That’s the thing, isn’t it? I already do. I trust this perfect stranger more than I’ve ever trusted a man in my life, outside of my Pa.
“Yes,” I say, the word puffing out of me in a cloud of fog.
He nods his head curtly. “Good, now we are going to take this nice and slow. Don’t worry about the other couples. It’s me, you, and our little bubble.”
He glides us forward, guiding me step by step. His movements are effortless and fluid. Somewhere between an amateur skater and the pro’s who are paid to do it. Me? Yeah, I’m either as stiff as an old man walking or floundering like a fish out of the water. There are zero things graceful and poised about me right now.
But even with all that happening, he doesn’t take his eyes off of me or skate away in embarrassment. No, instead he’s right here letting me cling to him, likely putting nail indents into his bicep, but he keeps smiling and encouraging me.
“See? You’re getting it.” He says, pride beaming from him. He’s far too confident about my skills as I cling to him like my own personal life raft.
“Sure,” I pant. “If the goal is for wild goose instead of swan lake, then I’m definitely nailing it.”
He spins me in a circle, the laughter bubbling out of me as the world blurs. Colors, lights, and the people all blend into a kaleidoscope of colors. When he stops me, I’m pressed against his chest, one of his hands pressed firmly against my lower back, and the other pushing one of my amber curls away from my face.
“Ryatt.” I breathe out, my eyes flicking between his. For the first time tonight, I don’t think about anything other than him and us.
“Hmm,” he says as he leans closer, his nose almost touching mine. If I just barely stood up, I’d get the kiss I’ve thought about since I saw him this morning.
“If you tell me that you are secretly a professional skater, I’m walking into traffic.”
He grins, the corner of his lip slowly lifting as he leans closer. My eyes cross as I watch him move his head from side to side, grazing his nose against mine.
“Let’s just say…” he leans back, his eyes twinkling in the lights. “Balance runs in the family.”
Before I can even think of a witty comeback, a blur of a neon scarf and flailing arms comes into view just as a kid screams “watch out.”
Faster than I can even process, Ryatt whirls me around guarding my entire body with his, taking the full blunt of the hit. But that isn’t our last problem, nope that comes when I feel myself falling backwards. Even with him taking the hit, the momentum knocked my skates out from under me.
In slow motion I feel myself falling towards the ice and I fear my concern from earlier is about to come true. Bracing for impact I slam my eyes shut, squeezing them tightly as I wait for the thunk and the pain. But it doesn’t come…how long does it take to fall?
I blink my eyes open to find myself laying across Ryatt’s chest as he lays across the ice. My eyes flick all across him, checking for any injuries when my face crumbles as I look at the top of his head.
What should be his dark, styled hair is now split to allow a set of velvet covered antlers. His eyes flick up to where I’m staring before his thumb and forefinger grasp my chin, tilting my head down towards his.
“Did I…do you have…”
“Shh Berry. We are both fine. Let’s get off the ice and take a break for some hot cocoa.”
“Uh…yeah, sure.” I’m still confused. Did I hit my head and not remember it?
He rolls, bringing both of us to a standing position again as the kid who hits us skates over.
“Man, I’m really sorry. I tried to stop, but I couldn’t.”
Ryatt doesn’t look at the kid or even seem to soften. If anything he seems to stiffen more, a coldness washing over him as he brushes off the layer of ice off his jacket before he quickly turns towards the kid.
His nose is flaring as his cheeks darken. “If you don’t know how to skate without harming others, then stick to the wall.” He thrusts his finger towards the few people wobbling along the wall. “You put my mate in harm's way because of your careless behavior.”
Mate? Is that like the Australians way of saying friend? Is that what we are doing? Being friends?
Ryatt takes a step towards him with his fist raised. I don’t know if he’s going to punch him or grip him by the throat but I’m not willing to find out.
I reach over, grabbing his elbow, and tugging gently. His head whips back towards me, his nostrils flaring hard enough I can actually see the fog coming from them, and his eyes almost have a wild, animalistic look to them.
“Ryatt…” I almost whisper. “It’s okay. I’m okay. He’s just a kid who made a mistake.”
Ryatt stomps his foot, the skate cutting into the ice. “You could have lost your fingers!”
