Page 35 of Bryson's Treasure

“You made it over here. Why not try without your hands on the side now? It’s similar to rollerblading, and you’ve done that in the past.”

Lynn didn’t think it was like rollerblading at all. She felt like a fish out of water, but she wanted to be next to the people she had come to care about in a short time. With a deep breath, she let go of the side and made slow progress toward the two. She took her time, not caring if a turtle could’ve passed her. When she was an arm’s length from them, her feet stopped cooperating, but she wasn’t going down alone that time.

She reached out and grabbed Bryson’s arm. It caught him off guard, and they tumbled down together. Azadeh joined them on the ice. They were all laughing.

“Who wants some hot chocolate?”

Azadeh jumped up. “Me!” And she took off, skating toward the exit.

Bryson quickly yelled for her to wait for them. They needed to get back to the other side, and Lynn didn’t have faith she could get there without falling a few more times.

After ten minutes of trying to get back up, Lynn finally stood on two feet.

Bryson grinned at her. “Do you want me to help? Or do you think you can get over there on your own?”

She glared up at him and grabbed his arm. “You can help me.”

They skated together to the other side. Snow started to fall around them. It was like a scene straight out of a movie. Bryson stopped her in the middle of the ice and captured her lips. She wrapped her arms around him and pulled him in closer.

He pulled back and rested his forehead against hers. “What are you doing to me?” he whispered.

“The same thing you’re doing to me. Now let’s go get Azadeh some hot chocolate.”

Bryson went up to the counter and got three hot chocolates while Lynn sat with Azadeh. The day was perfect, and Lynn wouldn’t have wanted to spend it with anyone else.

“Do you like Bryson?”

The question took Lynn by surprise. She looked over to where Bryson was getting their drinks. “Yes, why?”

Azadeh shrugged her shoulders. “He likes you.”

Before Lynn could ask anything else, Bryson walked over and handed drinks to Azadeh and Lynn. “What were you guys talking about?”

Azadeh looked up at him. “Nothing.” She took a sip of her hot cocoa before setting it to the side. “Can I go skate again?”

Bryson nodded, and she went back out on the ice. Bryson wrapped his arm around Lynn’s shoulders as they watched Azadeh do a few laps around the rink.

Lynn leaned over and whispered, “You’re getting lucky tonight.”

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