Page 56 of On Thin Ice

Dom: Nah, I see them all the time. I want to watch a movie with you.

I couldn’t stop my smile.

Ally: Okay.

***

Dom: Did you watchRed Noticeyet? Action and comedy.

Ally: I haven’t. But that’s the one with Ryan Reynolds, right? I’m always up for him.

Dom: I’m hotter.

I giggled. We’d been doing multiple movie nights a week. It was fun and relaxing. We’d chat, share what our movie snack of the night was, and comment on what was going on.

Dom: I just got out of the shower, so we could start soon. Don’t want you falling asleep before it’s over.

I would not think about him potentially being in a towel right now.

Dom: Want to FaceTime?

Please be dressed. Please be dressed.

Stupid pregnancy hormones.

Ally: Sure. And I promise not to tell you what’s going to happen in the movie.

He found my educated guesses annoying. It wasn’t my fault that I figured out the plot before he did.

Then, my screen buzzed with his incoming call. I tapped on it, and his stupidly beautiful face and full smile stopped my breath for a second.

“Hi there,” he said.

“Hi. I have my snacks ready,” I said, holding up my plain M&M’s. Why did I currently feel awkward? At least he had a shirt on.

“How was practice today?”

“How’s our baby doing today?”

We asked the questions at the same time, and I laughed softly.

“She’s good. I’m a bit achy, but my feet are up,” I said.

“You could be here with me massaging them,” he said.

I sighed. “Dom.”

“Okay, okay. No pushy talk tonight. And practice was good. Kicked Haldy’s ass in a skating drill. Can’t let the kid think he’s faster than me.”

I laughed. “Wouldn’t want anyone to think you’re slowing down in your old age.”

“You bite your tongue. I’m only twenty-five. You’re older than me.”

“By a year. That’s nothing.”

We teased each other a bit more. There was an ease that I loved in our conversations. Then we turned on the movie and I got distracted by Dom’s smile instead of focusing on Ryan on the screen.

I could go for a foot massage right now.

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