“We’ll take it slow,” Sam says. “Hold my hands.”
I hesitate, every instinct screaming at me not to let go of the railing since it’s the one thing keeping me up, but I slowly convince myself to extend one hand to take his and then the other. I’m gripping his hands so hard it should be painful, but if it is, Sam’s face doesn’t show it.
“All right, now I’m going to move backward, and you’re going to follow me. Okay?”
He doesn’t wait for an answer before he begins to glide backward. My body leans forward to keep hold of his hands, my legs refusing to move until they have no choice. As soon as I attempt to skate toward Sam, I immediately trip and tumble face-first onto the ice in the most comically ungraceful manner possible, an embarrassing, crazy flail of arms and legs, landing hard on my elbows. It hurts, but not nearly as much as my pride does at the moment.
“Yikes.” Sam skids to a stop in front of me, trying not to laugh but only half succeeding. “Teaching you to skate may be more difficult than I thought.”
I’m too busy pulling myself onto my knees and rubbing my elbows to glare at him properly. I never should’ve agreed to this. All I’m doing is making an idiot out of myself. Hasn’t my dignity taken enough of a blow these days without me contributing to it of my own volition?
Upon seeing my sulky expression, Sam gives up all pretense of containing his laughter. “Aw, come on, you’re okay,” he says. He extends an open hand down to me. “Get up and try again.”
After a moment’s more of moping, I take his hand, letting him assist me to my feet. This time he goes more slowly, helping me inch along the ice. After a little while I start to get the hang of it—it’s like Asha said, one foot and then the other.
“There you go!” Sam says, his voice a little more enthusiastic than what is warranted. “You’re getting it!”
I start to gain a little confidence, and with it speed, pushing off the ice with a little more gusto. Just as I think I’ve figured it out, however, I lose my balance and stumble forward into Sam, toppling us both to the ice in a tangle of limbs. I land right on top of his chest, so when he laughs, I feel it reverberating through me, and I can’t help but laugh, too. Sam’s eyes widen like he’s startled by the sound. Our faces are so close together, and looking at him looking at me, I’m suddenly, painfully aware of the rush job I did on my makeup this morning. I must look like such a mess.