“Stop telling me what to do!” I growl at him while trying to slow down, my feet skittering like crazy under me.
“I’m going to tell you what to do as long as you don’t know what you’re doing!” he cries out, exasperated as he prevents yet another catastrophic fall.
We’re at the annual Boston Breakers Family Skate at the Edge Arena, surrounded by Breakers players and their families.
Remi’s living her best life, tearing up the ice with her stack of milk crates at high speed. Just ahead of us, she careens wildly into the boards, knocking herself off her feet, only to cackle maniacally before getting back up to do it again.
“She’s got a future in hockey,” Koen says, watching her.
I smile.
“You guys doing okay?”
The sound of Rory’s voice has my head turning, causing me to trip over my own blades again. Koen curses at my back as he catches me just before I hit the ice.
“Yes,” I say at the same time Koen growls, “No.”
“Do we intervene?” Rory looks up, asking Aidan at her side.
Aidan’s brows furrow. “You sure you're cleared for this? Didn’t the doctor say?—”
“He said, ‘return to normal activity after two weeks while exercising caution,’” I repeat flatly.
“I wouldn’t considerice skatingto be anormalactivity…” Koen challenges, but I wave him off.
“But Iamexercising caution,” I say, patting the arm he has locked around my waist.
Aidan and Rory exchange a look. “Good enough for me.” Aidan shrugs, deftly avoiding Koen’s glare.
Ice skating, it turns out, is much harder than it looks, and honestly, I could actually use a break.
“Maybe we could get some water?” I throw out there, and the next thing I know, Koen’s swept me up into his arms and is skating for the bench.
“Hey!” I cry. “I could’ve made it on my own!”
He rolls his eyes. “We don’t have allweek, Briar Rose.”
I huff, allowing him to carry me off the ice and deposit me onto the bench. There’s a bottle of water in my hands a minute later, and I take a few quick sips, searching for Remi on the ice.
I find her with Liam. They’ve ditched the crate, and instead he holds her up, pushing her in front of him while she squeals, a huge smile on both of their faces.
“So, I have something to tell you,” Koen says, sitting down next to me.
“Well, that sounds ominous...” I reply, shifting until I’m facing him.
“I talked to the director of the Boston Ballet.”
I nearly spit out my water. “You WHAT?!”
He just continues talking. “I explained how you missed the showcase because you were kidnapped?—”
“Did you tell themyouwere the one who kidnapped me?” I say, cutting him off.
Koen waves the thought away. “Details…”
I smirk.
“Anyway, they’re stillveryinterested in having you audition, so, as soon as you’re fully healed, they’ll arrange it.”His eyes search my face, hovering over my frown. “I thought you’d be happy?”
