Eric Bittle (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
puckandpie) wrote2016-07-18 06:43 pm
puckandpie) wrote2016-07-18 06:43 pm
[mid-june] #15 & #1 back on the ice
Ever since Jack first mentioned wanting to try his skates on again, it's taken nearly all my willpower not to ask about it every single day. It's enough to know that the desire is there at all after everything. It's been months and months now and I was really starting to think maybe he's given it up for good, but just one single statement had been enough to get my hopes soaring all over again.
When he'd mentioned it again a few days later, totally unprompted, I'd jumped at the chance, this time getting a projected day and time out of him and penciling it into my schedule. (And maybe moving around a couple other things to make room for it.)
To my delight and surprise, Jack hadn't even once attempted to squirm out of the date we'd planned and now here we are, walking back into DIA with our skates instead of our swimsuits and I feel like I'm about to vibrate right outta my skin with excitement.
"We can use my pass," I tell him, marching right up to the counter to have it stamped for the both of us. "I come here often enough that I get free skates all the time. And they'll even take music requests sometimes.
Melissa, the girl behind the desk today, smiles wide as I hand over my card and I feel my face flush a little when her eyes immediately slide to Jack and then widen with interest. "New friend, Eric?" she asks, all coy as she gives punches two holes in my card.
"Not new, actually," I tell her, stuck somewhere between nervous and smug when I look over at Jack. Even now, I'm not sure how much he wants strangers to know so I decide to err on the side of caution and smile at her kindly. "We've known each other for years. Went to school together back home. Jack, this is Melissa. Melissa, this is Jack."
When he'd mentioned it again a few days later, totally unprompted, I'd jumped at the chance, this time getting a projected day and time out of him and penciling it into my schedule. (And maybe moving around a couple other things to make room for it.)
To my delight and surprise, Jack hadn't even once attempted to squirm out of the date we'd planned and now here we are, walking back into DIA with our skates instead of our swimsuits and I feel like I'm about to vibrate right outta my skin with excitement.
"We can use my pass," I tell him, marching right up to the counter to have it stamped for the both of us. "I come here often enough that I get free skates all the time. And they'll even take music requests sometimes.
Melissa, the girl behind the desk today, smiles wide as I hand over my card and I feel my face flush a little when her eyes immediately slide to Jack and then widen with interest. "New friend, Eric?" she asks, all coy as she gives punches two holes in my card.
"Not new, actually," I tell her, stuck somewhere between nervous and smug when I look over at Jack. Even now, I'm not sure how much he wants strangers to know so I decide to err on the side of caution and smile at her kindly. "We've known each other for years. Went to school together back home. Jack, this is Melissa. Melissa, this is Jack."
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"Bitty," I say quietly, giving him a crooked smile as I lean a bit. "When I look at you I see someone kind and brave and smart, someone handsome and talented. I see an amazing friend and partner. I see someone who lights up a room simply by being in it."
After leaning in to give him a light kiss, right there on the ice, I keep speaking. "You have no idea how much that light means to me, Bits."
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"Jack," I breathe, but he's already kissing me, just a light brush of his lips against mine.
No one's ever said anything so amazing about me in all my life and, for a long moment I can't say anything at all. There are three very distinct words I want to say, but even now, even after all that, I'm worried it's too soon. We've only been officially dating for a few months and the very last thing I want is to scare him off.
Oh, but how that feeling burns in my chest.
So instead I reach up to cradle his face, holding him there as I press another kiss. And another, just because I can. "As selfish as it is, I'm so, so glad you're here," I tell him, bumping my nose against his lightly. "I can't even tell you how happy you've made me these past few months."