Page 210 of Beautiful Collide

“Yes.”

I let out a long-drawn-out sigh. “I haven’t done this in years. Like since I was a kid. And even then, I was terrible at it.”

“Which I find funny knowing who your brother is.”

“Why? Not all siblings are the same. Look at you and Anna.”

“You make a valid point.”

“I always do.” I smile. “Okay, so I’m warning you. I suck at this. No laughing.”

“Would I laugh? Fine. I would. But I promise I won’t. Plus, I’m here to help,” he says, dropping onto the bench and motioning for me to sit beside him. “I’ll make sure you don’t break anything.”

“Reassuring,” I mutter, but I sit down anyway.

Hudson grabs a pair of skates from the bag he brought and slides them across the floor toward me. “These should fit.”

I sigh, kicking off my sneakers and slipping my feet into the skates. They feel stiff and awkward.

“Have I mentioned I don’t skate?” I deadpan, staring at my feet like I want to rip the skates off.

“Here.” Hudson crouches in front of me. “I can’t believe I’m saying this to you, of all people, but you’re doing it all wrong. I’m literally mortified for you and your brother; you have no business working for an NHL player.”

His words hit close to my own fears. I really don’t have any business working for him.

My mood turns dark as intrusive thoughts try to push their way in, but I don’t let them.

I will not ruin the moment.

Instead, I raise an eyebrow as he takes over. “Oh, so now you’re an expert on tying skates?”

“Pretty much,” he says, glancing up at me with a smirk. “You’re in good hands.”

I roll my eyes, but there’s no denying the way my pulse quickens when he looks at me like that.

Once my skates are on, Hudson leads me to the edge of the rink, his hand steady on my arm. The ice stretches out in front of us, smooth and slippery from what I can remember.

I see the irony, of course.

Dane loves being on the ice, and like most things I can’t control, I hate it.

The idea of falling on my face isn’t that enticing.

Yet here I am, stepping onto the ice, and the moment my skate touches it, I wobble.

This is pathetic.

I take another step out, and my legs spread so wide I look like a baby deer learning to walk.

Bambi’s got nothing on me.

“How are you so bad at this? Your brother is legit the best enforcer in the league.”

This is going to be annoying to explain. “I never got lessons. No one taught me.”

Hudson halts his movements. “I’m confused. But then, how did Dane learn?”

I take a deep breath. “My dad taught him.”

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