"Then trust that I really, really don't want to watch you fall on your ass in front of the entire town." Mac nodded toward where several people were skating nearby, definitely watching, definitely eavesdropping. "My reputation is at stake here."
Rachel laughed, and Mac felt that laugh all the way down to his bones.
She took his hands.
"Okay," Mac said, skating backward slowly, pulling her away from the wall. "Push with one foot. Glide with the other. Don't think about it too much."
"Don't think about it? Mac, I'm a librarian. Overthinking is literally my job description."
"Then turn off the librarian brain for five minutes and let the slightly terrified human brain take over."
Rachel pushed off tentatively. Her skates slipped. She squeaked and gripped his hands tighter.
Mac held her steady. "I've got you."
"You better."
They moved slowly across the ice, Mac skating backward with practiced ease while Rachel concentrated so hard her tongue poked out slightly between her lips. It was adorable. Mac was definitely staring.
"You're doing great," Mac said.
"I'm shuffling like a penguin."
"A verygraceful penguin."
"That's not a thing."
"It is now. Look, you're skating!" Mac grinned as Rachel managed three consecutive glides without panicking. "See? Natural talent."
"Natural terror is more accurate." But Rachel was smiling now, some of the tension leaving her shoulders.
They skated another lap. Then another. Rachel's grip on Mac's hands gradually loosened as she found her balance, her movements becoming less stiff, more fluid.
"Can I tell you something?" Rachel asked, her eyes still focused on not dying.
"Anything."
"This is the first time in months I've felt... normal."
Mac's chest tightened. He slowed them to a stop near the center of the rink. "Rachel—"
"I'm not trying to make it weird," Rachel said quickly. "I just wanted you to know that this, you, it means something. Even if I'm terrible at showing it."
Mac stepped closer, still holding her hands, close enough that he could see the flecks of gold in her brown eyes. "You're not terrible at showing it. You're here. That's enough."
"Is it?"
"Yeah,” Mac's thumb traced circles on her palm.
Rachel looked at him for a long moment. Then she started to say something—
And her skates slipped.
Rachel went down hard, pulling Mac with her. They landed in a tangle of limbs and skates, Mac's reflexes kicking in just enough to twist so he took the brunt of the fall.
"Oof." Mac stared up at the ceiling, Rachel sprawled across his chest. "Well. That happened."
"Oh my God. I'm so sorry. Are you okay?" Rachel tried to push herself up and immediately slipped again, face-planting into Mac's shoulder.
