I don’t think. I don’t hesitate. Adrenaline floods my veins as I scramble to my feet, skating hard and fast toward the hole that she's slipped inside. Her head bobs up once, her heavy coat dragging her down beneath the surface as she gasps, choking on the cold.
“No, you don’t!” I growl, diving forward, my arm plunging into the freezing water while my skates dig for purchase on what’s left of the surrounding ice. My fingers catch the slick material of her coat, but it’s slippery, and I lose my grip on the first attempt.
“Hold on!” I shout, my voice raw, and lunge again. I know we’re running out of time. I know there’s a strong chance I’ll fall in too and we’ll have to swim, but none of that matters right now.
This time I connect with her arm before more ice gives way beneath my legs. Her body is ice-cold, her lips turning blue, but I don’t let go. I can’t.
The ice around me groans louder, threatening to give way, but I grit my teeth and haul her up with every last ounce of energy and I have. My legs slide into the water as the edge collapses under my weight, but I don’t stop pulling until she’s out of the hole, sprawled on the ice, soaked and shivering violently.
“I’ve gotta get us to the edge where it’s safe.” I keep pulling. Moving on my knees tentatively, trying not to upset any unseen ruptures while kicking myself for how bad I fucked this up.
Every inch we move slowly feels like a mile. My legs are numb from the water, Rosie’s teeth chatter loudly, but I don’t stop, I can’t stop.
I can hear the crack continue to echo behind us, the lake opening up to take what’s left of the ice with it. My feet are soaked with the slush, but I keep going. Until I’m sure that the ice beneath us is firm.
“I’m going to pick you up now.” I stand quickly, tap my skates twice to confirm the ice is still frozen solid here, then scoop her into my arms and take off.
Her body is shaking so hard she can’t speak, and her sobs are muffled against my chest.
I skate faster than I’ve ever skated in my life, adrenaline overriding pain and exhaustion as I push us toward the edge of the lake. I don’t care about my skates, the cold, or the way the snow that’s started to fall cuts into my skin.
Nothing matters except getting her inside and warming her up as quickly as possible. This isn’t about anything but survival now.
The second we hit the dock I bolt for the house. The wood creaks under my weight and sharp skates as I carry her over the threshold. By the time we’re through the door, her lips are a purplish blue and her eyes are starting to close like her body’s shutting down.
“Hang on,” I mutter, kicking the door shut and lowering her into a chair. My hands fumble with her skates, yanking them off her frozen toes and tossing them aside. I peel off her soaked coat, but she’s drenched through, so it makes little difference.
I tug off my skates and then scoop her up again, taking the stairs two at a time, heading straight for the primary bathroom.
When I hit the door, I’m laser-focused, running on pure instinct and fear. Her body feels too light in my arms and it’s trembling uncontrollably. I set her gently on the tiled floor, turn the shower on full blast, and crank it to warm.
The room starts to fill with mist as I strip her coat, my jersey, her sweatpants—everything soaked and heavy until she’s bare.
“Stay with me, Rosie,” I murmur, my voice shaking as much as my hands. I carry her into the shower, setting her carefully on the built-in seat. The water cascades over her, steaming and warm, but she’s still shivering, her skin like ice under my fingers.
I strip off my own clothes in seconds and help her stand, then step in behind her, wrapping her in my arms until we’re standing, pulling her tight against me. My hands move on autopilot, stroking her hair, rubbing her back, doing anything I can to bring the warmth back into her frozen body.
“Can you move your limbs for me? We need to try get some blood flow there.”
I don’t know if she’s trying but they’re still limp and shaking. I do it for her, lifting her arms, trying to get the circulation back then rub her shoulders with my free hand while my other wraps around her waist protectively, keeping her upright.
“You’re okay, Rosie,” I whisper, repeatedly, my lips pressed to her temple. That’s when I realize I’m shaking too. And not from the cold. But from fear. “You’re safe. I’ve got you. I’m so fucking sorry.” My voice breaks. “You’re okay. You’re going to be fine.”
Her teeth are still chattering, her body shaking violently in my arms. It feels like the hot water isn’t enough, like the cold inside her is too deep, too stubborn to let go.
I curse under my breath, holding her tighter to my chest, my heart pounding so hard it’s painful. She’s too fragile to be out in the cold. Too precious for my carelessness.
What the hell was I thinking? I shouldn’t have fallen. I should have done a better job scoping the lake for rocks and sticks before we went out. I should have taken her to a goddamn ice rink instead of the lake.
Minutes pass, or maybe it’s hours, I can’t tell, before I feel the slightest change in her body temperature.
The trembling eases bit by bit. Her skin grows warmer under my touch, the tension in her body softening. Her lips, no longer blue, bloom back to their soft pink natural hue and her breathing is steadier now.
Finally, her pretty eyes open to see me, just a crack, as the steam fogs up the room around us. She looks up at me, her gaze hazy but warm, recognition flickering in the depths. And then, slowly, her face tilts up toward mine.
“You saved me,” she whispers between chattering teeth.
“I shouldn’t have let us skate,” I respond, guilt tightening my chest. “I thought it was all frozen.”
