“Asshole,” Sergio says, standing up. He walks to the sink and rinses the wound. It’s not too bad, only a scratch, but it still stings. As he dries off his hand, compressing the scratch with a paper towel, he watches Gus walk away with his tail swishing high behind him. He yells out to the cat before he disappears out of the room, “I’m not apologizing to you!”
He checks his scratch again to make sure the bleeding has stopped. It has, but panic washes over him. What if he’s stuck in this loop because of that damn cat?
He shakes his head. “No. There’s no way.” But just in case, he vows to maybe not call the cat an asshole again. It’s worth a shot. But right now, he’s not going to let Gus impede his mission. He has lips to kiss and no amount of ‘cattiness’ is going to stop him. So instead of having a battle of wills with a feline, he patiently waits for the time to be right for him to head down to the barn and collect young Henry.
When the time finally does come, Sergio practically sprints through the trees to get to the barn. He’s out of breath when he opens the door, but the sound ofWicked Gameresounding through the speakers causes his world to slow back down. It slows even more as he watches Jeremy glide across the pristine ice. It occurs to Sergio that this ice appears like glass, preserved and untouched by the outside world. Sure, there are the deep edge marks from Jeremy’s skating, and from Allison’s earlier today, but it’s still so smooth comparatively to other rinks he’s seen. There’s something beautifully intimate about it. No one else in the world knows this little piece of heaven exists outside of their little rag-tag group of family and friends. No one else has ever set foot on this ice and marred its surface. Suddenly, the vision of Jeremy skating seems to be that much more of a marvel. Sergio is lucky. For all the millions who watched Jeremy skate when he was competing, Sergio gets to watch him now when it’s for nobody else but whoever Jeremy invites in.
Which reminds Sergio that he is, in fact, an uninvited interloper. So he better always remember that witnessing Jeremy in his element is a gift.
“I thought Henry was my only audience,” Jeremy says when he spots Sergio walking towards the half wall. He slows in his tracks, gracefully drops his arms to his sides, and comes to a stop a few feet away with flushed cheeks.
“Sorry,” Sergio says, hurrying over to grab Henry and pick him up off the ledge. “I should have announced myself.”
“It’s alright, I guess.” He shrugs. “I haven’t had an audience in four years. I was kind of hoping I’d never have to get used to it again.”
“I hardly count as an audience,” Sergio says. “Besides, I followed your request and didn’t bring my camera.”
Jeremy flashes him that genuine smile that causes Sergio’s stomach to flip. “I can’t believe you remember that.”
“Of course, I remember. And you were right to request it. It was a real treat to watch you skate without the barrier of the lens. I’m glad I don’t have it with me this time, either.”
“Even if you did,” Jeremy says, giving a soft shake to his head, “no one would be asking you for the prints.”
“That’s not true. You were made for the ice.”
Jeremy averts his gaze and braces himself against the half wall as he slides a blade guard on. “Maybe before,” he says with his chin tucked towards his chest. “But not so much anymore.”
With one arm wrapped around Henry, Sergio offers his free hand to Jeremy to help him step off the ice. “You’ll probably tell me you’re out there playing around—”
“I am.”
“I know. And that’s what makes you so beautiful to watch.” Sergio pauses as Jeremy places a guard on his other blade, giving him time to steady himself again and face Sergio directly so he can tell Jeremy the truth of what he sees. “You look free.”
Jeremy tilts his head, appearing to contemplate Sergio’s words. “I guess I am,” he says, holding Sergio’s gaze, while tugging at his left eye.
Together they share a familiar moment of silence, standing and staring at each other while Henry watches on. Sergio’s heart rate kicks up, along with his hope and anticipation.
He lets go of Jeremy’s hand, then carefully reaches to cup Jeremy’s cheek. He runs his thumb across his cheekbone, then leans in, placing the gentlest of kisses on Jeremy’s lips. As gentle as the kiss he placed there a few days ago.
He holds his breath, waiting for Jeremy’s response, hoping it’s the same as the time before. When Jeremy opens his mouth slightly and kisses him back, it takes all of his strength to once again not drop Henry and scream out in joy.
“You look free,” Sergio says, smiling as Jeremy tilts his head, looking at him in contemplation.
“I guess I am.”
“I guess I am.”
“I guess I am.”
“I guess I am.”
Chapter nine
“Uncle Sergio! Wake up!”
“Oof … morning, buddy.”
“Hiss …”
