Page 105 of Unmasking Love
"That's okay, I can. And I really want to see that little skirt of yours flying across the ice. I'm realizing it's a little fantasy of mine. The cute figure skater and the hockey player."
"But, I can't skate." She argues as we reach the door.
"Don't ruin this for me, Harper."
"I'm not trying to ruin it for you but I don't even have skates. I've never been on the ice before. I grew up in Florida, remember?" She's starting to sound really worried.
I stop us in the hallway, under the Stanley Cup banner, and place my hands on her shoulders. "Harper, you do not have to impress me with your skating ability. I just want to take a few laps on the ice with your hand in mine. If I get to see that skirt fly in the wind that's a bonus."
"I don't have skates." She tries one last flimsy argument.
"That's okay, I do." I wink and then hold her hand as we walk to the rink. The skates I bought her are sitting at my locker next to mine. I had to hide them under my bed and luckily she didn't try to put anything there when she was unpacking yesterday. "Sit here."
She takes a seat on the bench and I pull the skate box towards us. Is putting her skates on an excuse to touch her calf?
Absolutely.
But I also want to make sure the skates are tight enough.
Harper is quiet as she watches me pull the laces into place. Her skate is nestled between my thighs and if she kicked upwards I'd be a goner but that's what makes hockey great. It's a physical game, brutal at times, and everything happens on a razor sharp blade. There are moments when bodies are slammed against the boards and others where a tiny toe drag can change the trajectory of a shot.
Her leg is heavy as I set it down and move to the other. She leans forward a little to see her foot in the skate and wiggles side to side a little.
"Is it too tight?" I ask her.
"Umm, it's fine?"
"Are you asking me if it's fine?" Here she goes again.
"No. I think it's fine. I've never worn skates before so I'm not really sure."
"Alright, let me finish this one and we'll try standing up. You want to move your ankle but you also don't want it to feel unstable." When the second skate is on I help her stand. Her vice grip on my hands is surprising. I try to loosen her up with a wiggle but she yelps as she wobbles side to side. I let out a laugh. "Harper, you're not even on the ice yet!"
"I think I forgot that you guys are on skates when you play."
"You forgot?"
"Well, you all make it look so easy and I can't even stand for ten seconds!"
"You can. Here." I pull my hands out of hers and sit down to put on my skates. She tries to walk and takes a tiny step towards the boards before she falls forward and catches herself. "You good?"
"No!" She says but she laughs too. The sound lights me up inside and I want to give her more laughter and joy.
I step out onto the ice and turn around to face her. Harper's eyes are wide. "So, you just get out there, huh?"
"Yeah, let's go sweetheart."
"Don't rush me!" She scolds as I pull her towards the door.
"It's a step down and then another. Hold onto me here." I bring her hands up to my shoulders and I grip her waist. With a deep breath she scoots forward. One foot dangles in the air for a moment and she sways a bit. I tighten my hold on her and she pulls her foot back. She shifts and tries the other foot. She wobbles again and pulls back. She inhales, exhales, and then I lift her and pull us backwards towards center ice.
"Aiden! Ohmygod!" She yelps.
"I got impatient." I tell her as I skate with her in my arms for another moment.
"Ifeel like I'm flying." She says quietly as her hold around my shoulders loosens slightly.
"Just wait." I tell her as I lower her to the ice. Her eyes bore into mine and I focus on keeping her steady. I use my edges to roll us backwards slowly. Her hands on my shoulders, mine around her waist. Her feet glide forward and she looks down at her skates.
