It feels like stepping back in time, like being a kid again, skating on the frozen pond at my parents’ house. Hours spent practicing stupid tricks that, looking back now, might’ve been reckless, but those tricks have saved me from more than one career-ending injury on the ice.
You learn to fall right, twist right, land on your ass right, and it comes in handy when you get catapulted against a wall during a game.
The whole scene that's stretched before me—the snow, the frozen lake, the twinkling of lights from the other homes that surround the lake and their backyards, the peacefulness of it all—makes me think about the future.
This town, this life... I could see myself here after I retire, living somewhere like this, where everyone knows everybody and neighbors actually care for each other.
And maybe... Rosie could see me living here too.With her.
I make it to the end of the dock before crouching down to remove my shoes, tugging on my skates and lacing them up tightly. Then I folder my arms over my knees and just watch the cold, winter sky.
The faint crunch of snow behind me gives her away before her scent does—roses, her favorite, soft and sweet.
I glance over my shoulder and there she is, bundled up in a huge puffy coat that stretches down to her kneecaps. The black sweatpants are still on, with the neckline of my jersey peeking out underneath, just visible enough to make my chest tighten.
A white knit hat with a little pom-pom sits snugly on her head, trapping the top of her golden hair. She’s got matching knit mittens on her hands and her cheeks are flushed pink from the cold.
“Hi,” she says softly, her breath coming out in a tiny puff of smoke in the frozen air. “At least the snow’s let up.”
Something about tonight, the way it wraps us in quiet and shadows, makes me reach for her. I pull her into a hug, telling myself it’s just friendly. But the way she melts into me, her body soft and warm against mine, tells me she needed my touch as much as I needed hers.
“Let me get out on the ice first,” I say softly, reluctant to let her go but knowing that I need to. “I’ll make sure it’s solid, though I doubt it’ll be a problem.”
She nods and steps back, smiling up at me as she drops into the snow to pull on her skates. “Sure. Let me know, Tremblay.”
I snort, shaking my head as I hobble to the edge of the lake. With a solid pound of my skate against the ice, I test it, satisfied when there’s no give.
Confident, I step out and take off. The cold air bites at my face as I glide across the frozen surface. There’s no sound out here but the satisfying scrape of my skates making fresh lines across the glassy surface.
The wind we’ve had lately has kept the snow from piling too deeply, which makes this even better. Deep snow can hide cracks or slush and make things more dangerous.
“We’ll stick to the parts that aren’t covered in snow,” my voice calls out to where she’s standing, waiting.
The ice feels good beneath my blades, solid and steady. And even though I've been skating all night and should probably give my legs a rest, this is where I feel the most at home. I wonder if this is how professional swimmers feel every time they enter the ocean. As if they are returning to the place where their soul was born.
I sweep the snow aside with every stroke of my skates, clearing patches as I go and checking for sticks or rocks. The natural grooves from the way the lake froze are visible, but nothing that looks or feels concerning to me. And with Rosie’s grace and balance as a trained ballerina, she’ll be fine.
Reaching the center, I spin around and skate backward, my eyes locked on her the entire way. When her gaze lifts to meet mine, I motion her forward.
“Come on out, it’s good.”
Chapter 27: Boone
She grins, stepping tentatively onto the ice. Her feet wobble for just a second before she steadies herself.
“Whoa.”
“Are they tight enough? You don’t want your ankle to have any space to twist.” I drop down in front of her, checking the strings and tightening them a little to be sure her feet are supported. Then I look up at her. “Is that any better?”
She smiles and nods. “Yeah, that feels good. It’s been a while since I’ve done this.”
I stand and brush snow from my sweatpants. “Don’t worry. It’s like riding a bike. Do you want to hold my hand, and I can take you for a lap to get warmed up?”
She shakes her head. “No, just give me a second to find my legs on my own.”
I nod. “Okay.” Then I start to skate backward away from her.
“Ooh, fancy” she teases, her eyes following my movements.
