Page 37 of Connected By Christmas
I skate backward and feel her relax a little bit more as she focuses more on the feel of the ice rather than the part of her brain that is focused on falling. A smile lights up her face when she starts to glide more steadily.
“See. You’re a natural.” I keep a hold of her hands as I skate us around the rink. “Anyway, to answer your question. Miles’sbest friend also played hockey. My brothers and I would go to the rink with him and mess around on the ice. I learned at an early age to either learn how to skate, or I was going to get pummeled out there,” I laugh.
“Does he still play hockey?”
“He does, and he’s damn good at it. He was captain of the hockey team in college, and from what Miles has told me, he could be drafted to the NHL at any point.”
“We should go to one of his games sometime.”
I glance down and smile when I see how steady her skates are now that she isn’t focusing on them. “He’s up in New York right now, but it could be a fun weekend getaway. I’ll check with Miles and see if we can all plan a trip up there.”
“That sounds like so much fun. I’ve never been to New York. Maybe we could get Savi to go with us? I know she loves hockey, too.”
“Good luck with that,” I chuckle. “She loves hockey as long as it’s not Knox that she’s watching on the ice.”
“What do you mean? He’s the one who helped her that night, right?”
“Yeah, but ever since then, those two have butted heads, and no one understands why. Neither one of them will talk about it, so we just ignore their little attitudes toward each other whenever we get together.”
“Hmmm. Well, maybe I can talk her into going if she has me there with her.”
“Maybe. Just be prepared for world war three if it happens,” I laugh before getting serious. “You’re skating, wildcat,” I say quietly. I dropped her hands a few minutes ago, and her body naturally kept up with me.
She grins when she realizes she’s doing it all on her own. “I didn’t even notice,” she laughs. I circle her with my skates and watch her glide effortlessly on the ice. When she picks up speed,I get in front of her again to keep an eye on her if she falls. My blades match hers as I skate backward, meeting her stride.
I sense it the moment before I see her lose her balance on a turn. I break her fall as she lands on top of me instead of the ice.
“Are you okay?” She peers down at me, and I see her eyes search my body for any signs of injuries.
“I’m okay,” I groan. “Although I don’t remember the ice being this hard as a teenager.”
“Well, I did land on you. Why did you let me do that? You could have been hurt.” She swats my chest and starts to get up, but I hold her in place against me.
“And miss the chance to feel this body against mine?” I tease, seeing a smile trying to escape those beautiful lips. She’s crazy if she thinks for one second I would ever let her get hurt.
“There are better ways to feel my body against yours.”
“Yeah, but how often do we get to do it like this?” I glance up as a snowflake hits my face before more fall behind it. The lights strung across the rink cast a warm glow on the place, along with the lighted trees surrounding us. There are only two other couples out here this late at night, and both are in their own little world as they skate close to one another. I watch Sophia take it all in before her stunning green eyes focus on me.
“It’s so beautiful,” she whispers.
I reach up and swipe my hand across her cheek, catching the moisture of the melted snowflakes. “It’s the most beautiful sight I’ve ever laid eyes on,” I say quietly, never taking my eyes off of her.
“I think we can both agree on that,” she breathes, bending down closer and brushing back a piece of my hair. She looks at me with such love that it always surprises me, no matter how many times I see it. How can one single emotion make me feel thousands?
Her lips part seconds before they meet mine, bringing us together right where we belong.
Chapter Fifteen
Noah and Emma
EMMA
“Areyou sure you are up to going out tonight? Our friends will understand if we have to bail so you can rest.” Noah looks at me in the bathroom mirror as I apply my mascara.
We’ve been back in Florida for a month, and our baby girl is due any day now. We have plans to go to Joe’s with our friends for one last get-together before things get hectic with us.
“I’m fine.” He studies me in the mirror, looking for any signs that I’m lying. “Really, I am. I’m one of the lucky ones, I guess. This pregnancy has been really easy for me. I mean, I do feel like a blimp, and my ankles are a little swollen, but other than being tired just a little bit more, it’s been a walk in the park.” I turn and wrap my arms around his neck, bringing his lips to mine.
