Page 31 of Deck the Hauls

CHAPTER ELEVEN

DANA

The crack of Emily’s head hitting the ice sent my stomach in free fall.

I skated over to her as fast as possible. “Are you okay?”

“I think so…” Emily tried to push herself up. “Ow!” Her gloved hand reached for the back of her head.

“Let me help you.” I wrapped my arm around her shoulders and carefully raised her into a seated position.

Emily gave me a wan smile. “It’s just a bit of a headache. I’m sure it will go away soon, but I think I’m done for the night.”

“Of course,” I said. “Do you think you’re okay to get off the ice, though?”

“I’m fine.” She winced.

I rose and offered Emily my hand. Wobbly, she stood. I gripped her hand and guided her to the exit.

Once we were on dry, non-slippery land, I exhaled and ushered Emily to a bench. “Would you like me to get you anything? Water? Another hot chocolate?”

Emily shook her head and winced again at the motion. “I’m fine, thank you. I think I’ll just sit for a few minutes, if that’s okay.”

“I’m so sorry,” I said, taking a seat next to Emily on the bench. “You were doing such a great job and then that idiot cut in front of you. And he didn’t even stop to help. What a dick!” I surveyed the rink for the offender, but he’d disappeared. I hoped Emily hadn’t lost all the confidence she’d built up tonight as a result of his actions.

“At least when we’re filming there won’t be any out-of-control assholes.”

I wouldn’t put it past Austin to be a dick on the ice, but now was not the time to make disparaging remarks about Emily’s costar.

Beneath the soft glow of the twinkle lights, I studied Emily to check she really was okay. Her cheeks and nose were pink, her green beanie tugged over her dark hair that fell in waves underneath. She was so beautiful. Then she winced again, breaking me out of my trance.

Shit. Should we go to the hospital? If only Blake were here.

Actually… I glanced at my watch. 8 pm.

I turned back to Emily. “Hey. I was thinking… My friend who is a doctor should be at the pub just up the street tonight, with a few of my friends. I think we should get her to check that you’re okay. I can drive you up there.”

Emily opened her mouth as if she was about to protest, but then her forehead creased and her hand shot to her head again. “Thank you. That would be good. I’m sure it’s nothing, but it wouldn’t hurt to check.”

She bent down to undo her skates and flinched again.

“Hey, let me do that for you,” I said, kneeling at Emily’s feet, proposal-style yet again, as I undid her laces and carefully removed her skates.

I grabbed Emily’s shoes from the wooden cubbyhole and helped her into them, then we made our way slowly to my truck.

—

Loud voices and the smell of pub food hit us as we entered Builders Arms.

I scanned the crowd—Builders Arms was always packed on Saturday night—and smiled as I spotted George and Hannah standing at the bar, chatting to the owner, Dan. George leaned against the counter, her dimple on her right cheek on full display, while Hannah laughed, pushing her glasses back up her nose with a finger.

I exhaled as my eyes fell on Blake’s short, dark-brown hair next to Jenny’s long blonde waves. Roz and Olivia sat opposite them at a long wooden table near the old grandfather clock.

I turned to Emily just in time to see another wince of pain cross her face. Shit. “They’re just over there.” I nodded my head in my friends’ direction.

We wove through the crowd of locals until we reached the table. Olivia, dressed in a cozy-looking purple sweater covered in yellow flowers, was the first to spot us, her eyes lighting up.

“What a nice surprise! What are you two doing here?” Her gaze turned to Emily. “Sorry, I should introduce myself. I’m Olivia.”