Mac started laughing. He couldn't help it. Rachel joined in,both of them shaking with laughter on the cold ice while Mrs. Britton and her best friend Fanny, skated past making unhelpful comments.
"Smooth, Ryan," Fanny called.
"Very romantic," Mrs. Britton added.
"Statistically, falls during ice skating dates have a seventy-three percent correlation with relationship failure," Tyler, from his team, observed as he glided past.
"Tyler, shut up!" Mac yelled.
But somehow that just made them laugh harder.
Finally, they managed to untangle themselves and stand up, both still giggling, both flushed from cold and embarrassment and something else.
"So," Rachel said, brushing ice off her jeans. "Still think I'm a graceful penguin?"
"The most graceful penguin who ever lived." Mac pulled her close, steadying her with his hands on her waist. "Want to try again?"
"Can we do the thing where you hold me from behind? Like in basically every ice skating movie ever?"
Mac's brain stuttered. Rachel pressed against his back, his arms around her, guiding her across the ice—
"Yes," Mac managed. "We can definitely do that thing."
Rachel turned in his arms, her back to his chest, and Mac wrapped his arms around her waist from behind. She fit perfectly against him, her head just under his chin.
"Okay," Mac said, his voice slightly rough. "Push off with your right foot. I'll guide you."
They moved together across the ice, slowly, carefully. Mac was acutely aware of every point where their bodies touched. The way Rachel relaxed into him. The way her hair smelled like vanilla and something floral. The way his hands spanned her waist.
"This is nice," Rachel said softly.
"Yeah." Mac's lips were very close to her ear. "It really is."
They skated like that for another twenty minutes, neither wanting to break the moment. And when they finally left the rink, Mac's hand found Rachel's naturally, their fingers interlacing like they'd done this a thousand times before.
"Same time next week?" Mac asked.
Rachel smiled up at him. "I'd like that. But maybe something where I'm less likely to give you a concussion?"
"There's a bookstore in Gandy, the next town over. The Dusty Shelf. You mentioned it last week, and I've been meaning to check it out."
"Mac MacKenzie, are you asking me to take you book shopping?"
"I showed you my world. Seems only fair you show me yours."
Rachel stopped walking. Then she stood on her tiptoes and kissed his cheek, quick and sweet and over before Mac could fully process it.
"Next Saturday then?" Rachel said, her cheeks pink. "Two PM. Bring your wallet because I'm going to make you buy way too many books."
"Can't wait."
Mac watched her drive away, his hand pressed to his cheek where she'd kissed him, grinning like an absolute idiot.
9
Rachel
Rachel had been to The Dust Shelf approximately four hundred times in her life.
