Page 35 of Faking with Three

When I turn back to Olivia, she’s watching me, her expression unreadable. “What?” I ask, brushing my hands on my jeans.

“Nothing,” she says quickly, but there’s a softness in her gaze that wasn’t there before.

The boy is still fiddling with the laces I just tied, his fingers tugging absentmindedly, like he’s trying to delay something. There’s a look on his face I recognize—hesitation, maybe even fear. It nags at me.

“Hey, buddy,” I say, crouching back down to his level. “You here with someone? Parents?”

He shakes his head quickly, his eyes darting away. Before I can press him further, a voice calls out from across the rink.

“Adam! There you are!”

A girl, probably in her late teens or early twenties, rushes over. She’s balancing two cups of hot chocolate, her dark curls bouncing as she moves. She looks relieved when she sees him, though the crease in her brow suggests she’s not thrilled he wandered off.

“Sorry,” she says, looking at me and Olivia apologetically. “He’s my cousin. I’m supposed to be babysitting, but I thought bringing him out here might be more fun than staying home.”

The boy—Adam, apparently—shuffles in his seat, avoiding eye contact. “Mom’s busy,” the girl continues, ruffling his hair. “Poor kid’s been stuck in his room all day, so I figured a little ice skating might cheer him up.”

I nod, watching Adam. “Good call. Sometimes you just need to get out for a bit, huh, Adam?”

He glances up at me, the smallest smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. His cousin smiles, too, though hers is a bit morestrained. “Thanks for helping him,” she says, taking his hand. “Come on, Adam. Let’s get on the ice before it gets too crowded.”

Adam looks back at me once. “I know you,” he says.

My heart skips a beat. “You’re cool dude.”

“You a hockey player?” his cousin asks.

“I used to play,” I admit.

“Adam is obsessed with hockey!” she explains.

“Oh,” I say. I never know what to say to address that. “You kids have fun now.”

The girl nods, tugging at her little cousin. Adam looks at me one last time before following her, his skates clunking against the rubber flooring. Something about the kid sticks with me—maybe the quiet way he carries himself, or the way he seemed so unsure. I shake it off as they disappear into the crowd, turning back to Olivia.

“What?” she asks, her eyebrow raised as she catches me staring after them.

“Nothing,” I say, brushing off the moment.

“Just thinking about how I used to look just as terrified as Adam when I first got on the ice.”

“Still do,” she quips, a sly smile curving her lips.

I let out a laugh and glance over at Ethan. He’s giving me a double thumbs-up from across the rink, clearly pleased with whatever footage he just got. I roll my eyes at him and turn back to Olivia, extending my hand.

“Come on, Chase,” I say, my voice full of challenge. “Let’s hit the ice.”

She looks at my hand for a moment, then up at me. Her green eyes narrow slightly, but there’s no mistaking the spark of determination in them. “Fine,” she says, slipping her hand into mine. “But if I fall, I’m taking you down with me.”

“Deal,” I reply, grinning as I pull her to her feet.

As we step toward the rink, I can’t help but glance back, searching for Adam and his cousin in the crowd. For a moment, I think about what might be happening in their lives, but then Olivia squeezes my hand, pulling my focus back to her.

“Ready to show me what a pro you are, Jax?” she teases

As soon as we step onto the ice, Olivia wobbles, clutching my hand like her life depends on it. Her green eyes widen, and she lets out a startled laugh.

“Oh, God. This was a terrible idea,” she mutters.

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