Page 44 of Something Like That

He’d fallen instantly in love with it.

It reminded him of the rink in the small town he grew up in Nebraska, where he and Nate had learned to skate and he’d played minor hockey. Back when things were easy and fun.

He pushed open the swinging door that led to the ice. The crisp, cold air was sharp, stealing his breath.

Because that’s what happened. Somewhere along the way, it had stopped being fun. The thought made him stop short.

He stared at the ice, his heart pounding, but aching at the same time. The smooth surface shone under the overhead industrial lights. He closed his eyes and heard it call to him. Calling him home.

An ache grew in his throat, the back of his eyes burning.

“You okay?” She placed her hand on his arm.

He opened his eyes. She was staring up at him, a hint of concern in her eyes. Her gaze roamed over his face. Shit, were there tears in his eyes? He blinked hard a couple of times.

“Yeah, I’m good.” His voice was rough and scratchy. He cleared his throat and nodded. Because he actually was good. Better than he’d been in a long time. “Thank you.” He grabbed her hand and lifted it to his lips, pressing a kiss on the back of her fingers.

Her breath hitched, the look in her eyes shifting from concern to something hotter. Something he couldn’t wait to explore. Later. Because now they had stuff to do.

She must have come to the same conclusion because she scrunched up her nose in the cutest expression. He wanted to kiss her so badly. She extracted her hand from his and grabbed the whistle hanging on a string around her neck. “Ready?”

A weird sort of giddiness welled up inside him. “I am,” he said, and felt his lips tilt up in a huge grin.

She smiled up at him, her eyes dancing. The joy in her gaze was like a dart right to his soul, but instead of poison, it was filled with hope. Hope he hadn’t felt in a long, long time. She tossed him a cheeky wink and pulled open the door that led to the ice. The white expanse lay before him.

For the first time in forever he felt something akin to wonder race through him.

She stepped onto the ice and glided forward. When she got a few feet out, she spun to look at him. “Are you coming?”

He nodded. The stupid grin on his face made his cheeks ache. He stepped up to the door. The smell of the ice hit him first. It was indescribable, but comforting. He stepped onto the surface and pushed off, gliding toward her.

The unbridled joy inside him was so overwhelming, he laughed. The sound echoed across the empty ice. He and Alex were alone, the team still in the dressing room getting ready. There were a few parents milling around in the stands, but he didn’t care.

She grinned at him, gliding backward, away from him. He pushed off, the muscles in his legs stretching as they readjusted to the familiar movement. It would probably take a while to get them back to working via muscle memory, but it was a challenge he’d most willingly take on.

She skated over to the player’s box. A young Asian woman, her black hair pulled into a long ponytail, had come from the direction of the dressing room, and was standing in the box. Alex stopped next to the boards and they fell into an easy discussion.

He turned and skated toward the end of the rink. The cold air brushed against his skin, raising goosebumps. The sensation was so familiar, so welcome, he could barely breathe. He pushed off with his right foot, letting himself glide for a moment, and then repeating with his left.

Faster and faster, the glide and then the push. The push and the glide. The sound of the sharp blade cutting into the ice. Over and over until he was flying around the rink. Although, it felt like floating, too. Flying, floating, whatever it was, it felt fantastic.

And then Alex was next to him, a grin on her face, happiness dancing in her grey gaze. He slowed, decreasing the power behind each push. She moved in front of him, spinning around so she faced him. She wiggled her hips to keep her backward momentum. He let his gaze trail the long, lean length of her.

Man, he wanted to eat her up.

He must have given himself away, because her eyes widened, and she wiggled again. He got the distinct impression she was trying to get away. Not happening.

Another deep push and she was within range. He grabbed her, wrapping her up in his arms. She gasped and then laughed, holding onto his upper arms to steady herself. “What are you doing?” Her voice was amused and breathless.

Overwhelmed, he pulled her close for a hug, lifting her off her feet. Buried his face against her neck. “Thank you.” The words came out cracked and rough.

She wrapped her arms around him, holding him tight as they glided across the ice. “You’re welcome.” She rubbed her hand up and down his back. “But I didn’t do anything other than remind you of what was already there.”

He didn’t know what to do or say, so he just held on.

Alex blew her whistle, and the little girls on the ice all stuttered to a stop. Chelsea, the girl from the parking lot, slipped, falling on her butt. Nick swooped in, scooped her up and set her back on her feet.

The sweetness of the whole thing made Alex want to swoon. And, if the goofy look on her co-coach, Lexi’s face was any indication, she wasn’t the only one.