Page 173 of Himbo Hitman
“Let’s do this!” Perry’s excitement is contagious; at least it is, until he pushes to his feet and almost as soon as he’s vertical, his skates go out from under him and with a quickmeepPerry hits the floor, ass-first.
“Shit!” I scoot along the bench and reach for him. “Are you okay?”
Surprisingly, a laugh wheezes from him. “Damn, that hurt. But it’s not like I was shot, so I’ll be fine.”
I groan and tug him back up onto the bench beside me. “One day you’ll take something seriously and I’ll die from shock.”
“Even more incentive to never, ever be serious. Ever.”
I can’t argue with him there. He’s perfect the way he is.
That sickening little rush of nerves floods through me at the thought and I flick a look at him from the corner of my eye. Every day with Perry has been an amazing experience, and for something I was half-convinced would fizzle out once all the action and excitement was over, we’re still going strong.
Very strong.
So strong that I keep having multiple thoughts a day like the one I just had. Thoughts aboutlovinghim.
And there are those nerves again.
I want to say it already. Just put out there that I’m in love with him, but every time I think about bringing it up, he either gets distracted by something shiny, or I end up in my head, convincing myself it’s both too soon and too late for the word.
I’ve just convinced myself that now would be a perfect time to say something, when Perry shoves suddenly back to his feet. The skates lurch dangerously and it takes about ten solid seconds of Perry teetering and slipping across the floor to reach the half wall dividing us from the people roller skating.
When he makes it, he looks back over his shoulder, bright smile taking over his face.
“I did it!”
“You did something.” But despite my words, I’m wearing a matching smile because his enthusiasm is contagious.
“Your turn.”
Well, fuck. I should have realized that’s what comes next, but even though this was my stupid, random bucket list item, I don’t actually want to try it. Perry went down as gracelessly as I’d expect from him, and I’m convinced that if I fall, it will be even worse than that.
All flailing limbs and possibly a cracked skull for my efforts.
I huff out an exhale and remind myself of my helmet. Like Perry said, it’s not a gunshot. If we can get through that, a little thing like roller skating shouldn’t be able to stop us.
Knowing just how easy it is to fall, I white knuckle the bench as I slowly, incrementally, put my weight on the skates and straighten. I’m practically holding my breath as I try to keep my balance against the wheels that are one deep inhale away from shooting out from under me.
It takes to the count of three to get the courage to let go of the bench and, arms extended awkwardly to the sides, I have no clue what to do next. Presumably, I need to move, but that feels ill-advised right now.
“Come on, Reilly,” Colin calls as he goes speeding past us with Onyx on his other side. Onyx was a natural at this—or was as a kid, I don’t know—and as soon as they were off, they grabbed both of Colin’s hands and took him with them.
It’s hard not to glare at the showoffs as they disappear with the small crowd of people.
“Here.” Perry grips the half wall with one hand and reaches the other toward me. It barely extends halfway and there’s still a lot of ground to cover for someone determined not to move. “Just sort of … shuffle your feet.”
Given I saw what shuffling his feet did for him, I’ll skip that advice.
Right. Move.
I nudge one foot forward but it goes too fast and when I correct with my other, they threaten to go in opposite directions and it takes a moment of wobbling to get myself figured out.
This is the dumbest thing I’ve ever done and that includes knowingly running into danger to protect the guy I kinda liked.
I remind myself that turned out for the best and this will too.
As soon as I’ve slid/rolled/wobbled/shuffled close enough, my hand closes over Perry’s. He grips tight and yanks me toward him. For one terrifying moment I go too fast, sure I’m about to fall, when Perry’s arms are there. He wraps me up in them and like every time he holds me, I’m in the greatest place on Earth.
