“See?” Noah said. “You’re doing it.”
“I’m not skating,” Eli responded, deadpan. “I’m being dragged like a reluctant sled.”
“Semantics.”
Somewhere behind them, a couple cheered as they spun in a perfect circle. To their left, the dog fell again. To their right, kids broke into a carol slightly off-key.
Noah only saw Eli.
And Eli was looking right back at him.
“All right,” Noah said in a positive voice. “Let’s try something fancy.”
“No.”
“Yes.”
“No.”
“Yes,” Noah insisted. “And here’s why. Skating’s basically walking, just with longer glides. Shift your weight. Trust your feet. More importantly—trust me.”
Eli swallowed, then nodded once, a small, brave nod that hit Noah right in the center of his chest.
“Okay,” he said. “Show me.”
Noah stepped back half a foot, still holding Eli’s hands, close enough to feel his warmth through the cold.
“Ready?” Noah asked.
“No,” Eli said.
“You’ll be fine.”
“You’re a liar.”
“Correct,” he agreed. He tugged gently, Eli followed, and suddenly they were moving together, gliding albeit with a few wobbles across the river while Eli whispered a constant stream of anxious curses and Noah laughed through every single one.
“You’re doing it!” Noah’s chest swelled with pride.
“I look like a foal learning how to stand.” Eli pushed the words through gritted teeth.
“You look—” Noah paused as Eli nearly crashed into him. He steadied Eli with both hands on his waist. “Adorable.”
Eli froze, and the world stilled for a beat, with only the hum of distant music and the glow of lights draping them in soft gold. Above them, the sky had slipped into dark velvet.
Noah loosened his grip, but didn’t step away. “You okay?”
Eli nodded slowly, his gaze locked on Noah’s. “Yeah. I just… didn’t expect to—feel this.”
Noah’s heart pounded. “This?”
Eli swallowed. “You.”
Warmth surged through Noah so suddenly he thought the ice might melt under them.
He cleared his throat. “Come on. Let’s take a break before you fall and give me a heart attack.”
They skated—well, they walked—off the ice together, Noah steadying Eli like a lifeline the entire way.
