Series: Cobalt Empire Series by Krista Ritchie
Total pages in book: 234
Estimated words: 226965 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1135(@200wpm)___ 908(@250wpm)___ 757(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 226965 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1135(@200wpm)___ 908(@250wpm)___ 757(@300wpm)
“A paradox,” he grins. “You don’t have to fit into any box, mon fils. Ordinary is boring.”
He’s telling me to accept myself as I am. To stop battling all the conflicting sides.
I smile brighter at my father, seeing the pieces of him that I share. Really, seeing, for the first time, all the social prowess, all the unwavering confidence, and I love those pieces of him. Of me. I love my ego. I love my humility. I love so much more of who I am in this moment than I ever have in my entire life. And I know what I’ve always been.
A butterfly, a bluebird…and a lion.
59
HARRIET FISHER
Holy shit…I am bad at ice skating. The last time I put on a pair of skates, I couldn’t have been older than six or seven. But I deluded myself into thinking that it’s just like riding a bike. Natural intuition would take over, and I’d just float gracefully down the rink, right? Wrong. So very wrong.
I didn’t go so far as picturing twirls, but I most definitely did not imagine myself death-clutching the railing while on an official date with Ben. I’ve considered most of our hangouts as being date-like, but he specifically said, “I’m taking you on a date this afternoon. Wear something warm, Fisher.”
My heart volleyed against my ribcage. “A date?” It struck me that no one had ever used that word with me before. It was always let’s go grab a bite to eat. Let’s watch a movie. Let’s fuck. Never let’s go on a date.
“Yeah,” he smiled. “There’ll be many more like it.”
There’ll be more, Harriet. Having more time with him is what I really cherish. We could be playing Scrabble in my apartment, and it’d be just as perfect.
But I am glad he decided on this type of date after finals week. I’m not sure I would’ve enjoyed it as much with the stress of exams and essays dangling like an ugly raincloud. I mean, I hope I would mentally compartmentalize, but I like that I don’t have to even think about it now. With fall semester over, I fully embrace this moment with my boyfriend.
Boyfriend.
Okay, that still makes me unnaturally giddy. I’ve accepted the strange, powerful effect Ben Cobalt has on me. I even let him surprise me this afternoon—though I asked about twenty-five questions to narrow down where we’d be.
Ben took me to an outdoor ice-skating rink in New York City. Winter clouds up above, festively clad skaters surrounding us, and a dazzling Christmas tree overlooking the glittery white rink—it can’t get more romcom than this. Except for the part where I almost ate the ice.
Twice.
I envisioned this sickeningly sweet moment where I skate alongside Ben, hand-in-hand, like we’re strolling down Park Ave with birds chirping. It was this dumb Disney princess fantasy that I’m not even positive I want. It seems too fake.
So I’m not kicking myself that hard for not being fucking Elsa and conjuring the spirit of frost or icicles or whatever she does. I’ve honestly never seen Frozen, but that “let it go” bitch is inescapable.
In the center, a young girl is doing some sort of twizzly twirl. Definitely a trained ice skater. At least we aren’t a spectacle. His bodyguard glides back and forth near us, but for the most part, no one recognizes Ben Cobalt on the rink. Families, couples, and friends all relish in the pretty December weather together and not my laughable skills.
“Seriously, go on without me, Friend.” I wave Ben on with a hand, the other is planted firmly on the railing. “I don’t want to hold you back.” He is a hockey player. The ice is his natural habitat, and my ankles scream at me like they’re two seconds from giving out.
Ben hovers close and comes to a dead stop since I’m no longer moving. I’m just clinging to this railing like a baby deer learning to walk for the first time.
His brows knit together in concern. “I’m sensing fear.”
“Of face-planting, chipping my front tooth and needing a full dental package, yeah. Of falling on my ass and bruising my tailbone, possibly fracturing it, also yeah.”
A smile edges across his mouth. “Come here.” He hooks his fingers with mine. “I’ll keep you safe, mon bel oiseau.”
My lungs expand. This is the first time he’s ever said my beautiful bird.
My.
Mine.
I’m his.
I bite the inside of my cheek as this lovey-dovey feeling engulfs me. “I don’t know, Ben, I could be an actual terror on skates. Ten more feet forward and I might need dentures.”
“I won’t let you chip your front teeth. Let alone knock out all of them.” His smile pulls mine to the surface.
“Okay,” I breathe, trusting him. “What do I do?”
He clasps my left hand. “Just follow my lead.” He holds out his right, and I take that palm too. Both hands in his, my knees fight the urge to tremble. Ben is skating backward while he helps me gain balance on the ice.