“Whatever you say.” I hold back my laugh and skate a foot away.
He glides away smoothly, turning to face me.
“You ready?” he calls out.
“Are you?” I ask, trying again not to laugh.
He’s confident, I’ll give him that.
Nico pushes off, skating toward me. He lowers himself slightly when he gets closer, turning his body just enough so that he’ll hit me with his shoulder. I dig my feet in, preparing for the hit. It’s possible he knocks me on my ass by hitting me harder than I expect, but I doubt it.
He slams into me, bounces back, and falls on his ass.
“Oof!” He frowns up at me. “Are you made of lead?” he barks. “You didn’t even move an inch.”
“I’m good at what I do,” I say through a chuckle and offer him my hand.
He takes it and I pull him up and to me. “Are you okay?” I ask gently.
“Fine. I’ve fallen on the ice before.”
“Yeah, but from slamming into someone? Did you dislocate your shoulder? I can pop it back in for you.”
He growls up at me, the cutest sound.
“So, hockey is for me and figure skating is for you. Deal?” I say.
His smile softens. “Yeah, deal.”
“Now…” I take both his hands and pull him to center ice. I take one hand, lifting to my shoulder, while planting mine on his hip. I take his other, holding it up and out. “Dance with me.”
The air leaves his lungs as he looks up at me and for the first time, I’ve made him speechless. I move us slowly, in a rhythm that feels right because there’s no music. But that doesn’t matter.
Nico relaxes into me, making the dancing easier. He’s not stiff; he’s used to moving around, making him an amazing dance partner.
“I can’t remember the last time I danced with someone,” I admit.
“Secondary for me,” he says, sliding both arms around my neck and moving even closer, resting his cheek on my chest.
“That’s like our middle school, right?”
“I think so,” he mutters, sounding tired.
I want to ask more about the differences from Canada to the US. I want to know more about him and his life, but this feels good, and I don’t want to ruin it. Him in my arms, dancing slowly, his soft breathing. The way he fits against me. It’s all so perfect.
Too perfect.
Chapter Eighteen
Nico
We leave the skates at the box, where Coach told me to, and Roman and I head out to catch the bus. Once we’re back in the Village, the energy shifts as we both know it’s time to part ways but neither of us wants to.
And to think, in just a few days, we’ll be parting ways for good…
I don’t want to think about that, so I push the thought away and focus on now.
“I had a lot of fun learning about figure skating,” Roman says as we walk toward the buildings, so close our arms brush each other the whole time. This time, I know it’s purposeful.
