The words land low in my stomach and he smirks at my silence.
"Why, did you miss me?"
"You were gone three days." I roll my eyes.
"That was not answer." He chides slowly.
I don't give him one, looking from him to the empty rink to his skates.
"Everyone has already left." He says softly.
I knew that. The parking lot was empty when I got here.
Asher tilts his head at me. "Do you have your skates?"
It takes me a second to reply. "In my car."
"Go get them."
• • •
His hand settles low against my back as I step onto the ice.
The contact feels like something snapping into place.
"I hated it," he says quietly.
I swallow, focusing on not face planting at the feel of his body so close to mine. "Hated what?"
"Not being able to do that."
His palm presses slightly into my lower back.
I swallow.
We fall into rhythm side by side. His hand brushes mine, pinky almost hooking around mine like it belongs there. Like it has every right.
I twist suddenly, turning to face him and skating backwards. I need the space right now.
"Did you behave?" I tease. "Bet you were very popular while you were away."
He smirks and says, "I behaved." There's a pause. "Mostly."
My stomach drops.What does that mean?
I don't have time to think on it before he's skating around me, circling me. "Did you miss me?" He presses the same question from earlier.
"You were in another state."
"Doesn't mean you weren't thinking about me."
Heat climbs up my neck.
He notices. Of course he does. He always seems to notice.
His hand drifts slightly lower. I nudge him with my elbow on my back.
"Asher." I hiss warningly, butterflies taking flight.
