Page 44 of UnLucky Christmas
“Be nice,” Macy scolds.
Janelle and I help Chad up.
“I’m getting the hang of it, slowly,” he says. “You guys keep going. I promise I’ll catch up.”
Brian joins us and whisks Janelle away. I hesitate for a moment and then take off. I don’t want Chad to feel self-conscious. I continue moving slowly on the ice, enjoying the music and the lights. Wham’s “Last Christmas”comes on, and I begin to sing it to myself. As I move around the curve, I notice someone familiar step out onto the ice. I begin to lose my footing, and I almost fall when he grabs my hand. It’s Grant.What the hell?
His warm fingers lace into mine as I find my balance.
“Hey,” he says.
“Hi. Um, thanks.” He lets go of my hand and looks straight ahead, gliding along the ice with ease.
I notice he’s not wearing a suit. I’ve never seen him in anything else. Tonight, he’s in a thick white Henley shirt and dark jeans that fit him perfectly.Does he have all his clothes custom made?
“I thought you weren’t coming,” I ask pointedly.
He gives a nonchalant shrug. “I figured I’d get some fresh air.”
I’m not sure what to do next, so I keep skating. He turns and starts to skate backwards without missing a step.
“You’re really good,” I mumble. “At skating, I mean.”
A hint of a smile appears on his face. Oh hell.
Janelle comes up beside me, her gaze running over Grant. “There you are.”
“I should probably find my sister,” he replies. “See you later.”
He takes off, and admittedly I watch his backside skate away.
“Whoa,” Janelle says after he’s a safe distance away.
“That’s Grant.”
She scoffs. “Now I understand your dilemma.”
“There’s no dilemma,” I remind her. “It was one kiss. The one and only.”
She raises her eyebrows.
“You’re kidding yourself, my friend. I just watched that man catch you before you fell, and it was like a scene out of a movie.”
I groan. “Did anyone else see?”
She shakes her head. “I don’t think so. Macy and some of her friends left the ice.”
“With Chad?” I ask.
She nods. “Yes.”
We get off at the next exit and search for the rest of the group. I notice Brian sitting with Chad, Austin, and a few of the others. Brian is the type of person who can talk to anyone.
I scan the area looking for Macy and Grant, but I don’t see them.
Janelle and I join the guys.
“I’m making progress on the skates,” Chad declares.
