Chapter Two #2
As wonderful as this unexpected evening has been, fear creeps into my mind. I can’t imagine—even if I wasn’t going back to New York—that Jace would want to pursue me. How could anything beyond this night be possible? But something in me wants to find out.
“Jace,” I whisper.
He freezes, his captivating attentiveness piercing through my hesitation. “Starlight,” he breathes, the new nickname sinking into my bones. His dark, maple-syrup-colored eyes take in my features with an almost reverent hunger.
In a few hours, I’ve gone from feeling invisible to feeling more seen than I have in the past nearly twenty-six years.
In his presence, my fears about my flaws and imperfections have quieted.
A tentative feeling unwraps, a wondrous thought emerging that if he were to see the things I try to hide, he’d celebrate them rather than tolerate them.
In the space of an evening, this man has done what no one else has been able to: He’s reminded me that I am worth someone’s time.
I think of my life in New York City and Birch Borough, the quiet ice rink sparking a revelation that allows me to be hyper-focused on Jace’s proximity.
Lately, I’ve been so surrounded by bright neon lights, the honking of car horns, the buzz of street vendors and taxis, the echo of pop culture Christmas songs, ride shares, and celebrities that I can’t think.
I’m continually among a myriad of people, yet somehow, he and I found each other when I traveled home.
Home.
I begin hesitantly. “Jace, I know we just met, and I have to go back to New York . . .” I trail off.
On his face is a charged grin, full of encouragement, but I see the sadness under it too. It feels like my heart is being set on fire with an ember of affection. In one evening, he’s done more for me than I can say. He’s rekindled hope. I didn’t realize how close I really was to losing it.
In the movies, there’s some sort of magic found in a kiss, even more so around Christmastime.
If a princess’s curse can be broken with a kiss, maybe my loneliness can be broken with one too.
And maybe Jace is the one meant to change my future.
My gaze returns to him, and my lungs expand with a new dream just from looking at him.
My next words are a surprise even to me. “Please . . . let me kiss you?” I ask, holding my breath as I wait for his answer and hoping he’ll meet me in the middle of this moment.
If Jace is surprised by my boldness, he doesn’t show it.
Any man with an ego like the ones I’ve been surrounded by in the company would’ve laughed off my request. They would have given a smug smile or attempted a smolder to seal the deal and push my boundaries.
Instead, he blinks rapidly a few times, a hint of moisture pooling near the edges as he gives a quick nod.
And the sight of that nod alone is enough for me to lift on my toes, wrap my arms around his neck, and pull him toward me.
Jace doesn’t hesitate. Leaning down, he meets me, and the warmth of his full lips on mine reminds me of why I ever held out hope for a love that feels like coming home. It was this moment right here.
The clock in the Town Hall chimes. I haven’t heard it ring at this time of night in years.
The sound feels like the world is affirming the magic that is unfolding for Jace and me with a sign echoing through the night.
After a moment, we break apart, and his breath is warm and sweet against my face as he places a kiss on my nose.
Somehow, that move makes it the greatest kiss of my life.
It was over far too quickly. And I know with all certainty that I don’t want to fall asleep tonight, still wondering what it would be like for him to initiate affection too.
As if reading my mind, Jace leans down again.
He pulls me even closer, one hand now on my waist as the other rests between my shoulder blades.
In the lights of the ice rink, I study his face, the hint of red on the tips of his ears and the bridge of his nose matching the brightness of his lips.
The evening flurries settle on his coat and nestle in his hair, melting when they reach his skin.
“Please, let me kiss you,” he declares into the night, repeating my words back to me as our combined breath swirls in the winter wind.
At the reverberation of his voice in my chest, my heart pulses to a changing rhythm. I bite my lip to contain my smile and give a nod as another chime rings through the brisk air.
He bends toward me, his nose nuzzling lightly against my own.
Gently, he tips my head to one side. His palms have memorable calluses, and they brush across my skin as his hands cup my face.
His fingers extend into my hairline, pulsing at the top of my neck.
With a sharp intake, I inhale, poignantly aware of the noisy world getting quieter and the sound of my heart getting louder.
I close my eyes to focus on the sensation of his breath fanning my face and nearly gasp when his warm mouth meets mine once more.
The sensation is as perfect as a Christmas light turning on for the first time in the season.
It’s a candle lighting a dark winter night.
His lips press against mine as if he’s painting them with brushstrokes of devotion, cataloging the bow of my upper lip, the edges of my mouth that turn up when I really smile, and the dip of my lower lip whenever I want to cry.
Whereas our first kiss was tentative and careful, this kiss is wild and free.
It’s laughter after a surprise. It’s an emotion you want to immortalize.
When he pauses, I nearly whimper at the gush of frigid wind that replaces the warmth of his face.
Before I dare to look at him, I swallow.
Jace pulls back slightly, and I see his eyes are closed.
A smile is on his face through his slightly swollen lips.
When he opens his eyes, they track every aspect of my countenance.
I’m inordinately proud that I’m the reason he’s been affected in this way. Hands still holding my face, his thumbs glide slowly from the curve of my jaw to the soft spot beneath my ear as if he’s memorizing the feeling of it. A shiver moves through my spine, but my throat feels warm.
“I don’t want you to catch a chill. My body heat can only protect you so much in this New England weather.” He gives an adorable smirk, and I want to take a picture and frame it.
I can’t wait to tell Grey that I may finally understand why romance books are superior to all other books, because they have male heroes who will forever remind me of Jace.
“When can I see you again?” he says softly.
We must have more time.
“Tomorrow?” I ask as we look out to the ice rink before us. I imagine how it’ll look when it’s full again, with Christmas music blaring and families skating.
“Here?” he counters, a smile playing on his lips.
I nod. “Seven o’clock?”
“Okay, tomorrow at seven.”
And suddenly, I have a date tomorrow at seven. I’ll be counting down the minutes.
I wrap my arms tighter around him and peek up.
His face is turned down to me, his arms holding my fragile frame up.
I’m the glass ornament on the Christmas tree, and he’s the bear in the forest, yet somehow, I know I’ve never been so safe.
I believe that every heartache I’ve ever felt may have been worth it if it led me here.
“Should we . . . I don’t know . . . exchange numbers or something?” I ask, happiness moving through my spine at the thought of being able to text him.
He looks up to the sky for a moment. “Do you believe in fate?”
I follow his gaze and see the stars greeting us one by one, twinkling brighter the longer I focus on them. “I believe there’s a magic to the world if we believe in it. Is that enough for you?”
“Hmm,” he muses. “I have a feeling that you’ll always be enough. But I think tonight was proof that there’s some sort of magic at work. Maybe it’s the only magic I’ll ever need. I’ll never forget this night, Ivy,” Jace says with all sincerity, the weight of the truth between us.
I’m terrified to dim the light surrounding us. “Jace, I really do have to go back to New York after New Year’s.”
He hums. “I figured as much. But there’s something between us. I know you feel it too. I’m confident we can make it work.”
“How are you so sure?”
“Because seeing you for the first time shifted something inside me. I’ve never met a woman, talked with her for hours, and wanted to kiss her like I’ve kissed you tonight.”
My hands reach to grip the front of his coat, needing to be closer to him while I can. He lets out an appreciative sound.
“I think that nothing could ever feel the same again without you.”
His words illuminate me. This moment seems too good to be true but also inevitable. Perhaps if we just keep showing up, our love story will be written for us.
“So what you’re saying is,” I begin, “you’re confident we’ll find our way back to each other tomorrow night?”
He peeks down at me, eyes sparkling and alight with affection. “Yes, I think so. It’s beyond technology or the elements. I think we can trust it.”
The idea is risky but romantic.
“Well, even so . . .” I trail off as I reach into my dance bag, unzipping the secret compartment that’s been sewn inside.
I pull out a piece of ribbon that was once on a pair of my first pointe shoes.
It’s been my lucky charm, a sentimental nod to dreams and grit and fighting my way through fear to be on the stage.
I’m hoping it will do the same for my love story.
It’s not much to anyone else, but it means something to me, and I’m counting on it bringing us back together.
“For you,” I say as he reaches out for it, not even asking for an explanation.
“To remember this night by. And it represents a promise, because it’s my lucky charm, which means you have to give it back to me. ”
“Oh, Starlight,” he says, his voice rich with what sounds like hope. “There’s nothing on Earth that could keep me from finding a way back to you.”
My smile could light every Christmas decoration in the whole town.
“Can I walk you back?” he asks me sweetly.
“Not necessary. I’m going to stay at my best friend’s house tonight.”
Since I’d planned to arrive at her house earlier in the evening, I let Grey know that I’d be delayed.
She texted no less than five times in the past hour to tell me I’d better not go to sleep before sharing my news.
Truthfully, I’m not sure how I’m going to sleep at all tonight after meeting Jace, anyway.
He raises a brow and exhales, giving a resolute nod. “Before you go . . . may I hold you once more?” Jace asks, the confidence in his tone steadying my heart.
The fact that he asks my permission at all settles deep in my bones.
Already, Jace seems to understand something fundamental about the way I show affection.
At my nod, he pulls me close, his strong arms going around me and making me feel like I’m in the safest space I could ever be.
If hugs could heal, this would be the one to do it.
And even though we’re going our separate ways for now, I want to remember him just like this: whimsical, deep, funny, hopeful, strong, confident, and vulnerable.
“To tomorrow,” he says quietly, leaning down and kissing my cheek, the warmth of his lips a contrast to the cold all around.
“To tomorrow,” I repeat, my eyes stinging with happiness as we finally say good night.