Page 46 of For Crosby

He held up a pair of hockey skates. “Put these on.”

“You’re kidding?”

“Scared?”

I snatched the skates from his hand. “Why don’t you show me what you’ve got while I put these on.”

His lips slipped into a cocky smirk as I sat down in the nearest seat. “You sure you can handle it?”

I pulled off my sneakers and slipped my feet into the hockey skates. “I’m not easily impressed.”

“Sounds like a challenge.”

I shrugged as I proceeded to lace up the skates.

Crosby turned away from me and zigzagged down the length of the ice faster than I’d ever seen someone skate in person. I thought he’d crash into the far wall, but he swerved quickly, and skated toward me—backward.

Damn show off.

I stood unsteadily on my skates and held onto the seat in front of me, slowly making my way to the opening in the rink.

When he reached me, he spun, scraping the ice with his blades and spraying frost all over my legs.

I suppressed a grin. “Not impressed.”

His brows shot up. “Oh no?”

I shook my head.

“What’s it gonna take?”

I lifted my chin at the ice. “More than that.”

He glided forward until he stopped in front of me in the open doorway. “Be careful what you ask for.”

It happened before I saw it coming. He grabbed me and tossed me over his shoulder, taking off and circling the ice at top speed with me hanging upside down and screaming like a maniac. “Put me down!”

His deep laughter filled the arena, echoing off the empty seats.

“I’m serious!” I shrieked as I held on to his hips for dear life.

My pleas didn’t faze him. He moved faster and in ways that would surely send me flying off his shoulder if he fell. But he didn’t. His movements were smooth, his turns effortless. If I wasn’t so scared of landing face first into the ice, I might’ve enjoyed the ride more. “You impressed yet?” he asked.

“Yes!” I screeched.

“I don’t believe you.” He spun, whipping me around and skating backward.

I closed my eyes and buried my face in his back. “I’m impressed!”

His shoulders shook with laughter as he slowed to a stop at the side of the ice. He guided me over his shoulder and down his front until he placed me on my skates.

I glared into his light eyes as I held the sides of his arms for support. I wanted to be pissed at him for scaring the hell out of me, but his flushed cheeks, deep breaths, and grin softened my anger.

Damn him.

“That was fun,” Crosby said.

My feet slipped on the ice beneath me, so I inched my way over to the nearby wall, releasing my hold on Crosby and grasping onto it with a death-grip. “I’m glad you thought so.”

---