“In some ways I do. I don’t want to live in a world where I can’t remember our time here, but I will, if it means getting you back for Christmas, so you can live out your dreams.” Pulling her into me, I wrap my arms around her, holding her close to my chest.
“That’s why I didn’t hold back what I was feeling,” I explain. “There’s a part of me that wakes up each morning expecting to be back in New York too. I want to make the most of the time we have together without all the noise that comes with being home, even if it’s just for a few days.”
“You’re right,” she says.
Pulling back, my lips turn upward. “I always am.”
She swats at my chest, and my shoulders shake.
“Don’t ruin this moment,” she deadpans.
Bending down, I take her chin between my thumb and finger, lifting it slightly. Our lips connect in a kiss that says everything words can’t.
“Come on,” I say, grabbing her hand. “Skate with me.”
We begin to move around the small rink, gliding together on top of the ice. It feels good to be out here, with her and in no pain.
She breaks away from me, moving ahead. Her movements are effortless, and she looks happy out on the ice with me. It’s easy to imagine the two of us skating at Rockefeller Center every year.
She stops and turns to face me. Our eyes lock, causing her mouth to curve into a grin. Snow begins to fall around us. Putting her hands out to the side, she looks up to the sky and starts to laugh.
I skate quickly across to meet her. Snatching her up, I spin her around, settling her in front of me with her back against the boards. My hands weave into her hair, and I kiss her deeply.
“Sometimes this feels a little too perfect,” she says, catching some snow on her glove.
“Or maybe it’s just because you’re realizing you and I are actually perfect for each other.”
“You have no idea how badly I wish those cheesy lines of yours didn’t have an effect on me,” she says, pulling away and rolling her eyes.
“Just give in,” I tease. Her mouth tips up, and her eyes gleam with mischief. “What’s that look?”
“Want to play me in a little one-on-one ice hockey game?” she asks.
“That depends,” I jest. “What does the winner get?”
Cocking her head to the side, she thinks for a minute.
“I’m not sure. What do you think?”
“How about if I win, I get to take you on a date tomorrow, and if you win, I have to plan a date for you tomorrow?”
“That’s the same thing.”
“Then it sounds like we can’t lose.” I flash her a goofy smile.
“You could just ask me on a date,” she says.
“I could, but I like my chances better this way.”
I skate over to where my hockey equipment sits, grabbing a puck and two sticks. “Okay, first one to get a goal wins,” I say, tossing herone of the sticks.
“Okay,” she says, putting the stick to the ice. She moves back and forth playfully, pretending like she knows what she’s doing, but it’s clear she doesn’t.
“Have you ever played hockey before?”
“No,” she says. “But, it doesn’t look that hard.”
Shaking my head, I move behind her. I wrap my arms around her and breathe in her sweet perfume. My lips find her neck in a tender kiss.
