Page 37
How’s a girl supposed to sleep in when her man plans an exciting surprise date? She can’t. It’s not possible.
He told me to dress warm, so I’m wearing my fleece-lined black leggings and the D.C. Eagles hoodie I stole from West. I’m slipping on some fuzzy socks when I hear the doorbell. I slip and slide on the wood floor as I run down the hallway to open the door.
West stands on the other side of the door with a nervous smile on his face. He shifts from one foot to the other and sticks his hands in the pockets of his black jogger pants.
“What’s wrong?” I ask him, feeling apprehensive at his nervous body language.
He bites his bottom lip and steps inside the apartment. “Well, last week you mentioned to me and Harrison that you’d like to try ice skating again… indoors, of course.”
I gulp. “Okay…”
“So, I planned an ice skating date. But on the drive over here I started freaking out that it might be too much, and I don’t want to pressure you into getting back on the ice.” He takes my hand in his and softly rubs the back of my hand with his thumb. “So, the decision is yours. We can go ice skating, or do something else.”
I pull my hand away so I can wrap my arms around him. He relaxes instantly and embraces me in a warm hug.
“First of all, I freaking missed you,” I say, and then feel his chuckle rumble through his chest.
“I missed you too.” He gives me a squeeze and kisses the top of my head.
“Secondly, I appreciate you giving me the choice. And I would like to try ice skating again.”
He pulls back to look me in the eye. “Are you sure?”
“I’m sure. Even if I just step out there and don’t have a panic attack, it’ll be a win.” I smile. “And who better to go with than a professional hockey player?”
He grins. “True. And I just happen to be a professional hockey player.”
Half an hour later, West parks at the skating rink. I notice the parking lot is empty except for one other vehicle. “Um, are you sure it’s open?”
He shoots me a tight smile. “Yeah… I actually rented the whole place for the day.”
“Are you serious?” I quirk a brow at him.
“Yep. And I got you a present!” He winks then gets out of the car and grabs a large box from the trunk.
I get out and see he’s holding a box containing brand new hockey skates. “West, you didn’t have to get me skates. I could’ve just used the rentals!”
“Mel, I mean this in the least snobby way possible,” he pauses to take a deep breath. “No girlfriend of mine will ever be seen in rental skates.”
I bite the insides of my cheeks to keep from laughing, but only because I can tell he’s totally serious. The idea of rental skates is that horrible to him.
“Well, thank you. These are lovely.” I trace my finger along the sparkly pink laces.
West smiles, looking pleased with himself. “Great, they’re freshly sharpened too. You take these and I’ll grab my skates.”
He hands me my new skates, grabs a duffle bag from the trunk and we head inside. The lady at the front desk, who’s probably in her seventies, shoots West a knowing smile and he winks at her.
“You’re a shameless flirt, Weston Kershaw.” I make a tsking sound with my tongue.
“You jealous of me and Mabel?” He says while waggling his eyebrows.
I giggle and we find a bench to lace our skates up. West gets down on a knee to tie mine, his hands and fingers brushing against my calves. The cold air in the skating rink is no match for the warmth that surges through my veins when West touches me. He looks up and meets my gaze, one edge of his lips curving into a mischievous smile.
“Keep looking at me like that, and all of the ice in this place is going to melt before I even get to use my new skates.”
West chuckles then comes and sits next to me so he can lace up his own skates. “Alright, I’ll behave.”
Now that I’m not distracted by West's touch, I start feeling nervous. I know I cannot fall through this ice, but the anxiety will override the logical part of my brain if I let it. I take a few deep breaths before I feel West’s palm on the back of my neck. He massages it gently.
