Follow my lead, p.29
Follow My Lead,
p.29
Saylor twirled them in three very tight, very quick circles, one right after the other. Tia kept her gaze on Saylor’s, locking her point of reference so she wouldn’t get dizzy as they moved. It was their first time competing since Portland, and Tia was loving this moment. They hadn’t had a lot of time together since Saylor’s coaching had gotten underway, but they’d made as much time as they possibly could. Jericho had been essential to that. Controlling her breathing, Tia moved along with Saylor’s gentle promptings.
The music lifted to its final few notes. Tia readied herself for the last switch. Saylor turned her back to Tia, and Tia dragged her hands from Saylor’s shoulders to her hands and down her thighs to her knees before stepping back and away. Saylor gave her a cute look over her shoulder and then shook her head before grabbing Tia and pulling her back.
Tia had one hand on Saylor’s shoulder and one on her waist while Saylor did the same. They moved together, well-practiced and perfect. Tia’s stomach wouldn’t stop flip-flopping. The song was ending, and she had no other choice. It was now or never.
They held their places as the final note rang through the room. Instead of turning to see Saylor, Tia looked for Jericho. She stopped short when Jericho handed Steven the phone and raced toward them, giddy and excited.
“Tia?” Saylor asked, but Tia didn’t respond. She wasn’t even sure she had the right words for what she was about to say, but she had to find them.
Jericho handed the small box to Tia and then faced Saylor, handing over a similar box. Tia frowned at it. She flicked her gaze from Saylor’s hand to Saylor’s eyes, her lips parted in surprise as she pointed at the box.
“You didn’t,” Tia said.
“I did.” Saylor laughed, her eyes crinkling in the corners. “So did you, apparently.”
“Yeah.”
Tia didn’t even bother to open the ring box. She wrapped her arms around Saylor’s neck and tugged her in hard. Their lips melded together. Tia ran her fingers up into the back of Saylor’s hair, tangling her fingers in the locks and pulling hard. Elation hit her first after the surprise wore off. She pulled back laughing and shook her head.
“But who will ask first?” Tia asked.
“Didn’t we sort of already figure this out?” Saylor opened her ring box and held it out for Tia to look. A beautiful ruby stone sat in the center, surrounded by a halo of small diamonds.
“Oh my God.” Tia’s heart thumped. “It’s gorgeous.”
“So are you.”
Tia moved in to kiss Saylor again. “I love you.”
“I love you, too.”
Saylor moved away on a laugh and took Tia’s left hand. She pulled the ring out and slid it on before pulling her hand up to kiss her knuckles. It was hands down one of the most romantic things Tia had ever experienced in her life.
Cheers echoed around the room, blocking out any other noise. Tia was pretty sure her face was going to break from smiling so much. She took the box in her hand and opened it up to show Saylor.
“I told you that night in Portland that I wanted to find out who we could be together.” Tia couldn't stop grinning. “I like the life we’re weaving. Marry me?”
“I never thought I would get the chance to marry my best friend.” Saylor cupped Tia’s cheek. “So yeah, I’ll marry you.”
Tia pulled out the ring, the one that was a thin band of diamonds in a circle. She hadn’t wanted it to be gaudy, so that Saylor could still wear it while skating and coaching, but she had wanted the bling. Tia slipped it onto Saylor’s finger and kissed her again. “The only thing we didn’t talk about is when.”
“Yes.” Saylor stepped in closer. “When are we getting married?”
“Since neither of us wants a big wedding…” Tia leaned in to whisper into Saylor’s ear. “Courthouse. Next week.”
“Deal.”
Tia kissed Saylor again, hard and quick.
Jericho squealed loudly when they finally turned to face their friends. Steven was clapping hard, giving one loud whoop into the room. The score for their dance was already on the screen, but no one was paying attention. Tia glanced at it, but then faced Saylor again. She’d never thought she’d fall in love after all this time, that there could be someone out there who could make her swoon.
But they’d found each other.
Finally.
Tia laced her fingers with Saylor’s and raised them up over their heads. Then unexpectedly, she swung Saylor around and started a quick dance with her on the floor in front of everyone. She had so many things she wanted to tell Saylor, so many compliments and loving words she wanted to rain down on Saylor. But for now, a dance would have to do.
“It’s going viral!” Jericho shouted across the room.
Tia’s cheeks burned.
Fuck—her life was about to change forever.
“What’s going viral?” Saylor asked.
“Jericho apparently live streamed the whole dance.” Tia kissed Saylor’s cheek, holding her breath for the reaction. Saylor’s nerves could kick in triple time and she could hate the idea, or she would love it. It could help both their careers potentially. “I thought we’d like a video of the dance so we could sort out improvements, but I also just wanted a video of proposing.”
“And you said you weren’t a romantic.” Saylor laughed and kissed Tia’s lips. “You do think of everything, don’t you?”
“I try to.” Tia tightened her grip on Saylor’s hand. “You ready for the crowd and congratulations?”
Saylor shook her head. “I’ll never be ready for that. But I think I can handle it with you by my side.”
“Good.” Tia paused their dance. She purposely took a deep breath. “Because it’s time.”
“I’ll follow your lead.”
about the author
Adrian J. Smith has been publishing since 2013 but has been writing nearly her entire life. With a focus on women loving women fiction, AJ jumps genres from action-packed police procedurals to the seedier life of vampires and witches to sweet romances with an age gap twist. She loves writing and reading about women in the midst of the ordinariness of life.
AJ currently lives in Cheyenne, WY, although she moves often and has lived all over the United States. She loves to travel to different countries and places. She currently plays the roles of author, wife, and mother to two rambunctious youngsters, occasional handy-woman. Connect with her on Facebook, Instagram, or Ream.
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Adrian J. Smith, Follow My Lead
