Page 26 of Nicky

And then his face lit up, like I’d just given him the best news in the world. His eyes sparkled with something that took me by surprise—something warm, and soft, and deeply real. It was a look that made me feel unsteady, and my heart did that weird flutter again, like it wasn’t sure whether to panic or lean into the warmth of his expression. In that moment, everything else seemed to fade into the background, swallowed by the weight of what was hanging between us.

CHAPTER 13

Markus

Choosing the location for a first date was harder than I thought it would be.

It had been years since I’d been on one—an actual, non-Daddy-related date—and I felt like I was wading into unfamiliar waters. Most of my adult life, relationships had been neatly defined by the dynamic I craved, but this? This felt entirely different. I had no script to fall back on, no clear rules to guide me.

My sister, Leah, had tried to talk some sense into me earlier.

“Markus, just relax and have fun,” she’d said over the phone, her voice warm and encouraging. “You’re overthinking it.”

She wasn’t wrong. Iwasoverthinking it. Of course, I hadn’t told herwhyI was overthinking it. How could I explain to her that my biggest fear wasn’t just messing up the date, but crossing some invisible boundary with Nicky that I didn’t even realize existed? Or worse, letting my dominant instincts slip too far and scaring him off entirely.

Still, her words had helped. She reminded me that it was okay to try, to put myself out there. And maybe she was right. Maybe I could have something that wasn’t wrapped up in titles and dynamics. Something real and simple.

That thought was both terrifying and exhilarating.

Juniper Hollow might have been small, but it had its charm, especially during the holidays. I’d considered taking Nicholas to one of the cozy cafés downtown or even suggesting a drive to see the neighborhood light displays. But none of those options felt quite right. I wanted to do something festive, something fun. Something that would let us both loosen up a little.

That’s how I landed on the Juniper Hollow Skating Rink. It was one of the first places I noticed when I moved to town—a charming outdoor rink, nestled against a larger, year-round indoor rink. I’d passed by it a few times while running errands and always saw families and couples enjoying themselves, skating under the open sky. The whole place had a cozy, welcoming vibe.

Nicky had insisted on meeting me here instead of letting me pick him up, a choice that didn’t surprise me. It made perfect sense the more I thought about it. Independence radiated off of him, like a badge he wore proudly, and I couldn’t help but admire it. But it also made me want to take care of him even more, to find ways to make his life a little easier, even if he’d never ask for it.

I stood in front of the rink, hands shoved deep into my coat pockets, my breath clouding the frosty air. The lights strung across the rink sparkled like tiny stars, reflecting off the ice below. A towering Christmas tree at the rink’s edge was adorned with ornaments that glinted in the soft glow of the fairy lights. Everything about this place screamed holiday magic, and yet I couldn’t shake the knot of nerves in my stomach.

I spotted the Wilson family near the tree. I’d met them during one of my first weeks in town. Sam and Lila Wilson ran a laundromat downtown, and their middle-schoolers, Emma and Max, were on the ice, racing each other and dodging the occasional wobbly skater.

“Doc Webber!” Sam called, waving at me from the bench where he was tying one of Emma’s skates. His wife, Lila, gave me a warm smile and waved as well.

“Evening, Sam, Lila,” I said, walking over to them. “Looks like the kids are having fun.”

“They’re having a blast,” Lila replied, her voice brimming with that proud-parent tone. “It’s their favorite time of year.”

Sam leaned in, dropping his voice to a playful whisper. “So, I hear you’re here on a date tonight.”

I chuckled, scratching the back of my neck. “Word travels fast in the Hollow, huh?”

“Faster than you think,” he teased. “Well, good luck. Whoever she is, she’s lucky.”

“He,actually,” I corrected gently, feeling a small knot of nerves unwind when Sam just smiled.

“Well then,” he said with a grin, “he’slucky.”

Before I could reply, I spotted Nicholas making his way toward me. His cheeks were flushed pink from the cold, and his scarf was bundled so snugly around his neck that he looked like he’d stepped out of a Christmas card.

“Speak of the devil,” I said, nodding in his direction.

“Good luck, Doc,” Lila whispered as I stepped away.

“Sorry to keep you waiting,” he said, his breath visible in the chill. “Aiden called to check in, and I lost track of time.”

“No problem,” I said, gesturing toward the nearby entrance to the indoor rink. “Ready to head inside? I figured it might be warmer and, you know, less ice to scrape off the ground when we inevitably fall.”

He laughed, a sound that always tugged at something deep in me. “Warm sounds good.”

We stepped into the indoor rink, greeted by a soft hum of holiday music and the inviting scent of hot cocoa from the concession stand. The ice glowed under twinkling lights strungacross the rafters, giving the space a cozy, magical feel. At a bench near the edge, we laced up our skates, the muted chatter of other skaters filling the air.

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