Chapter Nine #3
“Okay, I wish we started sharing orgasms sooner.”
Owen’s mouth quirked up on one side. “I’ll grant you that, but you were raised to believe things happen when they’re supposed to.”
Tyler had listened to many sermons on the topic over the years.
God’s will versus man’s will. Destiny versus hard work.
People who believed they could manifest things into existence versus those who waited for some predetermined destiny to reveal itself.
Tyler wasn’t sure where he fell on the spectrum of beliefs.
More than one of those things could be true at the same time.
He figured most people’s success was a combination of hard work and the stars aligning in their favor.
He’d seen things that truly seemed like miracles, and he’d seen people who succeeded by sheer will and grit.
Maybe the universe truly gave a person what they wanted when they needed it most.
“All I know is that I believe in you,” Tyler said.
“Then I say we don’t waste another second on what might have been when we can focus on what is right in front of us.”
Tyler sighed. Owen really would make a good therapist or counselor, but he kept his mouth shut.
“And what’s in front of you,” Owen continued, “is a man who’s about to have a sore ass.”
Tyler’s brows shot up. “Do tell.”
Owen snorted and rolled his eyes. “It’s my first time roller-skating, so I figure my ass is going to get acquainted with the floor more than once.”
Tyler scoffed and waved him off. “You’re a natural at everything you try.” Tyler opened the door and exited the truck.
Owen did the same and rounded the hood, reaching for his hand. “Name one example.”
Tyler slid his fingers through Owen’s and said, “Riding horses. You’d never been on one until you arrived at the ranch, and you got the hang of it in no time.”
Owen hummed like he was stuck between agreeing or arguing. “I got tossed on my ass a few times.”
“By Nellie,” Tyler countered. “She hated everyone until Kieran arrived. Think about the dozens of horses you rehabilitated so they could find their forever homes. Want me to list other things?”
Owen’s cheeks turned pink. “Nah. I got the gist of it. You think I hung the moon.”
“No, but your eyes twinkle brighter than the stars when you look at me.” Tyler smiled over at him. “I’ve got the photos back home to prove it.”
When they reached the rink, Tyler’s gaze landed on the pride flag sticker on the door that said everyone was welcome and the business wouldn’t tolerate hate.
He tightened his fingers around Owen’s, notched his chin up higher, and entered the rink.
Owen paid their fee, and Tyler practically dragged him over to the counter to get skates.
Owen held up the brown leather rentals and grimaced. “I don’t want to think about all the feet that have been inside these things.”
Jail hadn’t been what Tyler would call pristine, but they’d gotten spoiled since moving to Redemption Ridge. He might’ve thought the complaint was a delay tactic, but Owen had the same gripe about bowling shoes. “They spray them with disinfectant when we’re finished.”
“Sure they do,” Owen said dryly as he removed his boots.
“If you love skating half as much as I do, I’ll buy you a pair of your own skates,” Tyler told him.
Owen leveled him with a skeptical gaze as he slid a foot into the skate. “Is there a rink for beginners?”
“I’ll teach you everything you need to know on the carpet before we head to the wooden floor.”
“I’m mostly interested in learning to stop,” Owen said as he stood on shaky legs.
Tyler quickly finished lacing his skates and stood up too.
They used the small area to go over the basics, including how to push off and how to stop.
Owen flailed his arms a few times but always regained his balance.
He looked so pleased with himself that Tyler didn’t have the heart to tell Owen the wood floor would be so much slicker.
“You want to watch the skaters from the wall for a little bit so you can see the crossover footwork in the corners?”
“Crossover?” Owen’s voice rose a few octaves. “That sounds complicated.”
“You’ll catch on by the third or fourth turn,” Tyler said. “Come on.” He reached for Owen’s hand, and they slowly made their way to the half wall surrounding the rink. “You enter and exit through those openings,” Tyler said.
“Mmhmm.”
Tyler looked over and saw that Owen’s attention was riveted to the skaters.
Some of them were young kids, but there were older teens and adults in the mix.
The skills ranged from flailing arms and hysterical screaming to gliding around the rink like an Olympic athlete.
A couple who appeared to be in their sixties or seventies breezed by, holding hands, and Owen smiled at their cuteness.
The music switched from a fast tempo to a slower rhythm, making it a good time for Owen to try it.
“Ready?” Tyler asked.
Owen inhaled deeply and exhaled slowly. “This was my bright idea, wasn’t it?”
“We don’t have to go out there,” Tyler said. “I see a video arcade room over by the concession stand.”
Owen grabbed his hand and said, “Let’s do this.”
The transition from carpet to hardwood nearly took him out, but between Tyler’s firm grip and Owen’s natural athleticism, he kept himself upright.
“It gets easier. I promise.”
Tyler stuck to a snail’s pace for their first time around the rink.
He coached Owen through the crossover maneuvers into the turns and cheered when he gained confidence coming out of them.
After their third time around the rink, the DJ announced it was a couples-only skate.
Tyler pushed out in front of Owen, turned around to face him, and took his hands.
“I’ll skate backward.”
“Show off,” Owen called out over the music. His smile told Tyler just how much he loved it, though.
“I knew you’d be a natural,” Tyler told him.
“We’ve been here fifteen minutes,” Owen said. “Give me time to let my guard down.”
There were a few iffy moments throughout the night, but they stayed upright and uninjured.
They ate greasy pizza, drank sugary sodas, and they skated until they had blisters on their feet.
When the DJ announced the final slow dance of the night, Tyler moved in close and looped his arms around Owen’s neck, and Owen placed his on Tyler’s hips.
They’d kept more distance during the previous slow skates, but Tyler had always wanted to try this.
His mother never would’ve allowed him to get so close to his girlfriend, and Tyler was glad this was another first he got to share with Owen.
The DJ played some big ballad from the eighties that Tyler’s mother had loved, and it felt like they were the main characters in a romance movie.
This moment called for a big gesture, and Tyler knew just what to do.
“I want to take you to Texas for Christmas to meet my family. I want to show you where I grew up, and I want my family to meet the man I love.”
Owen’s eyes widened, and he almost lost his balance. “You told them?” he asked once he got back in the flow. “You talked to your mom for a long time today, but I didn’t know you planned to tell her.”
“I didn’t do it yet,” Tyler said. “But I plan to come out during my visit.”
“And you want me there? Do they know you plan to bring me?”
Tyler slid a hand into the hair at Owen’s nape and massaged his scalp to soothe him. “My mom invited you before I could get that far. In fact, she insisted on buying our tickets.”
“Oh wow.” Owen worked his bottom lip between his teeth.
“She wants an answer kind of soon, so I thought—”
“Yes,” Owen said. “I want to meet your family.” He blew out a long breath. “Damn, this is scary.”
“It doesn’t have to be. We’ll leave if someone says or does something that makes us uncomfortable. You’re the most important person in my life, so they’ll love you or lose me.”
“Ty.” Owen’s voice came out as a choked whisper as his eyelids closed.
He realized his mistake as soon as he made it.
Owen’s eyes snapped open about the time his feet slipped out from underneath him.
He released his hold on Tyler’s hips to flail his arms for balance.
Tyler tried to help stabilize him and got clipped in the shoulder with a wildly waving arm.
Gravity got a hold of Owen, and there was no saving him.
Unfortunately for Tyler, Owen’s leg shot forward and tripped him.
Tyler did a bit of his own windmilling, but to no avail because he landed on his ass hard enough to rattle his teeth.
Owen crawled over to him with worry etched on every feature. “I’m so sorry, baby.”
“Those landings didn’t use to hurt as much when I was younger,” Tyler told him.
Owen watched the other skaters go by before giving his full attention to Tyler again. “How the hell do we stand up in these things?”
“Carefully. We’ll do it together.”
They fell on their asses twice more before they made it back to their feet. Owen kept a death grip on Tyler’s hand during the quick trip back to the gap in the wall. He sighed dramatically once they were on the carpet again.
“Well, am I buying you a pair of skates for Christmas or your birthday?” Tyler asked once they collapsed on the bench. He grimaced and rubbed his ass with his hand. “It’s going to bruise.”
Owen leaned closer, and his dark blue eyes shimmered with wickedness. “I can kiss it better.”