Page 12 of Ice Palace Prince
“But there was that debate trip…” he started, then his words tapered off. “Oh, yeah.”
“Yeah,” I replied.
While the rest of the debate team had been celebrating our performance at a tournament by taking over the ice rink next to the hotel, our advisors were scrambling to get me back to Valle Granja after I’d received a phone call from Jessica informing me of an unscheduled but mandatory cheer practice.
It had been one of the last times that I’d allowed her to boss me around, and why the coach banned her from scheduling overlapping events. Supposedly our assistant advisor had dragged the cheer coach into a meeting with the principal and ripped him a new one after driving me back four hours to make the last-minute practice or face being kicked off the squad.
I’d only heard about all the fun after the rest of the debate team made it back to town.
“I know,” Lowell suggested, breaking me from my thoughts. “I might not be the best skater, but we can skate side-by-side, so you can grab onto me for support if you need.”
I turned to him, mouth agape. “A-are you sure? What about your mate? Won’t he be jealous?”
He faced me and blinked in confusion several times. “Mate? What mate?”
“That omega you were talking to a few minutes ago.”
He started laughing. “That’s Owen. He’s one of the firm’s draftsmen.”
“He’s… not your mate?” I asked, swallowing.
Lowell shook his head. “Just an employee and friend. He’s got himself a very nice alpha, and a bun in the oven.”
Breathe…
Lowell studied me for a moment. “So… do you want to skate with me?”
“Yes!” I blurted out, far more enthusiastically than I intended.
He chuckled, then offered me his arm. “Shall we?”
I looped my arm with his, allowing him to guide me to the skate rental station.
I’m dreaming. I have to be dreaming. Lowell’s single? He wants to skate with me? How is this not a dream?
“Do you skate often?” I asked, trying to find something to talk about.
He smiled at me, and it made my insides flutter. “Once in a while. My kid brother was big into hockey, so I often had to take him to practice while my parents were working. Sometimes we’d get there early and I’d skate for a bit to kill time. I can keep my feet under me, but don’t expect anything fancy.”
I shook my head. “I’m just… I’m surprised that you’d want to be seen with me when I’m going to be so clumsy.”
He turned and faced me, his hands on my forearms. “Why wouldn’t I want to be seen with you? You’re a great man. I’m more surprised that you accepted my offer. Won’t it send the wrong impression?”
“Huh?” I asked. “What do you mean?”
He licked his lips, then shook his head. “Nevermind.”
We reached the rental kiosk, and he paid for both our skates. Then he led me to the bench to change into them.
I was so focused on the fact that he was right there, beside me, that I didn’t pay much attention to putting on my skates. That was until he looked down, frowned and knelt at my feet.
“They need to be tighter,” he explained as he pulled on my laces. “You could be hurt if your ankles aren’t supported enough.”
Breathe… For god’s sake, breathe…
“Thank you,” I muttered.
He looked up, and our eyes met. He smiled at me. “No problem.”
