Page 36 of Slap Shots & Sweethearts

She directs me to an outdoor skating rink that has warm twinkling yellow Christmas lights draping high enough above the ice, giving it a cozy feel. It's like something straight out of a Christmas movie.

"You mentioned wanting to skate with me earlier. This is one of my favorite spots, if you have the time."

"Are you taking me on a secret date?" I ask her.

"Think of this as a not-a-date, friend date."

"I wish I had my skates with me."

"Oh, where's your sense of adventure?" She teases.

I shudder at the thought of rental skates.

I find a spot to park, and we hurry to the skate rental counter. I refuse to let her pay, and smile when she asks for figure skates. I'd have figured her for a hockey skates kind of girl. We lace up, and then step out onto the ice. What I hadn't realized from the car is this isn't a regular rink, this is more of a ribbon. The ice follows a winding path before looping around to the same spot we stepped out on.

Our first lap is leisurely, getting a feel for the ice and each other. The few families with kids dwindle, even with the space heaters placed in two different spots to help skaters warm up along the ribbon. In our coats, I can go a few laps before I'd have need of one. But the air temperature is dropping rapidly now that the sun has gone down. Pretty quickly it's just the two of us skating on the ice, and the teenage kids running the ticket and rental counters are much more interested in staying inside where it's warmer.

Hannah and I skate side by side, and even though there's plenty of room, I find my arm brushing hers, and then I'm not sure who did it first, or if we each made the move at the same time, but our fingers brush. When our hands touch for a second time I loop my pinky around hers. We skate just like that with only the sound of our skates and the distant music playing from a speaker near the entrance.

I watch her out of the corner of my eye. She's beautiful, and under the twinkling lights, I'm seeing her beauty in a new light. It makes me want to see her in all kinds of light. Sunlight, starlight, and everything in between.

Her hand ends up fully in mine, and it’s seamless as we skate together.

She gives me one of her big smiles that's so full of happiness it just beams from her. I decide to name that one her million-dollar smile. Then I decide to name all of her smiles. Her million-dollar ones are my favorite because they mean she's genuinely happy. Then there's her pageant smile, it's pretty because she is, but it's just a mask to whatever she's actually feeling. Her smiling laugh is a close favorite, because the sound of her laugh makes me want to know what made her laugh so I can bring her that joy again. Her tired smile is when she's finished for the day, but it's been a good day. I want to know all her smiles.

She pulls her hand away from mine as we skate around the turn in a loop and it opens up into a wider space. She glides in front of me putting a little more distance between us as she gathers speed, lifts up one foot, and moves into a beautiful spin before coming to a stop. My skates scrape on the ice as I come to a stop next to her.

"Beautiful," I tell her as I stare into her eyes.

The smile she gives me now is better than the million-dollar smile. It's joy and hope, and all the good things reflected in her eyes. It makes me want to lean forward and kiss that smile to find out if I could discover a smile like that for myself. She bites her lower lip.

I lean forward, and her eyes close.

And just before I kiss her, I hesitate. I use one hand to brush a loose curl away from her face. It’s still as soft as I remember.

This isn't a date, date. This is a friend date.

So instead of the kiss I want to give her, I ever so carefully, brush a kiss on her forehead before pulling away. When she opens her eyes, they are so full of questions, that I don’t think either one of us are ready to answer.

I give her a playful smile of my own just before I bring up my hand and using the tip of my finger I boop her nose.

"Tag," I tell her and skate away.

She laughs, and I look over my shoulder to see she's skating after me. We race around the ribbon playing tag, and I never want this to end.

For the return to Glacier Bay, Hannah sits by her brother for the flight. After skating the other night, I haven't had a moment with her alone. Lou is always there, or another member of the team. Talking to her about anything I'm feeling is impossible without risking her job. The terms of her contract, and that stupid clause Lou put in it… I'll take my frustration out on him the next time we have practice.

Because I hate not being able to explore this with her. Whatever it is that's growing between us, it's constantly on my mind. She's constantly on my mind.

The private jet is relatively small, and not luxurious by any means. There are enough seats for the team to travel and a few extra for the occasions when the team owner wants to bring his family or an investor along.

I have a seat next to a window, but it also means that the steady hum of the engines try to put me to sleep as we ascend. Up above the clouds, the world fades away into a patchwork of grays and blues as we leave the snow and smog behind. I'll be glad to be home with the cleaner air with the smell of the ocean salt.

Lou and Hannah have their heads close together as they work on a crossword puzzle book together. Frustration that it's not me sitting next to her won't go away.

As I sit in my seat, I pull out my phone and start scrolling to distract myself. Instead, as I scroll through different posts of friends showing off their Valentines Day celebrations, I can't forget those stupid flowers Hannah got. Which is how I end up with the wonderful idea of sending her a gift anonymously.

As I'm scrolling, Nate leans over and grabs my phone.

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