if I’m being honest…”

I relaxed, feeling a smile play on my lips. “Ah… right here in the hallway? Feels a little exposed.”

“I mean, I’d still do it. But we can go up to your place first.”

Oh—was she actually propositioning me? Including in the hallway? I suddenly wasn’t as cool, and I mumbled something not remotely cool or suave before I led her upstairs.

And as it turned out, she was absolutely propositioning me. I didn’t get very far through the food prep before she pinned me up to my counter from behind, slipping her hands around to my front and up my shirt, and I was suddenly jelly.

“Um… Primrose, I-I have class at three, and the food…”

“So keep cooking,” she said, slipping her hand up higher under my shirt until she cupped my breast. My knees quivered.

“I am not getting anything done like this.”

“I believe in you,” she laughed, teasing my nipple through my bra, and I—Jesus. I lost my head. It wasn’t like I was saying no to this incredibly beautiful, sexy woman feeling me up—

Somehow, I didn’t bring my best cooking game. But by the time I finished the food, I didn’t give a damn if it was even fit for a dog to eat—Primrose’s hands exploring my thighs, teasing across my face and over my lips, and feeling along the front of my pants right where I needed her, she was the only thing that existed, and it was a wonder I could even see straight long enough to finish cooking. I turned off the stovetop for the last thing to go, and she gave me what I needed right away—unbuttoned my pants and reached her hand down inside, fingers working over where I was most sensitive, and my gasps and—frankly undignified cries filled the room as she gave me what could only be described as a quick, dirty fuck from behind.

Turned out this was exactly what I’d needed. I tried to be quick with her, too, once she had me on my knees in front of her, but I couldn’t help taking my time just a little bit.

I didn’t mind that we had to rush eating the food just a little bit.

“Sorry,” Primrose laughed, once we were both cleaned up and dressed again, but that satisfied smile and warm flush on her face said she wasn’t sorry in the slightest. “Maybe I got too excited.”

“You’re not sorry, and I don’t want you to be, but I should probably eat quickly, at least.”

She licked her lips, suppressing a smile. “You already did. It was great.”

I choked on my first spoonful of food. “Uh—that’s not quite what I—I mean, it was.”

She laughed. “How was the quiz, by the way? You didn’t say, which I assume means it was so easy for you that you checked a million times to make sure the pages weren’t double-sided and you’re getting a hundred percent.”

“Uh… I, uh, don’t know if I’m getting a hundred.”

She laughed, nudging my foot playfully under the table. “God, you’re so predictable. Do you have plans tonight?”

“Only in that I’m hoping they involve you.”

She grinned. “Good. Little dance thing happening on campus tonight, kind of an open-mic… uh… it’s grungy but Ava and Tan are going to be there, so they’ve been bugging me about going too.”

“I’m cool with some grunge. We can balance out that I took you to a corporate event in a Hilton event space to talk about mountain skating in Switzerland.”

She laughed. “Yeah, touché. Um…” She looked down, suddenly bashful. “Okay, here’s the hard part. I’ll have to field a million questions about who you are, because everyone there knows me, so, uh… what should I introduce you as?”

“Oh…” I swallowed a nervous lump, and I tried to play it cool. “Whatever you like.”

“This is my whatever-you-like, Giselle. That’s not an answer, princess. I want to hear your actual answers. You know—what’s really on your mind.”

I let out a slow breath, focusing on my food while I summoned the guts to actually say it. “So—this is you asking what are we?”

“I’m asking what capacity you want to go as. We can just say friends if you want. And…” She looked away, raking her hair back. “Okay, fuck it, I’m asking what we are.”

I felt like Primrose didn’t curse much. It was kind of hot, all things considered…

I flickered a nervous smile at her. The urge to say well what do you want us to be was huge, but—she wanted to know what was really on my mind. I was being brave. “I like you a lot. I like spending time with you. I wasn’t expecting… any of this, and it’s all been really fast, but I don’t mind. It feels good being with you. Which is all to say that, uh… I would love to be your girlfriend, if that’s something you’d like as well.”

She beamed, her smile practically splitting her face it was so wide, eyes sparkling. “That’s so coached. Are you maybe a little nervous?”

“Oh, pfft.” I looked away. “Maybe just a little bit. Like a two out of ten.”

“Okay, because I’m solidly at like a nine or a ten.”

“I might have rounded down.”

She laughed, sliding her chair over to mine and pulling me into an embrace, resting her head on my shoulder. “You’re not kidding it came out of nowhere, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. And I’m, uh… I appreciate you actually making it really easy to know if I like girls.”

I squeezed her. “I had such a crush on you already. You know what that conversation was doing to me?”

“Ah… my bad.”

“You don’t feel remotely sorry.”

“I do a little bit. Maybe like a two out of ten.” She kissed my cheek before she pulled back, smiling sweetly at me. “Girlfriend, then. I’m going to be fielding a lot of questions about since when I played for that team.”

“We don’t have to, if you’re not—”

“Shush. I want to. A lot.”

Well, who would I be to say no to that? Primrose hadn’t been kidding when she’d said she’d show me off.

And I was really, really into it.