Page 52 of Skating to Him

After breakfast,we’d hung around and figured out what movie to see and then I’d driven him to his car, still sitting in the parking lot at the barn. He’d insisted on driving and his bad leg was on the left, so I’d entertained the idea. Plus, he did need his car.

“It’s about time you got to see my baby.” He waved his arm over a dark-gray Mustang. “She’s a two thousand six GT, and with the mods I put on the engine, she’s pushing three hundred and forty horsepower.”

I looked the car over, the body style reminiscent of the original version from the 1970s. But what did I know about cars? Nothing. “It’s nice.” As he unlocked the doors with his key fob, I opened his for him. “Need help getting inside?”

“I don’t think so. But could you move the seat back?” He eyed the driver’s seat.

“Are you sure you can drive?” I rubbed my chin. Maybe this wasn’t a good idea.

“I’m going to have to in order to get to class tomorrow.” He twisted his lips. “I can take off the brace. I don’t need it if I’m not putting any weight on it, and it’ll feel good to bend it.”

“Want me to take it off now then?” I crouched, freed the straps on the brace, and removed it.

Holding my shoulder, he said, “Thanks.”

After throwing the brace into the backseat, I stood and hooked an arm around his waist. “Okay, let’s go.” I helped him into the car.

“You know what? I want to take you to the car show at The Pavilions sometime.” He started the engine, and it roared to life, making a loud rumbling as it settled in.

“What’s that?” I slid into my seat. Holy shit, this thing was loud. Not as loud as a Harley, but still. “It ah, sounds meaty.”

“Yep, and the engine is wicked clean.” He squeezed my thigh. “I was reading that The Pavilions, the shopping center over on Indian Bend, has an amateur car show on Saturdaynights. People bring their babies, line them up, and show them off.”

With a nod, I said, “Oh, okay.” He was really into this car thing. It was a side of him I hadn’t seen.

“I can show off my new hot boyfriend too.” He gave me a lopsided grin.

Warmth wrapped around my heart. “Of course.” I leaned in and planted a hard kiss on his lips. I’d learn about cars just for him. “Next time we’re in town on a Saturday night, let’s do it.”

CHAPTER TWELVE

ROWAN

After watching a fun fantasy movie at the theater, I strolled next to Tyler—arm in arm so he could help with my walking—into a restaurant called Noodles and Company for some, well, noodles. I glanced up at the tall palm trees dotting the landscape of fountains, fake grass areas, and walkways between the squared-off buildings of shops and restaurants. As usual, the sun was out with barely a cloud in the sky. Now that we were into November, it wasn’t as hot. “So, you’ve been to this place before?”

We strolled past patio tables with red umbrellas and stopped at a glass door under a metal overhang.

“No, but I’ve heard some of the guys talk about it in the locker room. Bransky swears by this place. He said the food is good and prices are within a college budget.” He opened the door and helped me through it.

“Okay.” I scanned the restaurant, all done up in modern, dark wood tables and metal chairs with an Asian flare. “So it’s Asian noodles?”

“Yes, but it also has mac and cheese and stuff like shrimp scampi.” He led me to an ordering counter at the back of the restaurant. “But I’ve heard they have the best spicy Korean beefnoodles around.” As he planted his hands on his hips, his gaze rose to a sign with the menu high up on the wall. “Holy shit. You can have just about anything.” He pointed at it. “You pick your noodles, then your sauce, and what kind of protein you want.”

I stared at the menu, my mouth watering and stomach grumbling. Being a hockey player meant I wasalwayshungry. “Well, you said the Korean beef thing is the best, so I’ll go with that.” I smiled at him.

“Me too.” He wrapped an arm around my shoulders, and then we ordered.

After getting our drinks and food on a tray, I hobbled to a table on the patio under one of the umbrellas while he followed me with the tray.

I fell into a chair and propped my leg on the chair next to mine. This was nice, having a date with Tyler. It wasn’t very different from the dates I’d been on with women, except we had way more in common.

He set the tray on the table, sat down on the other side of me, and placed our meals in front of each of us.

I looked down at my thick noodles with slices of braised beef in a brownish sauce and plenty of green onions and maybe bits of cabbage? Hell, I wasn’t sure what all was in it, but I sure as hell was eating it. “This looks fantastic, Tyler.” I unrolled my fork from a paper napkin and dug in.

He stuffed a fork covered in noodles into his mouth and moaned. “Oh my God, fantastic.” Nodding and smiling, he chewed his food and downed it with iced tea.

I thought back through the time we’d been together. “Thanksgiving is coming up. Are you going home?” I couldn’t believe I hadn’t asked him about it already.

---