“Uh huh. Today was wacky day at school and one of the students wore ice skates all day. It was brilliant when we went in high school, and thought it’d be so fun.”
“Ruby.” Trevor’s voice is washed out as the train speeds into the station. Getting onto the train, we smush into the cramped space between Londoners going out.
“You were saying?” I wrap my arms around Trevor’s waist as the train pulls out of the station, Trevor keeping us secure.
“You could get me to run naked through Buckingham Palace if you called it a date. I’m down for whatever you want to do.”
“Even finger painting?” I rest my chin on his chest, staring into his eyes.
“Oh yeah, we’re definitely doing this finger painting thing. I can’t bloody wait.”
“One thing at a time. Have you ever ice skated before?” My fingers play with the hem of his shirt as we pull into another station. People shuffle on and off the train. The stench of coffee and too many bodies is strong.
“Do I look like an ice skater to you?”
I shake my head. “You’re lucky I’m a good teacher.”
“Very lucky indeed.”
We take the train a few more stops and make the short walk to the place I found this afternoon. It’s dark with flashing neon lights everywhere. It’s straight out of the eighties, with loud nineties pop music playing. Nothing like how I picture an ice rink to look like.
“Okay. This seems like it could be fun.” Trevor follows me as I give him a tug toward the rental desk. Paying for two pairs, we put our shoes in a cubby and take a few tentative steps toward the rink.
“You think you’re going to be okay?” Trevor is holding onto the wall as he starts walking on his skates.
“I don’t think I’m doing this right.” He’s glancing down at his feet, trying to steady himself.
“Give me your hands and I’ll help.” The rink isn’t too crowded for a weeknight. Several people go flying by us as I pull us out of the safety zone. Setting a slow pace, I push off on one foot, then the other.
“Just like this.” I point to my feet to show him. Holding one of his hands, I move the other to his waist, guiding his motions.
“Just relax. It’ll get easier as we go.”
“Pretty sure that’s what I told the girls I had sex with back in school.” His lips quirk into a smile.
I roll my eyes. “I’m sure you did, hot stuff.”
Trevor takes to ice skating much faster than I thought. Before I know it, he’s whizzing past me, laughing as he goes.
“How in the world did you pick this up so fast?” I shout on his next pass. My girlfriends and I would hang out at the ice rink in high school, but I wasn’t the best skater. I loved going to stare at cute boys.
“What if I told you I was better than you think?” Trevor’s skating backwards now, a smart smile breaking across his face.
“Of course you are.”
“I loved that you wanted to come, but loved the idea of you teaching me even more.” He slows just enough so I bump up against his chest.
“If you wanted my hands on you, all you had to do was ask.” Wrapping my arms around him, Trevor looks behind us and sets a lazy pace around the rink. The music changes from a fast song, to an old ballad I don’t recognize.
“Looks like the music agrees with you.” We’re wrapped up in each other, skating to the slow song as it washes over me.
This night couldn’t get any better. I thought it would be fun to go ice skating, but this has turned out better than I imagined. Trevor with his hidden talents. Skating to a song talking about love. It’s the perfect night.
Trevor swings me away from his body, twirling me around before pulling me back in against his chest. We’re facing forward as the song changes again. “We might have a new tradition here, love.”
“That sounds like music to my ears.” Just as I go in for a kiss, we’re bumped into from behind and I fall flat on my arse.
“Oh shite! Sorry! You alright, lady?” The voice of a teenager is at my side as he bends over to pick me up.
