Braxton wets his lips, looking nervous. “I was…One of the reasons I failed us so badly was because I was so sure I could handle everything that happened after Allison on my own.”
“Arrogant,” I mumble, but he ignores me.
Braxton’s next words come out so fast, they’re all jumbled together. “I didn’t want you to think I was weak.”
It takes a second for me to untangle his words. “And you thought it would be better if you hid it all from everyone?” I ask cautiously.
Braxton looks away, his shoulders tense. “I was terrified you would walk away, Gracie. I didn’t put enough trust in you or our relationship, and I took the easy way out.”
I understand more than he realizes, having spent my entire life hiding my own hurts from the world. I thought that if my parents saw how unaffected I was by their treatment of me, they would be more likely to approve of me. Instead, I live with the consequences of burying that all deep, while they live on the periphery of my life, unawareor uncaring—or both—of the damage they wrought on their child.
“It’s okay,” I say softly as Braxton looks at me again. “We’re not holding onto the past, and I’m not leaning into fear of the future, either.” I exhale heavily, my shoulders lowering. “You are going to learn how to ice skate, though.”
“Here!” a high-pitched voice shouts, and we turn to look just as the little girl from earlier comes flying toward us, shoving a penguin skate helper in front of her. “They didn’t have any seals left, but maybe you like penguins.”
The girl lets go of the penguin as she comes to a jarring halt, and it goes flying into Braxton’s shins. A low curse escapes as his hand leaves mine, his skates sliding wildly against the ice as he tries to regain his balance. The girl’s eyes go wide, her mouth a perfect o, watching as I try to capture Braxton’s hands and pull him upright…but it’s too late.
His skates go forward while his body goes backwards, and he lands with a solid thwack on his hip. His mouth twists into grimace—one that only deepens when he catches sight of me standing over him, trying to smother my laughter behind my hand.
“Oh my god.” The girl’s mother arrives, her expression horrified as she stares down at Braxton. “I’m so sorry. Rita just really wanted to help.”
He smooths his expression out. “It’s fine, I promise. Rita? Thank you for the penguin.” He doesn’t try to move, seemingly comfortable sitting on his ass on the ice, pointedly ignoring me as my laughter quiets to soft giggles. “I’m sure I’ll get the hang of this skating thing.”
Rita looks dubious. “I don’t know. You’re pretty bad. I’ve never seen someone fall down with a skate helper.”
“I didn’t—” Braxton cuts the argument off before it can start, inhaling deeply through his nose.
She doesn’t seem to notice his consternation. “Why are you just sitting there? Mom says the best way to learn is to get right back up if you fall down.” She shuffles closer, asking curiously, “Is your butt broken? Do you need an ambulance?”
“No!” Braxton says quickly. “I’m just…taking a breather.”
“On the ice.”
“Yes,” he says firmly. “On the ice.”
“Rita, time to go,” her mom says firmly, reaching out to grab her daughter’s shoulder and turning her away, shooting us one last apologetic look. “I think we’ve done enough damage for one day, and there’s a hot chocolate in the cafe with your name on it.”
“Yes!” Rita cheers happily. “I want extra marshmallows!”
“You got it, kiddo. Just no more mowing anyone over, hm?”
They skate away, Rita’s protest that she didn’tmowanyone drifting back to us.
I look down at Braxton and the penguin. “So?—”
“Not a word, Rumpel,” he warns. “Not now, and not to anyone else.” I bite my bottom lip, but he sees right through me, shaking his head with resignation. “Next date, we’re boxing.”
“Okay.” I shrug. “Just know I won’t go easy on you.”
Braxton barks out a laugh. “You’re playing a dangerous game, Rumpel.”
“You’ll forgive me if the man sitting on his ass on the ice doesn’t scare me,” I taunt, and Braxton rolls over onto his knees, getting one skate under him.
“Keep going,” he says lowly, eyes gleaming. “See what happens.”
I grin wickedly. “But baby…” He blinks at the endearment, his face softening, but it clears on my next words. “You’d have to catch me first.”
I turn and skate away before my meaning has fully sunk in, laughing when I hear his panicked voice behind me, “Gracie, wait!”
