Therearea few people, probably hockey players or figure skaters, who move effortlessly over the ice, skating circles around the other students. My eyes catch on one in particular, and I nearly fall off the bench. Even from the opposite side of the rink I recognize that imposing stature, that dark head of hair, those bright, shining eyes.
Cold seeps into my bones as I watch Wes do a few more laps. When he steps off the ice, he’s instantly swarmed by a group of girls, and discomfort squirms low in my gut.
Is he here with someone else?
Averting my eyes, I start tugging on the heavy skates. They’re bulky and uncomfortable, the laces too tight and the toes too stiff, and I wonder how I’m going to manage not to twist my ankle in these death traps.
Quinn taps my arm. “Hey, I think Wes is over there.” I follow her hand as she points across the arena to see that he’s still chatting with a bunch of people I don’t recognize, and my heart constricts.
“Oh,” I mumble. “Yeah.”
“Did you know he was gonna be here?”
I shake my head. “I had no idea.”
“Guess you guys are on the same wavelength,” she says with a lot more optimism than I currently feel. “Could be a sign from fate. Just saying.”
I shoot her a dry look. “Or it could be that half the school is here tonight.”
“I like my idea better.”
I stare back down at the skates, tuning out whatever’s going on across the rink, and focus on tying the laces. Once the right skate is under control, I move on to the left. I’ve just tied the knotwhen my neck prickles like someone’s watching me, and I lift my head to find Wes staring at me with a bewildered expression. I avert my gaze back down, my face warming as I recall my behavior the past few days.
Heshouldtalk to other girls. Heshouldgo to events with different people. He deserves it. Just because we’ve spent so much time together doesn’t mean he owes me anyth?—
“Hey, Poison Ivy,” comes that familiar voice, and before I have a chance to register his presence, he drops down beside me with a grin that gives no indication I’ve been distant with him. If anything, his eyes are too kind, his face too genuine, and I feel even worse. “What are you doing here?”
“Oh, um, hi.” I swallow, and my eyes drop down to the floor, finding it difficult to meet his gaze. Black skates. Dark jeans. Gray sweatshirt. I work my way back up the way I used to. “Quinn invited me. What areyoudoing here?”
“I came with Kaden and Ben.”
“Oh,” I mumble, and even though I’m relieved he’s not here with a date, a rush of hurt floods through me. He didn’t invite me to come.
You didn’t invite him either.
He gives my shoulder a playful nudge. “I’m glad to see you.”
My brows pull together. “Youare?”
He nods, a smile playing at his mouth. “Mhm. I missed you the last few days. Life is lonely when you’re not joined at my hip. I don’t think I like it much.”
I blink at him, having difficulty processing his words. “You’ve missed me?”
He dips his head closer, his eyes piercing mine with a look so unwavering that I momentarily forget how to breathe. Despite the music and the crowd and the lights, the world shrinks down to just the two of us, and we might as well be the only people in this rink. “Oh yeah,” he murmurs. “Big time.”
“I missed you, too,” I admit, still holding his gaze. “I’ve been trying to…” I trail off, trying to decide how best to describe the mixed emotions I’ve been feeling. The internal issues I’ve been having difficulty dealing with. “I’ve been trying to work through some things.”
I immediately wince at how vague that sounds, but Wes nods as though he understands because that’s just Wes. Patient. Understanding. Empathetic. “Look, Ives. I know I can come on strong. I was worried introducing you to my parents was too much for you, so I’ve been trying to give you space.”
I blink.He’sbeen trying to givemespace?
"It wasn’t too much for me.”
His brow quirks, and I know he sees right through me. “No?”
My shoulders droop. “Okay, it was maybe a little much, but I really did like them.”
“They really liked you.”
