Page 123 of Wonderstruck

Fireworks exploded in her eyes as they widened, but I didn’t have long to lose myself in them before she bolted, her giggling floating in her trail. I shot forward, closing the distance, and before she could dodge, I caught her by the waist and spun us both in a circle.

Hershriek was more of a laugh, and hearing itmade my hands grip her tighter, feeling every inch of her wriggling underneath me. It was addictive, how good she felt, how happy she sounded, and how clear it was that the girl I fell in love with last year was finally staring back at me.

“Finn!” She cried, although she’d stoppedfighting my hold.

“What? I promised fun, didn't I?” I grinned downat her as I set her back on the ice, my hands on her waist as I turned her to face me. “I’m just trying to give the lady what she deserves.”

Her cheeks were even redder now, her breathspuffing out in little clouds, but she wasn’t pulling away. If anything, she leaned closer, her eyes softening like she was counting my freckles for a change.

“You’re ridiculous,” she murmured, but hervoice held no bite.

“And yet, here you are.” I grinned, brushing astray strand of hair from her face. “What does that say about you?”

“That I’m not nearly as smart as you think I am.”

I chuckled, leaning in just enough to make her blush deepen. “Or maybe you’re exactly as smart as I think you are, and you knew a date with me would be the most fun you’ve ever had.”

“Still waiting for the fun part,” she shot back,though the smile tugging at her lips said otherwise.

Challenge accepted.

I pushed off the ice and flew past her, lapping therink with her on my tail. I could hear her giggles behind me, and I slowed just enough to let her pass me.

“Tu patines plutôt délicatement pour un joueurde hockey.”2 She said as she skated backward in front of me, her movements effortless.

I smirked. “Et tu patines beaucoup plusagressivement qu'un patineur artistique. Les Lions auraient bien besoin de toi, à bien y penser.”3 My laugh bellowed out of me. “Nous devrions échanger nos places pour la semaine.”4

Her gasp was every bit dramatic, her hand flyingto her chest like I’d insulted her honour. “I’d do anything to see you squeeze those shoulders into one of my outfits.”

I skated right up to her, closing the space untilthe tips of our skates touched.My hands settled on her waist again, finding their spot and steadying her as I dipped to meet her eyes. “And I’d do anything to see you in my jersey again,”

Those smile lines flattened, just enough tolet me know she wasn’t entirely immune to me. Then she tilted her head, the teasing edge in her tone back in full force. “You’re dangerously close to sounding like a romantic.”

I leaned in, just enough to feel the warmth of herbreath against mine. “What if that’s exactly what I’m tryingto be?”

Her star-filled eyes flicked to my lips for thebriefest second, but long enough to make my stomach drop. And if I didn’t have a plan to get in motion, I would have shut out the rest of the world, cupped her face and kissed her.

But, unfortunately, I did have a plan to get to.

I knocked my head over to the side as I took her hand. “Coffee break?”She didn’t say anything, just let her eyes wash over me before nodding. And I couldn’t help but smile.“Come on.”

We skated over to the booth toward to top of therink, a little wooden shack decorated with fairy lights that was barely big enough for the only attendant in there.

“Two lattes please,” I called up to the guy,dressed in tartan with a white woolly hat. He nodded down at me, taking the cash from my hands and busying himself making them.

The longer we waited the faster my heart was beating. And thankGodthat Rory was so happy to watch the other skaters because if her attention was on me, she would have seen the nerves dripping from me.

Looking at her took my mind off it, only for amoment, but it was enough to catch my breath and remind myself of how badly I needed to do this.

“Here you are.” The guy called sooner than Iwould have liked him to, his gruff voice cutting through the calm.

“Thank you so much!” Rory chirped, takingthe cup from the ledge, not hesitating before lifting it to her lips, and without thinking—because God knows thinking would’ve stopped me—I reached over and snatched it out of her hands.

“Hey,” she gasped, her voice indignant as shereached for it.

“Patience, Greene,” I said, holding the cup justout of her reach. My grin was probably insufferable, but her reaction made it impossible to care.

She folded her arms, narrowing her eyes at me in a way that always made me feel like she was plotting my demise. “If you’re planning to drink both of those, I swear—”

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