Page 71 of Released from the Sin Bin

Having enough with practice, I skate over to her. I’ve done more than they asked for and so far the only thing helping is Willa’s small tip.

“What are you doing here?” I lean against the short wall to catch my breath and wait for her to hobble over.

She still has the boot on, but isn’t walking with the crutches anymore.

“Watching.” She shrugs and hides the sadness in her face with a smile.

She can’t hide anything with those eyes.

“No crutches?” I note, checking out her tight leggings that cling to her hard, athletic legs.

“I was given the ok to walk on the boot.” She grins and puts pressure on and off the boot to show me, stopping to longingly look out at the rink. “I miss being on the ice.”

“Then come on.” I throw my stick over and hold the door open for her to step out in her boot.

“I’ll fall without skates on.” She puts her hands on her hips as if what I’m suggesting is impossible, but she really wants to do it. “If I get hurt again, I’ll get in even more trouble.”

“But it feels so good to be bad.” I lean in and hold out my hand to help her. “I won’t let you fall.”

She takes my hand but hesitates to step out. Biting her lip and looking at the ice with fear in her eyes.

Moving in front of her, I throw my gloves to the side and take her other hand in mine. “Step onto my skates.”

“What?” She laughs nervously. “You’re crazy.”

“Maybe,” I shrug and glide an inch away so that she has to step closer to the threshold, “but I know I won’t let you get hurt, and it might be fun.”

She moves just an inch closer.

“Don’t be a pussy,” I tease her to come out.

If I wasn’t holding her hands, she’d hit me, but I’m keeping those hands firmly in mine to avoid any spontaneous arousals.

“I don’t like that word.” She scowls but moves closer to the ice past the wall. “You got me?”

“I got you.” I assure her, and grip her shaking hands tighter.

She moves closer and steps with her good foot onto the top of my skate. We should’ve thought this through better. There’s no way her clunky boot is going to fit.

I wrap my arm around her waist and hold her against me to keep her steady.

“Hold on to me.” I grab the thigh of her bad leg to hold her boot up while she clutches my arms. “There we go.” I skate backward, with Willa holding onto me for dear life.

Her nails dig in through my practice jersey, clutching on with all the strength she has.

We take it slow, gliding around until I see Willa’s lips turn up into a secret smile. She loves being out here. In the middle of the cold empty rink. It’s a love I never had. I enjoy hockey, but I don’t know if I’d give up everything to play. If something better came along, I’d take it. But hockey is the only thing I’m good at.

“This is so awkward,” she laughs.

“Not romantic?” I joke, making it even more awkward.

She shrieks when I pick up speed and spin us around.

“I wouldn’t call fearing I’m going to break two legs romantic,” she shouts and clutches on even tighter.

“You’re not giving it a chance.” With no warning, I lift her other leg and wrap both around my waist.

“Carter,” she gasps. “What are y—”

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