This is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to anyone living or dead is purely coincidental. All characters are over the age of 18. Please enjoy!
Sadie skated around and around the roller rink. It was adult night, her favorite. Not only because kids drove her absolutely crazy, their erratic and unpredictable behavior on the rink was unbearable, but also because the music was better. Skating had quickly become her new favorite hobby when a friend re-introduced her to it. It was easy (once you got the hang of it), fun, and helped her stay fit. Not to mention Laney.
Laney had worked at the rink since Sadie started going with a small group of friends years ago. She had always covertly watched her, enjoying the little crush she'd developed. The two chatted every week, but it rarely went beyond surface level exchanges. Sadie tried to keep it professional, but it would sometimes veer into slightly flirty territory if Laney ended up behind the bar and Sadie got a couple cocktails down her gullet, the second one always on the house from the crush herself.
But Sadie never made a move. Just watched as Laney skated around the rink gracefully. Her dark hair flying out behind her as she grooved along to the music. Her dark skin glistening with a delicate sheen of sweat, sports bra tight around her small breasts, nipples peaking in the breeze as she skated, and her skirt fluttering around her thighs. Sadie could see it clearly in her mind and smiled a little to herself.
Her in-line skittered dangerously as her mind wandered but she managed to regain her balance. Shaking her head slightly she glided off the hardwoods of the rink and onto the hard low carpet surrounding it. She made her way to the table she'd stashed her bag under and pulled her water bottle from it drinking deeply.
Her forehead was lightly slicked with sweat from circling the rink several times over. Her usual crew of gals were all busy tonight, so she was on her own. She watched the other skaters for a while, admiring their skill. Seeing the fun skates, tricks, and dance moves of the other skaters was half the fun of this hobby.
The number of people on quad skates outnumbered her in-lines by a lot, but she didn't mind. She found the in-line skates easier to manage. She had given the quads a try and fell on her ass almost as soon as she stepped on the rink. Why quads were so much more challenging for her, she'd never know.
"On your own tonight?" A sweet voice from behind Sadie pulled her from her reverie. She turned and Laney stood behind her.
"Oh, yeah," Sadie said lamely. "Everyone was busy." Laney smiled and slid into the chair next to Sadie's.
"Having fun anyway?" Laney asked.
"Yeah, it's alright," Sadie smiled. "You working tonight?" Laney shook her head.
"Nah, I'm off tonight. I'm just lame and spend all my time here," Laney said with a smirk. Sadie nodded, still smiling like a maniac.
She wasn't good at flirting. She never knew what to say. Everything that sounded smooth in her head came out sounding like the most awkward thing out loud. Laney raised her eyebrows as if she were waiting for Sadie to say something. Sadie took another drink from her water bottle glancing at the rink.
"Well, if you're on your own, taking a break, do you want to hit the bar with me?" Laney offered. Sadie felt her face flush hotly and hoped it didn't show in the low lights.
"Oh, sure! That would be awesome," Sadie gushed. Was that too enthusiastic? It probably was. Laney only laughed lightly and stood, her short skirt in Sadie's face. She held one hand down to her.
"Let's go then," Laney said.
Sadie grabbed her hand and hoisted herself up from the chair. Laney held her hand and pulled her along to the bar. Her hand rested on the small of Sadie's back as they put in their drink orders. God, she hoped she wasn't a sweaty mess. Her dress wasn't sticking to her back as Laney rested her hand there so maybe she was fine.
"Go grab that booth at the back, I'll get the drinks," Laney said.
"You don't have to do that," Sadie said.
"I get 'em on the house. Perks of working here and having no life outside of this place." Laney winked and nudged Sadie.
"OK, well, thanks!" she said, smiling widely again.
Sadie skated over to the booth and plopped down on the bench seat with her back to the bar. The walls of the booth came up high around the table, giving the table a private cozy feel.
Sadie sat in the booth fidgeting with her admission wristband. Laney had never approached her like this before. She thought over the last several months and realized this was the first time she'd had to come alone. Her little skate crew had added this night to their calendars way back at the beginning of the year.
It just so happened that they each had their own conflict tonight, one with their kids, one with work, the other with travel. Sadie wondered if Laney had just been waiting for her to come by herself so she could...what? Make a move? Sadie huffed a quiet laugh at herself. As if someone like Laney would find her interesting.
"Perfect!" Laney said brightly, skating smoothly to the table. She set the cocktails down and slid in next to Sadie.
"Oh," Sadie scooched over more to give Laney room. She had just assumed Laney would take the opposite bench seat.
"You're fine," Laney said patting Sadie's thigh.
Her hand was soft and cold from bringing over their cocktails and the touch sent a shock through Sadie's body. Laney took her hand back and picked up her cocktail. Sadie sipped hers as well.
"How it is?" Laney asked. Sadie nodded.
"It's pretty good. Hard to go wrong with a vodka tonic," Sadie said.
"That's for sure," Laney agreed. The two women sat quietly for a little while. Sadie glanced up at the TV mounted in the corner where old MTV videos played.
"I miss when MTV would only play music videos," Sadie said.
"Yeah? I do too," Laney agreed.
They chatted about old music videos, movies, and books. From their conversation Sadie was able to ascertain that Laney was about ten years younger than her. She grimaced inwardly at the realization that she could have been Laney's babysitter, but that seemed pretty typical of her experience of this hobby and specifically this rink.
Being almost 40 and starting on a hobby like skating seemed a little unique. There were folks who were older and skated. But they were few and far between, and most had been skating for years. As such they already had their tight knit groups and communities. Sadie had come to terms with the fact that she was typically surrounded by 20-something's while she skated and that all of them were better than her. She just enjoyed it too much to be insecure about it.
But sitting here now with Laney and having it so blatant and in her face nearly knocked the wind from her. It was crystal clear to her now that of course Laney was just being nice to an older woman on her own tonight. She was probably involved with one of the many talented young skaters twisting, turning, and dancing together on the rink right now.
"Sadie, do you know how long you've been coming to this rink?" Laney asked.
"Oh geez, I'm not sure," Sadie took a sip of her drink. "Maybe about two or three years now?"
"Two years and 4 months," Laney said.
Sadie faltered. How could she know down to the month how long she'd been coming? Maybe she managed attendance trends, or memberships or something.
"Um, sure yeah, that sounds...right." Sadie sipped her drink again. Laney took another sip of her gin and tonic then leaned close. Sadie could smell the juniper of the gin and her coconut shampoo.
"I don't want to sound...weird or like a stalker, but the way you skate," Laney's voice was low and husky. She paused for a moment and sucked in a breath. "You're gorgeous." Sadie let out a quiet, surprised laugh.
"I am? I don't really, you know, do anything. I just go in circles," Sadie sputtered.
She picked up her vodka soda again and found it empty. Fuck, now she had no idea what to do with her hands. Laney smirked a little.
"I see you. The way you sway, your hips move so smoothly," she said.
Did she sway? Really? She didn't remember swaying at all.
