I took them, electricity zinging through my fingers even through my gloves. The moment our hands connected, his eyes lit up, and he yanked me forward with unexpected force.
“Whoa!” My feet scrambled to keep up as he pulled me along, building momentum with each passing second.
Kip’s grin widened as we picked up speed. “Trust the ice, Neve!”
Easy for him to say when he wasn’t the one being dragged across a frozen death trap. My legs wobbled beneath me but somehow kept pace as we flew around the rink.
“Ready for the handoff?” Kip’s tone suggested he knew I wasn’t, and before I could determine what ‘handoff’ meant, he spun me in a circle and released me.
I sailed across the ice, arms pinwheeling, heart lodged somewhere in my throat as momentum carried me straight toward Cole, who stood with his arms open like this was all part of some choreographed routine.
“I can’t stop!” My voice came out as a panicked squeak.
Cole’s expression never changed as I barreled toward him. “You don’t need to.”
I crashed into his chest with enough force to knock the wind out of my lungs but not enough to budge him an inch. His arms wrapped around me, steadying us both as I clung to his sweater.
“That was completely unnecessary,” I mumbled against the wool.
“Was it?” Cole’s voice was teasing.
The overhead speakers crackled as the music changed to a new song, and the opening notes of “Carol of the Bells” filled the rink.
I was six years old, standing on a frozen pond much larger than this rink. The northern lights danced overhead as Dad held my hands, pulling me around in circles while this exact song played from somewhere. My little legs moved instinctively, finding a rhythm in the music. His silver beard sparkled with frost, and his laughter echoed across the ice.
“That’s it, Snowflake! You’re a natural, like your mother!”
“Neve?” Kip’s voice pulled me back, the memory slipping away like smoke.
I blinked rapidly, focusing on Cole’s concerned expression as he studied my face.
“I remembered something.” My voice sounded strange to my own ears. “I’ve skated before. With my dad.”
Kip glided to a stop beside us, his hand finding my shoulder. “Everything okay?”
“Yeah, just... déjà vu.” I pushed away from Cole, suddenly self-conscious about how long I’d been plastered against him. “I think I’ve had enough skating.”
Cole nodded, his eyes never leaving my face. “We should probably head out anyway.”
“Are we done with Christmas spirit activities for the day?” I attempted to sound relieved rather than disappointed as we made our way toward the exit.
Kip’s freckled face broke into a wide grin. “Not quite. We’ve got one more stop planned.”
I groaned dramatically while untying my skates, ignoring the flutter of anticipation. “Let me guess… building gingerbread houses while carolers serenade us?”
“That’s a good idea.” Cole knelt to help remove my skates. “You’ll like this next activity more, though.”
“Your track record of knowing what I’ll like is questionable at best.” I wiggled my toes, freed from the rental skates.
Kip left on my festive socks and helped me into my shoes. “You smiled at least seventeen times. I counted.”
“I did not.” I absolutely had.
Cole stood, making his and Kip’s skates vanish before my eyes. “This next thing is a surprise.”
“Is it really a surprise when I know it’ll involve tinsel and Christmas magic?” I stood, feeling weird without my skates on.
Kip’s eyes gleamed in a way that was a sure sign that mischief was brewing. What were they up to now? “Some surprises are worth the wait, Neve.”
