My elbow brushed his accidentally, but he didn’t pull away. He dipped his shoulder closer, the cold wind off the Charles whipping strands of my hair across my forehead, and it felt less like the city and more like a bubble we’d carved out of it. Without thinking, I let him guide my hand to his. We skated together like that, quiet but aware, until he slowed, eyes locking with mine in that way that made the air thrum with something unspoken. So much was going on in that one look, that I found myself bracing against what he was about to say next.
“Fore!” Adrian’s voice split the bubble.
We both turned, just in time to see Sadie careening toward us, arms flailing, terror and joy competing on her tiny face. Miles threw his hands up, spinning backward a half-step to avoid a collision.
“Not mine,” he yelled. “I can barely keep myself upright over here.”
I didn’t have the luxury of hesitation. A little squeak of “Help” whimpered out as she slammed into me, knocking the air out of my lungs in a burst of small, chaotic weight.
My skates wobbled, knees threatening rebellion, and I tried to steady Sadie at the same time, but it was hopeless. I was going down. I squeezed my eyes shut, bracing for impact.
But it never came.
Eyes snapping open, I found myself staring straight into Ethan’s, his strong arm wrapped tight around my waist.
“Someone call for help?” A small smile tugged at the corners of his lips.
My cheeks warmed. Whether from the cold or mortification, I couldn’t decide. “I— I’m okay,” I stammered, still holding onto Sadie.
“You sure?” he asked, not letting go just yet, eyes scanning mine as if he could measure the honesty in my breath.
Adrian swooped in at that exact moment, finally catching up to wrest Sadie from my grip before she tripped again. “Gotcha, you little firecracker!”
Then he tilted his head at Miles, who had conveniently parked himself a few feet back. “Way to run away from danger, Not-Superman.”
“No way I’m hitting the ice and risking all of this,” he said, motioning to his face. “Need I remind you, this face is our moneymaker.”
Ethan rolled his eyes, though the corner of his mouth twitched. “Of course. Our success has nothing to do with combined talent and solid business sense.”
My laugh was light and untethered, like some of the tension had leaked out of my chest in the cold air. We lingered there, asmall cluster of motion and laughter, skating in shallow circles so none of us had to let go of the other’s energy. The kids had temporarily scattered, leaving the three of them orbiting me in that easy way that felt familiar again, the teasing and banter binding us tighter than any apology ever could.
I shoved a strand of hair from my face and let myself sink into the movement of it all. Maybe things were… almost back to normal. Almost.
“Can we get some hot cocoa?”
I turned just in time to see Emma and Will skating toward us, cheeks pink, all enthusiasm and zero chill.
We peeled ourselves off the ice with varying degrees of grace. Emma and Will bolted ahead like it was a race against frostbite, their skates bouncing up and down in a rapid staccato. I trailed behind, hands tucked into the pockets of my coat, catching my breath. The steam from a nearby roasted chestnut cart curled upward, twisting around my thoughts as I considered how easily we’d found our rhythm from before.
“Are you guys having any?” Will called over his shoulder when we got to the stall.
“Hell yeah,” Adrian said, voice pitched like this was a matter of national importance. He snagged Sadie’s hand and tugged her forward.
Miles stayed with me, his glove brushing mine as we navigated around the scattered crowd. Everything he did, every subtle angle of his stance, seemed like it was designed to nudge me awake to his presence without saying a word.
Steam wrapped around the mugs, a rich chocolate scent drifting into the cold air. I cradled mine in both hands, letting the heat seep through the fabric of my gloves and into my fingers. Miles held his close, eyes tracking the kids as theydanced between people and kiosks, grabbing candy canes and tossing them into the air like confetti.
“They’re doing it!” Will suddenly yelled, pointing toward the giant tree at the center of the Common.
Heads snapped up. Even through bundled layers of coats and scarves, the crowd shifted, craning and jostling for a better view. Adrian moved instinctively, scooping Sadie onto Miles’s shoulders so she could see above the tangle of taller onlookers. Her tiny hands clutched his hair for balance, heels tapping lightly against his chest. She squeaked, pointing at the tree with wide eyes, and I could feel her excitement spreading through our small circle.
A hush began to ripple through the crowd, the collective anticipation pressing against my ribs. Someone behind me started counting down, muffled at first but catching on quickly.
“Three…”
I caught Ethan glancing at me, a small smile tugging at his lips. Even his casual warmth carried a kind of steadiness I’d been craving.
“Two…”
