Page 146 of Waiting Game

“I can’t either. Trust me, it was fucking hard.”

I snicker but it’s soon replaced with a shocked gasp when I see some illustrations. Naughty ones.

His grin widens. “Hot, right? Trust me, the writing’s hotter. I didn’t draw them but I had them commissioned for you.”

I clap the book to my chest. “You gave me porn!”

Cole knows I’m teasing, but he still looks smug as he settles back on the mat and hooks his hands behind his neck. “I only give out the good shit.”

I hide a smile as I lie flat at his side, holding the book above me.

A moment later, I slip past page one to two.

His head falls on my shoulder and I can tell he’s reading with me.

My throat feels… clogged.

I know that makes me sound like I have nasal drip, but it’s more emotional than that.

This feels good.

Better than good.

I blow out a breath and continue reading, hyperaware of his skin against mine…

An hour later, we haven’t moved apart from him switching over to holding the book when I got pins and needles in my arms.

That’s when he yawns. “We’re really not going on the ice today?”

His yawn triggers one of my own as I straighten up and half-crawl across the mat toward my purse that’s shielding something I know he’ll loathe.

“No freakin’ way!” He crosses his pointer fingers like I’m a vampire he’s trying to avoid the second he claps eyes on them.

“You need the toe picks.”

“I need myrealskates.”

“No, you need figure skating skates.”

“I don’t use them during games,” he exclaims.

“These aren’t to be used during games. Just for our practice. If you want on the ice with me then this is your only path to achieving that.” I proffer them at him, hiding a smile when, pouting, he trudges over to me to take them.

He looks at them like they’re shit in his hand and, grumbling, huffing, and muttering too, puts them on.

His eyes widen when one’s fastened up tight. “These are so fucking heavy.”

“Stop whining.”

I plunk my ass on a nearby bench and strap myself into matching skates.

He wiggles his foot. “My ankle feels tight.”

“Supported.”

“My toes are pinching.”

“Cry me a river.”

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