“That remains to be seen.” He turns to come face-to-face with Sergio. “I still haven’t experienced this kiss you mentioned.”
“Is that all it’s going to take?”
“No.” He uses his toe pick to slide himself closer. “You of all people know I’m not that easy. But it’s a start.”
Sergio searches his eyes, finding that his sincerity and hope are reflected back at him. “I never thought you were easy.”
“And I never thought you were a total dog.”
Sergio furrows his brow. “I think you’re alone on that one.”
“Well, if it is how you say it is, and there is no tomorrow, let’s not worry about anyone else’s opinion at this moment.”
“I wish it were that simple.”
“It can be. At least for today.” He reaches and places his hand onto Sergio’s shoulder, then uses his strong leg to twirl them like a pair of ice dancers. He’s chewing on his bottom lip when they come to a stop. “Am I right in supposing it’s around this time that you kiss me every day?”
“Just about,” Sergio says, staring at Jeremy’s trapped lip, the one he’s come to love and crave feeling against his own each of these days. “Until Henry comes storming down the stairs from your apartment and cock blocks us.”
“Oh, no.” Jeremy closes the gap between them. “We can’t have him do that.”
“There’s no stopping him.”
“There’s no stopping us either, is there?” he asks softly and cranes his neck the little bit he needs to bring his lips in line with Sergio’s.
“No. I don’t think there is,” Sergio says, and kisses him like he’s been kissing him for ages. Like there is no one else in the world that Sergio will ever need to kiss. Because there isn’t.
“Are you two kissing?” Henry’s voice echoes through the rink.
Sergio pulls away so their lips barely come apart. “Yeah, we’re kissing,” he says, then kisses Jeremy again.
“Mommy is gonna be so mad at you, Uncle Sergio,” Henry says with a huff, and Jeremy and Sergio pull apart, laughing.
“Henry, my boy,” Sergio says, this time leading Jeremy on skates to the low ledge where Henry is standing, watching them with his hands on his hips. “Perhaps now is a good time to explain to you the importance of not tattling on your Uncle Sergio to your mother.”
“I don’t tattle,” Henry denies with balled-up fists.
Sergio bursts out laughing and sits down on the ledge, pulling Henry into his lap and tickling his sides. “You do actually,” he says. “A lot. But that’s okay. I love you anyway.”
Jeremy puts his blade guards on and steps off the ice. He ruffles Henry’s hair as he walks towards the shelves where they keep all their skates stored and grabs the smallest pair, then comes back and takes a seat beside Sergio and Henry. He taps Henry on the nose. “You want to skate?”
“Yeah!” Henry yells, shaking his fists, almost punching Sergio in the nose in his excitement.
“Alright!” Jeremy says with equal excitement. “Gimme your feet, buddy,” he directs and begins to lace Henry into his skates. Once he’s done, he picks Henry up from Sergio’s lap and places him on the ice, then gives him a little push. Henry is clumsy on the ice, but he clearly enjoys himself. Jeremy skates to himand grabs his tiny hand, leading him around. He looks over his shoulder and smiles at Sergio. “Are you coming?”
Sergio nods and rises to his feet, making his way towards them. Once there, he grabs onto Henry’s other hand. Balanced and happy, gliding together around the ice, a warmth settles over Sergio despite the barn's ice rink chill. He may want to leave this day behind, but he never wants to leave this place. He wants this life, and he wants it with Jeremy.
After another lap, when they find themselves close to the ledge, Sergio lets go of Henry and turns to face Jeremy. “Will you skate for me?”
“What do you think I’ve been doing?” Jeremy laughs.
“Not like this,” Sergio says, slowing to a stop and placing his hand onto Jeremy’s shoulder. He runs his fingertips down Jeremy’s arm, then pulls his hand away and brings it to cup Jeremy’s cheek. His thumb gives a gentle tug to the side of Jeremy’s eye. “I want to watch you skate alone, without you having to drag us along.”
“Why?” Jeremy averts his eyes, but Sergio tips his head back up to look at him. “After everything you’ve told me, I’m not dumb enough to think you don’t find a way to watch me skate every day.”
“I do,” Sergio concedes. “Most days at least.”
“And you’re not tired of it?”
