Rosie

A week passed in a blur after dinner with Jude’s family and honestly, I was still processing everything that had happened. Elena had gotten my number and we’d been talking back and forth almost every day, texting about random things and the woman was really lively, interesting, and funny. I could see where Maya got her personality from.

And today was one of those days where Jude had messaged me earlier saying he would come pick me up and told me to take time off from the café which surprised me because he never asked me to skip work. He said it was a surprise and I’d been feeling giddy with excitement ever since, constantly raising my head to check the door whenever the chime rang.

Throughout the week our relationship had taken a turn that made my heart flutter every time I thought about it. We talked almost daily about everything and anything, texting each other constantly and it was funny and sweet and I was happy, genuinely happy. But those snarky voices still followed me everywhere like thorns on a rose, reminding me of the baggage I was still tied up with.

Maya chuckled beside me when I raised my head to check the door for probably the twentieth time. “You’re going to break your neck at this rate,” she said and I squeaked, not realizing she’d been watching me. Well, I was pretty agitated.

I couldn’t help wondering what he was planning or where we were going and my stomach flipped nervously.

Then I heard the engine revving outside and there was no way in hell I wouldn’t recognize that familiar roar. That was Jude’s baby and I grinned at the childish name he’d given his bike.

If the bike is the baby, well, I’m the girlfriend. I giggled at my own thoughts.

I quickly dropped the napkin in my hand and Maya chuckled at my eagerness. “Just go and enjoy yourself,” she grinned and I waved at her while walking toward the door.

She followed and leaned against the glass door and scrunched her nose. “Just use protection and don’t make me an aunt yet, I’m still too young for that,” she said in a completely serious tone and my cheeks immediately flamed up, flustered beyond words.

What did she mean? We weren’t doing anything like that, right?

I turned to look at Jude who was sitting on his bike with his gloves and helmet in hand and his ears were bright red while his nose flared and Maya just smirked knowingly at both of us.

“Well, I wouldn’t mind a niece or nephew eventually,” she continued while handing me a packaged takeout bag. “Now shoo.”

I trudged over to Jude completely embarrassed while he coughed awkwardly, also clearly flustered. My eyes darted anywhere but his face. “Maya is just being Maya,” he said and I nodded quickly, grateful he didn’t make it more awkward.

He removed his backpack from his back and moved it to the front, then helped me put on the helmet with gentle careful fingers. This gentle moment of him putting on the helmet and removing it was sweet. I hopped on behind him and immediately wrapped my arms around his waist, feeling his warmth even through his jacket.

Baby roared to life and as we drove through the familiar roads I finally asked the question that had been eating me up since this morning.

“Where are we going?”

“Somewhere for our first date,” he responded and his voice carried in the air while I could feel the rumble of his chest vibrate through where I was pressed against his back.

“First date,” I trailed off, murmuring the words while wetting my lower lip nervously.

“Yes, sweetheart,” he said and I sucked in a sharp breath at what he just called me.

My ears were ringing and my heart started thumping so loudly I was sure he could hear it. He called me sweetheart? Me?

“What did you just say?” I asked in a small unsure voice because I needed to hear it again, needed to know I hadn’t imagined it.

He chuckled lightly and the sound carried in the cold air. “Yes, sweetheart,” he repeated and I could hear the smile in his voice and I smiled too, unable to help it.

“But I don’t have a nickname for you,” I said while clutching his jacket tighter, feeling insecurity trying to crawl in because I didn’t make enough effort as a girlfriend, didn’t do the things girlfriends were supposed to do.

“I don’t mind, call me anything you want,” he said easily and I buried my nose against his back and sighed, loving how his scent was completely intoxicating, making my head spin.

When we finally arrived I looked around and saw the outdoor skating rink set up near the frozen lake with string lights hung all around it, making everything look magical in the late afternoon ~ evening light.

“Ice skating?” I murmured, my eyes darting around to see people already there and I swallowed. I’ve never skated before.

“Yes,” he hummed while parking the bike and helping me off.

I watched him grab his backpack and unzipped it before he brought out a pair of gloves and... “You were already prepared?” I asked.

“Of course,” he said with that soft smile that made my stomach flip. “I wanted our first real date to be perfect.”

We walked to the rink entrance and he paid for both of us before I could even offer, then led me to the bench where we could put on skates. He knelt in front of me without being asked and I felt my breath catch watching him carefully lace up my skates, his large hands gentle on my ankle.

“Too tight?” he asked, looking up at me with those warm amber eyes.

I shook my head, not trusting my voice. This looked romantic.

He finished with mine then quickly did his own before standing and stepping onto the ice, skating backward easily while I gripped the edge of the rink and refused to let go.

“I’m going to fall,” I said nervously, staring at the smooth ice.

“Not if I’m holding you,” he said while extending his hand toward me with an encouraging smile. “I’ve got you, sweetheart.”

That nickname again made my heart stutter and I took his hand, carefully stepping onto the ice. Immediately my ankles wobbled and I grabbed onto him with both hands, holding tight.

He laughed fondly, steadying me with his hands on my waist. “Try to stand properly first.”

I was looking down at my feet, watching them betray me, when his voice made me look up. “Look at me, not your feet.”

Our eyes met and suddenly I forgot about being scared because he was looking at me with those warm, reassuring eyes of his.

“Now, small pushes with your feet,” he instructed while skating backward and holding both my hands, pulling me gently forward. “Bend your knees a little.”

I tried to follow his instructions and somehow I was gliding and my eyes went wide. “I’m doing it!”

“You’re doing it,” he grinned, looking so proud of me it made my chest warm.

I got a little more confident and tried to skate on my own but I immediately lost my balance and I nearly fell hard on my butt.

Jude skated over fast, concerned all over his face. “Are you okay?”

“I’m fine, just embarrassed,” I mumbled while he held me up easily with his strength.

But I was still unsteady on the skates and instead of standing properly I fell forward into him. His arms immediately caught me and suddenly we were pressed together, both breathing hard from more than just skating.

My hands were on his chest and his arms were around my waist and we were just staring at each other while the world continued around us. He leaned in slightly and I thought he might kiss me right there but another skater passed close by and broke the moment.

We both laughed awkwardly and he helped me get steady again.

We skated for maybe another thirty minutes with me holding his hand the whole time but getting better, more relaxed, and we talked and laughed and he showed off by skating circles around me which made me roll my eyes at his show off.

Eventually, he pulled me to a quieter corner of the rink, away from most of the other skaters. His arm came around my waist while mine went around his shoulders and we just glided slowly together like that, cheek to cheek and being close.

“Thank you for this,” I whispered. “For the date...”im murmured, everything was perfect. 𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆𝙬𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝒎

“Thank you for agreeing also,” he whispered back. “For giving me a chance.”

I pulled back slightly to look at him and found him already staring at me with this intensity that made my breath catch. His hand came up to cup my cheek and I leaned into the touch.

“Can I kiss you?” he asked quietly even though we’d kissed before, but something about asking made it more special.

I nodded and he leaned down, pressing his lips to mine softly at first, gentle and sweet. But then I made a small sound and his other hand tightened on my waist and the kiss deepened.

His lips were warm against the cold air and he tasted like mint and something uniquely him and I couldn’t get enough. My fingers tangled in his hair and pulled him closer while his arms wrapped completely around me, holding me so tight.

When we finally pulled apart we were both breathing hard, foreheads pressed together while our breath mixed in visible puffs in the cold air.

“Sweetheart,” he murmured and the nickname combined with the kiss made me feel like I was floating.

“Jude,” I breathed out like a prayer. Enjoying the moment for now. And for once, those snarky voices in my head were completely silent.