Fade to Red

They arrived in New York and would only be in town a few days for two shows and the late night circuit. Then they’d all fly to L.A. for the Grammy Awards for a couple of nights. Without a concert every night and staying in a hotel, it would almost feel like a break, even though it’d still be hectic.

He tried to get Roxie to come to the hotel too, with Leo and Chloe, but she insisted on staying on Anthony’s bus. She was so stubborn.

He stretched out on his bed for about an hour and slept. As soon as he got up, he felt restless. The hotel room felt claustrophobic. He missed them. Leo. He missed Leo. He swallowed his pride and called Roxie.

She answered on the second ring.

“Roxie? Hey.”

“Hey, Beckham. What’s up?”

He couldn’t tell for sure if she was any more a

“I was wondering—would you guys meet up with me at the Rockefeller ice skating rink?”

It was quiet on the other end.

“You still there?” he asked.

“No.”

“Sounds like you’re there.”

“Well, yes, I’m here, but no, we’re not going skating with you.”

“Rox, I promised Leo I’d show him a good time while he’s on this trip. Let me do that.”

“He’s having a great time, believe me.”

“Lighten up, okay? It’s just one afternoon.”

“Don’t tell me to lighten up! Beckham, look … I know you won’t believe he’s not yours until you have proof, but that being said—I don’t have to hang out with you. And I don’t have to make sure Leo is around you all the time right now either. When you hear what you need to hear, you can come find me and give me the apology I deserve. Until then, I’ll see you onstage.”

There was a long pause until he said, “Come on, Roxie. Just come skate with me. I’m sorry I’ve been such a jerk. Truce for a day?”

She was quiet. Finally: “You’ve been an asshole, Beckham.”

He laughed in spite of his embarrassment. “Fair enough. I’ll dial back my asshole for the day.”

Silence.

“Roxie?”

“Okay. I guess.”

She hung up on him and he scrambled around the room, throwing on a shirt and sweater. He pulled on a knit cap, sunglasses, and took off, not sure when she was even coming.

He skated about twenty minutes before he saw them, getting on the rink. They both were wearing bright blue and looked like a vision. Leo was talking and Roxie was laughing at whatever he was saying. Her hair was down, the long waves looking like gold against her blue jacket; it always took his breath away when she wore it like that. Her smile faded when she saw him and he felt a sword jab directly into his heart.

His body and heart kept betraying him where Roxie was concerned. Giving his hat a tug, he groaned and plastered on a smile. Just have fun, he thought. Don’t let her suck you in and don’t even look at her lips. Or ass. Or hair.

“Hey, you two! Thanks for meeting me out here!” he said. Fu

“Mom and I go skating a lot,” Leo said proudly. “She’s really good. I don’t do the fancy stuff like her, though.”

Roxie and Leo’s cheeks had two red circles in the center of them. It made their eyes even brighter. Beckham stared at them for a moment and thought: This is exactly what I want. Right in front of me. Both of them.

To his mortification, he felt a knot in his throat. His eyes watered, but he hoped he could attribute it to the brisk air. What the hell is happening to me? He cleared his throat and gave them both a lopsided grin.

“You go

He could tell she was trying hard to be polite and he was relieved.

They did a lap around.

“Do a twirl, Mom!”

“Oh no, that’s okay.” She laughed. “I’m not really feeling the twirls today.”

“Come on, I wa

“I’m hungry already,” Roxie said.

“No changing the subject!”

“Oh, okay,” she huffed, “but just a couple. I’m not kidding about being hungry!”

She began skating to the center of the rink. Leo and Beckham stopped, both watching her every move.

“She’s beautiful,” Beckham said to Leo. “You know your mom is beautiful, right?”

Leo nodded solemnly. “I know. I see her.”

“I see her too, buddy. You’ve got a good one.”

They looked at each other, having a moment. When they looked up, Roxie was going around the rink, turned backwards and did a double axel. They both clapped hard.

“That was perfect!” Beckham yelled. “Do another one!”

“One more,” she said, “and then food!”

She gathered up speed and as she turned to go backwards, someone skating by sped up and bumped into her, knocking her down. There was a sickening thud as Roxie fell hard. Beckham and Leo rushed over to her, along with a few other people.

She looked up at Beckham and Leo, dazed. “That’s what I get for showing off,” she said softly.

“It was amazing,” Beckham whispered, leaning over her. “Are you okay, Rox? Where does it hurt?” He brushed the ice off of her face.

“You okay, Mama?” Leo knelt down by her.

“I’m okay. I think everything is in one piece...” She tried to joke. She waved at everyone. “I’m fine,” she said.

A girl asked if she needed anything and Roxie thanked her and said no. Everyone slowly skated away. She moved her legs and took Beckham’s hand, slowly sitting up.

“Ugh. This is go

“Yeah, the thought crossed my mind too.” Beckham looked around the rink. “She didn’t even stop to see if you were okay.”

“She just came out of nowhere! I didn’t even see what she looked like.”

Beckham didn’t bother telling her that he didn’t either, because while she was falling, he’d come to the realization that he’d fallen even harder and would never get over her.

When Roxie stood up, every muscle in her body hurt. She was used to getting sore from all the torture she gave her body dancing, but this was a little more extreme. She moved tentatively to the side of the rink.

Leo and Beckham both looked so worried about her she had to smile. “I’m okay, really, just … ow.”

“Here, let’s take your skates off and get warmed up.”

They shuffled off of the rink and found their shoes.

“I have an idea. How about you come back to my room and we can order room service. You can stretch out and eat at the same time.” His smile was so kind, the ice cubes around her heart began to thaw just a tiny bit more.

“I love room service!” Leo held onto Roxie’s hand and reached out for Beckham’s.

She was going to get an ulcer, with how nervous it made her to see Leo and Beckham together. Leo liked him so much already. They had immediately bonded and there seemed to be nothing she could do to stop it. She hesitated, but they both had such hopeful expressions that she caved. It would help to have a few days at home soon. She’d get her son unattached to this guy later, something she’d have to figure out for herself too. Later being the key word. For now, she just needed to balance out her libido vs. her feelings.

“This must be a really nice room. You keep trying to lure us there,” Roxie teased.

“You’ll see.” He raised a cocky eyebrow at her. “Taxi!”

They had maybe a four-minute cab ride.

“I totally could have walked that,” Roxie argued.

“Yeah, maybe if I carried you,” Beckham teased back.

“Well, I didn’t hear you offering.” She looked at him, daring him to come back with something.