Page 52 of Refraction

Calvin shook his head. No, you couldn’t take a picture of it either, come to think of it. It would just be one big blur. “Nope! You’re going to have to hold on to this in your mind, cowboy.”

Calvin didn’t remember it being like this before either. Nothing was the same with Tucker. Everything he did with the man felt like seeing things with new eyes.

They were moving along really well. Not superfast, but smoothly, and Calvin decided Tucker could handle more of it on his own. “Don’t change a thing, okay? Just keep doing exactly what you’re doing now.” He let go of one of Tucker’s hands and pivoted on one foot so he was moving forward instead of backward. “You’re doing great. Stay relaxed. You’ve totally got this.”

“Stay relaxed. I’m on it.” God, that laugh could fill up the entire rink. “This is working my butt muscles but good.”

The wind in Tucker’s hair made him seem so free.

“Don’t let yourself get tired. If you need a rest, take one. I don’t want you to hurt yourself.” He snorted. “Jesus, I’m channeling my seventh-grade ice-hockey coach.”

“You played hockey? Did you like it?” The strangest things fascinated Tucker.

“I did. I played from first grade until my freshman year in high school. I did like it, yeah. I just wasn’t big enough, and I kept getting my ass kicked on the ice.” It wasn’t his size, really. It was because Jimmy Brandt came to watch him play—instead of Jimmy’s twin sister, Laurie. But his coach had insisted he just didn’t have enough bulk.

“My daddy wanted a boy to play football. I was always busy painting. I like using my body, though. I swim.” Tucker stumbled but recovered, face a study in concentration for a minute before he got his equilibrium.

“Yeah?” Well? He hadn’t been embarrassed by Tucker yet. What the hell. “I don’t. Swim, I mean.”

“No? I have a pool at my house. I spend a lot of time in it. Do you not like the water or you haven’t learned?”

“I never learned.” His dad was convinced that the lake was toxic, and his mom was positive he would drown, probably because she couldn’t swim either. “And then I moved here, so….”

“Right. Well, when you visit my place, I’ll teach you.” Just like that, so simple.When you come to my house. The trust was astonishing.

“Texas might implode.” Him in Texas. Ha. Then again, he could wear a cowboy hat. And chaps. Not that any of that mattered. He’d go there right now if Tucker asked him. “Hey, don’t freak out, but you just went around the rink twice by yourself.”

“You forgot the without-falling part.” Tucker winked. “You want something to drink? I’m dying of thirst.”

“I would love some cocoa.” He zipped ahead of Tucker and pivoted backward again. “You mind if I tear off a little? I’ll meet you over there in a minute.”

“I’ll grab drinks for us, huh? Go, be beautiful. I shall admire from afar.” Tucker grinned at him. “I love to watch you play.”

“Okay, just skate right over—without falling—and let the boards stop you. I’ll teach you how to stop later. That’s a bruise or five all by itself. Don’t fall!” He blew a kiss, turned and took off, breathing in deep and letting the cold air fill his lungs. A few more strides and he was flying, weaving around groups of kids, couples holding hands, and the occasional spinning skater with a twirling skirt.

---