Slow.
Not touching yet.
I should stop him. Set a boundary. We can't do it again.
But instead, I stay there. Waiting.
My heart is pounding so loud I'm sure he can hear it.
He brushes his knuckles lightly against my jaw.
And that's it.
That tiny touch.
The invisible line drawn between us. Crossed.
He leans in.
I don't move.
Our lips hover a breath apart.
"Ivy!"
Charlie's voice echoes across the rink.
I jolt back like I've been burned, stomach dropping in both freight and fear.
Asher exhales sharply, rough and frustrated. His hand drops. He stands in one smooth motion.
He doesn't look at me again as he turns on his heel and stalks off to the back exit. He's gone in seconds and then Charlotte is taking his place at my side, smiling sheepishly at me.
"I'm so sorry, the popcorn machine broke right before I was meant to clock out, and I had to stay back- andanyway. Doesn't matter. I'm here, let me just get my skates on."
I nod too quickly. "It's fine." But my eyes drift to where Asher disappeared.
She starts lacing up her skates as I stand, moving towards the rink. I know Charlie won't be far behind.
I try to clear my thoughts. The ice usually helps; it's why I come here with Charlie. Why I asked her if we could come here tonight - because I needed it after the day I'd had.
But tonight, my mind is too jumbled with thoughts and memories of Asher - that kiss in the closet, the almost kiss earlier. His hands on my jaw-
I shake my head and push myself faster.
Charlotte appears at my side, a small smile on her face as we mimic each other's moves.
I've always loved being on the ice. Charlotte and I used to practice together when we both did it for fun - before I gave it up and she started taking it more seriously.
"Hey... can I ask you something?" Charlotte sounds serious for a second and so I slow down, twisting to stare back at her and tilting my head.
"Sure. Everything okay?"
"I overheard something today." She doesn't look at me. "About you and my brother. At the party the other night. That apparently he took you into a closet-"
I laugh.
Too fast.
