“That does sound like a better plan,” Sergio agrees.
Jeremy smiles at him and blushes a little deeper. “I guess I could find some time to add you to my schedule while you’re in town.”
“I promise to make it worth your while,” Sergio says, making an X across his heart with his free hand.
Jeremy spins them around so that they are skating backward. He and Sergio are doing all the work, and Henry is gliding along between them, happy as can be.
“What brought you out to the barn? I expected Holden to come and grab Henry.”
“I wanted to see you skate,” Sergio says, his tone of voice serious, leaving no room for misinterpretation.
“You’re about four years too late,” Jeremy says and looks away. “I’m afraid I’m not too much to look at anymore.”
“That’s not true,” Sergio says, slowing them to a stop in the middle of the rink. He continues to hold Henry steady with one hand, then grabs hold of Jeremy’s free hand with his other so they form a circle. “No matter how many times I see you skate, you never stop amazing me.”
Jeremy lets go of Sergio’s hand and tugs at his left eye. “You’re only saying that.”
“No.” Sergio shakes his head and resists the urge to reach for Jeremy again.Not yet,he tells himself.Don’t rush him. “I could watch you every day for the rest of my life and never tire of seeing you on the ice. You look … free.”
Jeremy looks at him with his bottom lip trapped between his teeth again. “I guess I am.”
“I wish you could see how you look on the ice.”
“That’s one of the perks of this place,” Jeremy says. He gestures around the rink. The inside, same as the outside, looks like a barn made entirely of wood. “There isn’t a reflective surface other than the ice itself in here.”
Sergio glides closer to Jeremy, working to close their circle again. “Still, I wish you could see what I see.”
Jeremy swallows and moves a little bit closer. “And what’s that?”
Sergio brings his palm to Jeremy’s cheek and uses his thumb to gently tug at the corner of Jeremy’s eye. “Strong and beautiful.”
Jeremy doesn’t pull away. Sergio lets go of Henry’s hand, trusting Jeremy to maintain his grip, keeping Henry upright. He brings his hand to Jeremy’s other cheek and cups his face. With that gentle grip, he closes the small gap between them entirely,bringing them chest to chest. He places a gentle kiss on his lips and sighs softly when Jeremy kisses him back. Chaste and simple, a reward marking an official fresh start.
Breathless, Jeremy pulls his lips slightly away from Sergio’s. “I hate to do this, but I really should start getting ready for the party.”
Sergio brushes his cheekbones with his thumbs. “Alright,” he says and rubs their noses together. “But if you think I’m waiting until midnight for another kiss from you, you’re crazy.”
“I wouldn’t expect you to.” Jeremy kisses him again.
“So …” Sergio lets go of his cheeks, then grabs his hand again. “Can I ask you to be my date tonight?”
“I thought that was already implied?”
“Are you two done yet?” Henry huffs, dropping his head back, which knocks him off balance and sends him laughing as he crashes onto the ice on his butt. Jeremy luckily let go of his hand in the process, keeping them both from going down.
Sergio and Jeremy share one last longing glance before Jeremy takes his attention back to Henry. “Sorry, Henry,” Jeremy says, pulling him back to his feet. “I didn’t realize we were holding you up.”
“Grown-ups spend too much time kissing,” Henry says. He lets go of Jeremy’s hand and skates away from them with his arms flailing and his feet slipping on the ice like a chaotic cannonball.
“I’ll argue we haven’t spent nearly enough time kissing yet,” Jeremy says and re-grabs Sergio’s hand as they skate, following Henry. He calls after him, “Sit on the ledge, Henry!”
“I know!” Henry yells back. “Blades stay on the ice.”
“I’ll help him,” Sergio says, quickening his pace to catch up with Henry. He sits on the low ledge and pulls Henry into his lap so he can help him out of his skates while Jeremy puts his blade guards on and steps off.
“What time are we leaving?” Jeremy asks, grabbing hold of Henry’s skates one by one when Sergio hands them to him.
“Holden says we’re leaving a little before eight,” Sergio says by memory. He starts taking off his own skates. “We have to drop Henry off at the Weirs’ on the way there.”
