As he talks, he strides between the kitchen and living room until the guys clear out. They put up mild complaints, but pack up their stuff and move elsewhere. Maya exchanges a glancewith me, both of us bouncing our brows in amusement. He comes back to herd us away.
“Relax, we’re going. We’ve got plans anyway,” I say.
We go up to my room to get Maya’s purse and my keys. I change into jeans and layer a hoodie over my t-shirt. On our way back downstairs, Reeves blocks the open door, talking to someone.
“No, it’ll be just us,” he says. “Not like a da—no. I need to pass this class. If I don’t, I won’t be able to play.”
The response from his mystery tutor is too muted to hear, but his shoulders slump in relief. He moves aside. A girl with curly brown hair and tan skin bundled in a fuzzy cream coat with bear paws on the sleeves steps through the door. She pauses when she sees us on the stairs.
Cameron clears his throat. “That’s Easton and his girlfriend Maya.”
“Hi,” Maya says in a welcoming tone.
The girl shifts closer to Cameron, as if she trusts him more in the face of the unfamiliar. “I’m Elodie. From his calc class.”
“Nice to meet you. Don’t mind us, we’re just heading out,” Maya says.
I follow her down the steps and give Cameron a supportive pat on the arm. “Good luck with studying.”
When the door closes behind us, Maya hugs my arm. “She’s so pretty.”
I hum in agreement. “Ready to go?”
She threads her fingers with mine. “Are you going to tell me where we’re going?”
“Nope. Not until we get there.”
We stop at her apartment for a change of clothes. Reagan is still asleep when she pokes her head in to check on her. She sets out a fresh bottle of water for her and writes a note to say she’s out with me before we go to her room.
I sit on her bed while she rummages for an outfit. “If you don’t let me know what we’re doing, I don’t know what to wear.”
“Dress warm,” I advise cryptically.
She levels me with a look that’s a mix of exasperation and affection, swatting me with a stray pair of leggings. Once I deem her bundled enough, we get back in the car. During the ride, I rest one hand over the steering wheel and tuck the other between her thighs, thumb brushing her jeans.
When I pull up at the Heston Lake public rink, she grins.
“We’re going ice skating,” she says with certainty.
I squeeze her leg. “You know how to skate, right?”
“Of course I do,” she answers with an amused huff. “You think I let Ryan learn to skate by himself? As soon as he got his first pair of Bauers, I wanted them, too. I remember being so mad my dad got me figure skates instead of what Ryan had because I thought his were cooler.”
“That’s my girl.”
Once we rent skates for her, I sit her on a bench and tie them for her before I put mine on. I squeeze her ankle.
“How’s that feel?”
She wiggles her feet. “Good.”
Stepping onto the ice is ingrained in my muscle memory. Maya takes a minute to find her balance, cheeks coloring as she clutches me.
“Don’t laugh. I can skate, it’s just been a while. I’ve been too busy for stuff like this.”
I rub her elbows encouragingly, supporting her until she gains confidence. “I’m not in a hurry. We could spend the whole date like this if we need to. I just wanted to get you on the ice with me.”
The last of the stiffness leaves her. With a slight push, she coasts right into me. My arms circle her waist as I lower my head to meet her kiss.
