“Come on.” I pulled harder, trying to get her to start skating. I didn’t have the balance to go off by myself.
She finally relented and started skating. “I don’t know why you’re acting like this,” she muttered as she led me further out. “You’re obviously into him. You were practically undressing him with your eyes.”
I gaped at her, momentarily forgoing my concentration to remain upright and stumbled, nearly taking her down with me. “I was not undressing him with my eyes,” I mumbled once we leveled out.
She smirked. “You were. I know an eye-fuck when I see one.”
I glared at her, which only made her laugh.
“What? I’m not saying it’s a bad thing,” she said after her fit of laughter subsided. “It’s hard not to undress him with your eyes. Hell, I’m pretty sure my vagina whimpered the first time I saw him.”
I threw my head back and practically cackled, quickly covering my mouth with my hand to silence the laughter.
Beth grinned at my response, then waved to Josh, who broke away from the surrounding parade of skaters and coasted toward us. He smiled as he approached, skating effortlessly. He’d almost made it to the center of the rink when he stumbled. He lurched forward, landing on his stomach and eventually sliding as the momentum of his fall pushed him forth.
“Oh my god!” Beth let go of my hand and rushed over to him.
With Beth gone, I had nothing to hold onto to keep my balance. My legs wobbled and I swayed. Closing my eyes, I braced myself for the impact as my legs went out from under me, but I never made it to the ice.
Hands gripped my waist and my arms automatically shot out, grasping hard biceps. I looked up at Thomas as he set me upright, giving him a small smile. “Aren’t you tired of saving me yet?”
He smiled. “Never.”
Oh my god, I am so fucking sick of blushing in front of him...
I glanced down to my waist, where he still held me.
“Oh.” He quickly let go. “Sorry.”
“It’s okay.” I took a step, wobbling again.
Thomas held out his hand, but I hesitated. I wanted to take it. I wanted to touch his skin, and feel it against mine. I just wanted to be closer to him. But it would be a mistake to get too close. He waited for me to take his hand, smiling down at me with the same smile that was so beautiful, I knew this could not possibly end well for me.
However, I also knew there was no chance in hell of me making it off the ice by myself–at least not without falling once or twice.
Resigned, I took his hand and my legs steadied. I tried not to frown at the rush just holding his hand gave me. Instead, I nodded towards the bleachers beside the rink. “I’m gonna go sit down. I think I’m done.”
“I’ll walk you off the ice.” He started to lead me towards the edge. Words seemed to fail us, and we fell into an uncomfortable silence. He finally said, “I wanted to apologize again for last week if I was…rude. I didn’t mean to upset you.”
I smirked. “Which time?”
His face flushed, but he managed a rueful smile. “I don’t know how to act around you. You make me feel…awkward.” He laughed lightly. “It’s like I trip all over myself whenever you’re around.”
We got to the ledge of the rink and I reluctantly let go of his hand. “Don’t worry. You’re not doing too bad.” That was the problem.
Thomas grabbed his shoes from the lockers next to the rink, and we walked towards the section of bleachers where I left my stuff. I sat down and unlaced my skates as Thomas sat next to me.
“Are you sure you’re done?” he asked. “You were such a natural out there.”
I tried not to laugh. “Very funny.” I took off my skates and socks, stuffed the socks in my purse, and put my ballet flats back on. “I’m just gonna sit here until Beth’s ready to go, so…you can go if you want.”
Thomas looked over to the rink, then back at me. He shrugged and said, “I’m good,” as he started to put his shoes back on.
He had to have other friends out there, right? “What about that Brian guy?”
His brow lifted. “What about him?”
“Well, you came with him. Don’t you wanna hang out with him instead of me?”
He shook his head, appearing amused. “Not really.”
“Oh.” I frowned, not sure what else to say.
“Besides, I’m not gonna let you sit here by yourself while your friends are out there,” he said, nodding towards the rink.
My ego instantly deflated, like he’d taken a pin to a balloon. “Don’t do me any favors. If you want to go, go.” My voice came out hard, with a tinge of bitterness I wished I could’ve concealed better.