Purposefully Coincidental ✓

17. Rollerskating

Leo

I had already suspected it. But after asking Josephine, I know for a fact. She doesn't own a car.

Which is totally normal in a big city like Miami. People mostly use taxis or Uber or Lyft or whatever other company there might be or if it's within walking distance, they use their feet and legs. Or public transportation if it comes to that.

After picking her up, I barely make it to her side to open the door when she comes jogging. She looks really excited about what she has planned for us.

She gives me an address and after driving for a little, we're finally here at our destination.

I park and kill the engine, looking up at the big sign above the entrance doors.

"Rollerskating?" I ask, glancing at her flushed cheeks and bright smile.

She wiggles in her seat. "Yup. I wanted to start with a bang and do something super fun." She fumbles with her seatbelt and I exit the car to go to the passenger side and help her.

Walking through the slim entryway, I lightly rest my hand on her lower back to push her before me. I've never wanted to be hugged by another person like how I want Josephine to hug me.

Because most people in my family are my height or even taller, I want to see how hugging someone shorter than me by a good chunk would be like.

I bet she gives the best hugs.

It's a few minutes past twelve, and they open at twelve. Josephine said we need to come in early to avoid many people on the rink.

When we get inside, the lighting is dim, with tons of flashlights of different colors. There are neon signs of pop art everywhere and the music is loud and hip. Overall, the place gives off a happy vibe.

We get our skates and sit on a bench to lace them up.

Josephine is done under a minute, but I struggle to get the laces to get as tight as possible. But I eventually do it.

Josephine chuckles, and she stands up, doing a quick twirl in front of me. She does it so effortlessly, like a pro. She stands in front of me, her stomach in line with my eyesight. I look up at her and see her beaming. She's probably loving the fact that she's taller than me for once and is looking down at me.

"Want me to give you a few pointers?" She asks.

"Please."

"So all you have to do is stand with your knees bent." She turns sideways to show me how much I should bend. "Then just switch your weight to either legs and that's how you go forward."

"Sounds easy." Maybe in theory, but I'm sure when I stand up, it's going to be hard.

"Let's get it on then." She claps and skates backwards a few steps to give me space to stand up. When I do, I immediately try to grab onto something as my feet move uncontrollably.

The first thing I can get a hold of are her shoulders.

She bursts out laughing at me, holding onto my arms so I don't fall on my butt.

"Make a V shape with you feet. To act like brakes."

I do exactly that, and when I feel steady enough on my feet, I let go of her. She gives me her hand to help me get on the actual rink.

My big palm engulfs her dainty one. Her fingers almost disappeared under mine.

She easily gets in the rink and skates backwards when she removes her hand from mine, keeping her eyes on me.