Page 48 of Goalies Don't Date Ice Princesses

He slowly pushed forward, most of his weight on the wall. I knew he could skate better than this, but it would take some time for the muscle memory to come back. And, maybe more importantly, for the fear to go away.

I glided alongside him, offering my silent support, but trying not to be obnoxious about it.

It took us over half an hour to make it all the way around the rink, without him letting go of the wall for a second. He was walking more than skating, but I was thrilled all the same. He was in his skates again and that was what mattered.

As we reached the final stretch of the rink, a flicker of triumph sparkled in Archer’s eyes. The once trembling legs now held a steady resolve as he gained more confidence with every step. He was reclaiming his love for skating, one cautious stride at a time.

Still, I could see his fatigue beginning to reveal itself, his muscles straining under the weight of resuming an activity that once came effortlessly to him, and as we got back to the entrance of the rink, I suggested that I was tired of skating for the day and maybe we should head off early. The look he gave me—a little grateful while also rolling his eyes—told me that he saw right through the excuse.

But Archer didn’t protest. Instead, he let out a breathless laugh, the sound of victory laced within it. “You’re right,” he said, his voice filled with a mixture of exhaustion and elation. “Let’s call it a day.”

We made our way off the ice, hand in hand, our gloved fingers intertwined like a promise. As we reached the hallway, Archer turned to face me, his eyes shimmering with gratitude. His cheeks flushed pink from exertion, but his smile held a radiance that eclipsed any physical fatigue. In that moment, I saw the strength and determination that had carried him through countless hours of rehabilitation.

Without hesitation, Archer pulled me into his arms, lifting me slightly off the ground. His embrace was firm yet gentle, like a soothing balm for all the pain and struggle he had endured. I felt his heartbeat against my chest, steady and strong, matching the rhythm of his newfound courage.

“Thank you,” he whispered into my ear, his voice filled with a mixture of vulnerability and triumph. “For believing in me when I couldn’t believe in myself.”

Tears welled up in my eyes as I clung to him, overwhelmed by the depth of his gratitude. We had come so far since that day in the hospital, when uncertainty loomed over us like a dark cloud.

Archer set me back down on my feet, never once breaking our gaze. His green eyes reflected a determination that I had come to admire and love. He reached up and gently brushed away a tear that had escaped down my cheek.

“I couldn’t have done it without you,” he said softly, his voice filled with sincerity. As I looked into his eyes, I saw not just the reflection of our shared journey, but also the promise of a future filled with endless possibilities. We had faced adversity and conquered it together, and I knew that there was nothing we couldn’t overcome as long as we stood side by side.

“I’ll always believe in you,” I whispered, my voice filled with unwavering conviction. “No matter what challenges lie ahead, we’ll face them together.”

Archer smiled, a smile that reached his eyes and enveloped me in a warmth that melted away any lingering doubts or fears. It was a smile that spoke volumes, telling me that he believed in me just as much as I believed in him.

“Right back at you, Princess,” he whispered. Then before I knew what he was doing, he dipped me in the hallway—in my skates and all—and kissed me like it was our last moments on earth.

thirty-two

The lake was frozen over,a sheet of ice that stretched out as far as the eye could see. We had all bundled up in our warmest winter gear, lacing up our ice skates and grabbing the extra hockey sticks in the Rainn’s cottage.

“I’m not so sure about this,” Adelynn said. She was standing just off the lake, on the solid ground in an extra pair of my skates. She hadn’t skated in a long time and previously had never actually had a good experience with it.

“Come on, Adelynn!” I called. I was standing next to Archer, with his arm wrapped around my waist and a hockey stick in my other hand. I’d never actually played hockey, even just as a casual game like this, so it felt strange to have in my hand.

Jasper turned to Adelynn, a mischievous glint in his eyes. “Trust me, Triplicate. I’ve got you. Besides, what’s the worst that could happen? You fall on your butt and we all have a good laugh?”

Adelynn raised an eyebrow at him, but there was a faint smile tugging at the corners of her lips. “You make falling sound so appealing, Jasper.”

Archer chuckled beside them, tightening his grip around my waist. “He’s got a point, Adelynn. Falling is just part of the fun!”

I watched as Adelynn hesitated for a moment, contemplating her options. She glanced at the frozen lake, its surface shimmering under the pale winter sun. I wondered if it felt the same to her as it did to me: that the temptation of gliding across the ice was almost impossible to resist.

Finally, she nodded, determination settling in her gaze. “Okay, I’ll give it a shot. But only if you promise to catch me if I fall.”

Jasper held a hand up. “I swear. I’ll be right here with you the whole time.”

Reluctantly, Adelynn placed her gloved hand in Jasper’s and stepped onto the ice. Her skates wobbled beneath her, threatening to send her tumbling to the ground, but Jasper tightened his grip on her hand, steadying her.

“You’ve got this,” he encouraged, guiding her towards the center of the frozen expanse and closer to us.

“How is this going to work?” Avianna asked. We had a small group of us playing: me, Archer, Adelynn, Jasper, Avianna, Mrs. Rainn, and Mr. Jamison. The triplets tried to convince Annabelle to join in as well but she’d refused. Ultimately, they managed to convince her to be the referee, which she only agreed to if she could sit in a lawn chair on the dock with her speaker playing whatever music she wanted for the game.

“Well, the first thing to do would be to pick teams,” Archer said.

Jasper grinned mischievously, skating over with Adelynn by his side. “How about boys versus girls? A classic showdown.”

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