That had me laughing loudly. “Deal.”
The next few hours were spent with us playing pick-up hockey games. The boys were constantly making us laugh with their goofiness and over-the-top cellies. It had me wondering if practice was always this much fun for them. If so, I might’ve chosen the wrong sport, because figure skating practices saw far more tears than smiles.
At one point, Piper was headed for the net with the stick on her puck. It looked like she had a clear path to the net, until Kappy swooped in and easily stripped the puck from her.
“Oooh!” the boys all called out.
“You couldn't let me get one?” Piper yelled at him. “You score all the time.” She threw her stick down in frustration.
“She dropped her stick!” Colt called out
“You know what that means!” JP added.
A huge grin spread on Kappy’s face as he swarmed back toward her, grooving deep into his edges. “We’re fighting, babe!”
Piper threw her arms down. “Do not call me b—” She was cut off with a strangled cry as he grabbed her up in his arms and started skating off. He didn’t stop skating until he crash-landed into a snowbank, making her even more angry with him.
“Jeez, the two of them,” JP said, coming to a stop next to me. “I can’t tell if they love or hate each other.”
Watching Piper smash a snowball into Kappy’s face, a laugh popped out of me. “I think both. They might shock us all and end up married.”
“Or in a jail cell,” JP deadpanned.
“Maybe both,” I said with a laugh.
He snorted. “Yeah, probably both.” After a beat, he turned to me. His warm breath hung in the cold night air. “Okay, whose turn is it?”
We’d been secretly playing truth or dare with each other the whole night. It started when JP voiced his annoyance over how Colt and Mer were constantly feeling each other up. I dared JP to go give Mer a hug in front of Colt to see what he’d do.
As soon as JP put his arms open for a hug, Mer laughed and walked into him, giving him a light pat. When Colt noticed, his eyes immediately narrowed on JP.
Noticing Colt’s jealousy, Mer played it up, leaning into JP and practicallycaressing him.
“Okay, that’s enough,” Colt called out, and then he charged after JP, who quickly skated away laughing.
When I chose truth, JP asked me softball questions. He seemed to want to know everything about me, my full name, my perfect day, my favorite song. And when I asked him for his answer after, he always gave it to me, even though he never chose truth.
“I think it’s my turn,” I said hesitantly.
JP smirked. “Okay, truth or dare, Al Pal?” he asked, his warm breath hanging in the cold air.
The fun of the night must’ve gotten to my head, making me feel a little too brave. “Dare,” I said for the first time.
“I dare you to go out with me,” he said, then his grey eyes widened, like he couldn’t believe he just said that aloud. “Sorry, that was so stupid.” He ran a gloved hand down his face and gave a sheepish grin. “I’ve been wanting to…uh… go out.” His face flamed. “With you.” He closed his eyes. “Ask you out.” He said more firmly. “I’ve been wanting to ask you out for a while.” His throat bobbed with a swallow.
My heart pretty much shriveled up and died.For a while?I wanted to cry. If he would’ve asked me back in the summer, I would’ve jumped at the opportunity. Then again, maybe it was for the best that he didn’t. Things were going smoothly for me as they were.
Sensing my inner turmoil, he shook his head. “Sorry, I shouldn’t have… damn.” He sucked in a sharp breath. “I just didn’t want to… Did I ruin this? I like talking to you, and I just thought…”
“No. I swear,youdidn’t. I…” I cleared my burning throat. “That’s really nice of you to ask.”
His shoulders fell. “But?” he asked softly.
I bit the inside of my cheek. I could practically feel my heart falling. I knew his kindness and attention were about to disappear, and I couldn't blame him. “But I have a boyfriend.”
His mouth dropped slightly open. “You do?” He shook his head. “How did I not know that?” He looked around at everyone on the ice and realization slowly sank into him. “Wait, do they not know you have a boyfriend?”
“Um…” I shrugged.
