Page 15 of Ice Melts

She huffed, but there was a small smile tugging at her lips. "Excuse me for wanting to make sure my feet don’t fall off while you’re throwing me in the air."

He chuckled, skating backward lazily as she tested a few spins. Her form was flawless, as always. The way she moved—graceful, strong, confident—it was impossible not to watch her.

She skated toward him, stopping just inches away. "You ready?"

"Are you?" he shot back, tilting his head.

She gave him an unimpressed look. "I was literally born ready, Travis."

He laughed, holding up his hands in surrender. "Fine. Let’s do this."

Sarah took a deep breath and positioned herself in front of him, their skates nearly touching. She was warm despite the cold, her breath coming in small clouds in the winter air. "Remember," she said, looking up at him, "don’t throw me. It’s a lift, not a pass in the NHL."

"Right, right," he said, but his grin remained.

She hesitated, her gloved hands hovering at his forearms. "You do remember how to do this, right?"

Travis scoffed. "Sarah, I literally help you practice every winter."

"Yes, but last time, you almost dropped me!"

"Technically, you over-rotated," he said, shrugging.

She shook her head. "I did not over-rotate! You were distracted."

He smirked. "Right, because I totally get distracted by?—"

He stopped himself.

Sarah blinked. "By what?"

Travis quickly shook his head. "Nothing. Just get in position."

Sarah narrowed her eyes, but she didn't push. Instead, she turned, exhaling. "Okay. On three."

She started counting down, but Travis barely heard it.

His heart was pounding too hard.

Because this moment—holding her, catching her, feeling her trust him completely—it did something to him. It always did.

Not now, Jenkins. Focus.

He braced himself, bending his knees slightly.

"Three—two—one?—"

She jumped, and he caught her perfectly, lifting her into the air.

For a second, everything was weightless.

She stretched upward, her arms reaching toward the sky, her face glowing with exhilaration as she balanced above him. She was beautiful.

"Hold it!" she called, and he did.

They held the position, his grip firm on her waist, his own skates adjusting beneath him to keep them balanced.

And then, as she transitioned, something shifted.

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