Cameron demonstrates by pretending to fall, sliding around on his knees. “Oh no, how do I get up?”
The kids giggle. Eve kneels next to him and shows them what to do, climbing back to her feet with Cameron.
“Let’s take turns,” Eve says.
I find myself observing her during the rest of the lesson more than the kids. She’s a natural on the ice.
It takes me back to my hockey practices in high school when she’d finish running through her figure skating routines before we took over the rink. She only did it for a while when I was still there, but I liked watching her lose herself in it.
As promised, when we’re done teaching the kids how to get back on their feet if they fall, we end the lesson by the three of us carting a few kids each while we skate around in loops.
When the time’s up, we herd the students off the ice to wait for their parents to pick them up and help them change back into their shoes.
“I’m heading back to campus,” Cameron says after we’ve got them all wrangled.
“Good hustle, Reeves. Thanks for coming out,” I say.
“I’d be down to do another class.”
“We’ll get you set up for volunteering again.”
Eve rustles his messy brown hair when he takes off his hat. “I’ll be cheering for you guys this weekend against Elmwood. Wings on me at The Landmark Saturday night if you win the home game with a shutout.”
His brows shoot up. “Yeah? Bet.”
“You motivate them better than I do,” I murmur once he’s gone.
“It’s easy. Everyone loves food.”
We wave goodbye to more kids as they leave. I get both of us hot cocoa while we wait around for them to trickle out. She holds the paper cup between her hands, inhaling the steam with a serene expression.
It’s mid-afternoon, the winter sun dipping low behind the pine trees on the other side of the lake to wash everything in soft light. It casts her in a distracting backlit glow and I’m having trouble not staring at her.
“Nothing like hot cocoa, right?” Eve freezes mid-sip, setting her cup down. “Ohh, that gives me an idea. Cozy nights and…”
She trails off, head bent over her phone. Sensing my curious gaze, she holds it against her chest.
“Oh, don’t mind me. I’m thinking out loud.”
I smirk, sipping my drink. “You say that like I’m a stranger who doesn’t know you.”
She rolls her lips between her teeth. “I was making a note for a design I want to make.”
“A design?”
“A sticker. Maybe an enamel pin, we’ll see. I haven’t made any of those yet.” She purses her mouth to the side in thought. “Maybe a keychain would be easier to tackle.”
“What’s all this for?”
She blinks as she realizes I’m genuinely interested. I give her my undivided attention.
“You know how I make stuff, like my own stickers and my earrings? I’m making a business out of it to sell them online. I have a lot I’ve made over the years, but since I decided to do this the ideas are flowing like crazy.”
When I don’t stop her, she shares more with me. She gains confidence, getting excited and gesturing wildly with her hands as she explains. I’m captivated by her lit up and passionate about what she wants to do.
“And—Don’t laugh.”
I swipe my tongue across my lip. “Wouldn’t dream of it.”
