Page 38 of Three Pucks and a Baby

“What does that mean?”

Bending down, I eased her skates to where her back foot was slightly behind and outside of her other one. “Like that.”

Nibbling her bottom lip, she replied, “Now what?”

“Using the inside edge of your skate’s blade, push off with your back leg.”

“That might as well be Greek to me.”

Gripping the front of her thigh, I pushed it back, sending her slightly forward. “Like that.”

Vivian tried to do the move again, but she was as wobbly as a newborn colt. Keeping my hands on her waist, I decided I needed to do something to get her mind off things. “Now, tell me something about your family.”

With her face lined with concentration, Vivian argued, “I already did at dinner.”

“Tell me something I don’t know,” I urged.

“Okay, you said you stalked my socials.”

“I did.”

“Then you must’ve seen pictures of my nephews and niece.”

“Truthfully, I didn’t pay much attention to them,” I admitted.

Vivian frowned. “Don’t you like kids?”

“Nope. Not a fan.”

“Hmm, it must be because you don’t have brothers and sisters.”

“It’s not like I’ve never been around kids. I have a lot of younger cousins.”

“And you don’t like them?” Vivian asked incredulously.

“Not really.”

“What about children of your own?”

“What about them?”

She rolled her eyes. “Do you want kids someday?”

Shrugging, I replied, “Maybe. It’ll just depend.”

“On the woman?’

I shook my head. “Where I am in life then. Like I’d want to take my hockey career as far as possible. And if that doesn’t pan out, I might go to medical school instead of just working in biotechnology.”

“You’re a man with a plan, huh?” she teased.

“You don’t get anywhere in life without one,” I replied. Inwardly, I cringed when I realized how much I sounded like my father.

Wanting to change the subject, I noticed that Vivian was skating without my help. Grinning at her, I said, “Guess what?”

Furrowing her brows, she asked, “What?”

“You’re skating.”

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