“Sure, what’s up?”
“I need a favor.”
His eyes narrow. “What kind of favor?”
I smirk, knowing I’m about to get what I want. “Does it matter? I just won you the gold.”
Roman is waiting for me outside with a grin on his face, looking like maybe he’s the one who won the gold.
“Congratulations,” he says, walking up to me and looking like he wants to hug me, but hesitates.
“You want to hug me, don’t you?”
“So badly,” he rasps out.
I lean into him, putting my arms around his waist and resting my cheek on his chest. He embraces me, his large arms coming around me. Not an inch of cold gets through like this, not with his huge body holding me and keeping me warm.
I pull back and look up at him, wanting to kiss him, but I won’t. This isn’t that…
“I have a surprise for you,” I say.
“A surprise?” He rears his head back. “You’re the one who won. I should have gotten you something. Damn, why didn’t I think of that? Flowers or—”
“You being here is enough.” I take his hand and pull him toward the doors. “Come on, Big Guy.”
“Why are we going inside?”
“You’ll see,” I sing-song over my shoulder as we head back through the doors.
The familiar scent of ice and the chill in the air brings me peace. I hold on tighter to his hand, not wanting to let go. We make our way to the benches by the opening for the ice.
Two sets of skates lie on the benches—mine and a pair for Roman.
“What are we doing?” he asks carefully.
I smile up at him and gesture to the skates on the bench. His gaze goes that way, and he raises his brows.
“Hopefully they fit.” I drop onto the bench and take my shoes off to get my skates on.
His eyes stay glued to the skates for a long moment before he turns them on me. They are so full of emotion, so bright, and… slightly confused?
“You want to skate with me?” he asks softly.
My smile is slow as I lace up the last skate and put my foot on the floor.
“No, Big Guy. I wantyouto skate withme.”
Happiness lights up his face as he drops to the bench and eagerly gets his shoes off and skates on.
“These are weird,” he says as he tightens the laces, wiggling his foot.
“I forgot the skates are different,” I comment. “Hopefully you don’t fall on your ass and make a fool of yourself.” I step onto the ice, grinning at Roman who is smiling goofily at me.
When he finally steps on the ice, he does so confidently—too confidently. He trips up and almost goes down.
“What the—”
“Yeah, that’s the toe pick!” I call out, gliding around the curve of the arena. “Watch out for that.”
