Page 63 of Nodus Tollens
I wanted to keep him forever or as long as I was able to.
Averting my eyes and trying not to tear up, I focused my stare on a couple kids who were holding what looked like a walker to help them from falling. I watched in amusement as they stumbled over their skates but somehow managed to stay up. Then, suddenly, a horribly embarrassing thought came to mind.
“Please tell me I don’t have to use one of those…”
Hayes tucked the laces into my skate, then slowly stood with dipped brows.
“One of what?” He offered me his palm, but I used my hand to point over at the walker thing out on the ice.
Glancing over at what I was referring to, he belted out a laugh.
“A walker?” He chuckled. “No, unless you want to use one.”
Narrowing my eyes, I glared. “Not when I can use a hot shot hockey player as a walker.”
“A hot shot hockey player, huh?” He rubbed his chin with a dimpled smile.
“Don’t act cute. You know you’re good.”
God, how was he able to stand so still when he had skates on? I feel like his feet should be wobbling. I know I would have fallen onto my ass by now.
“Two compliments in an hour, Blue? I’m honored.” He offered me his hand once again, and this time I placed my palm into his.
“Don’t get used to it, hockey player. You get enough compliments to last a lifetime.” I grinned as I tried standing with the help of Hayes’s hand. Feet swaying side to side, I yelped when I started to fall forward, but luckily Hayes was there to catch me. With both of his arms wrapped tightly around me, I felt the rumble of his laughter against my chest.
“You good?” He tried to steady me as my face heated.
“I’m fine.”
“Told you I’d keep you safe.” He winked.
With both hands wrapped around his, he started to walk us toward the ice.
Very slowly.
My steps were the size of a small child, and Hayes never said a word about it. Never ridiculed or mocked me. Instead, he was telling me how good I was doing, and all I was doing was walking! I wasn’t even skating yet.
“Ready?” He asked as he stopped us right outside of the rink. People were buzzing by, some skating slowly, others fast, and I suddenly felt nervous. Swallowing, I took a minute to grasp what I was about to do. I wasn’t exactly a spontaneous risk-taker. I kept to what I knew and never ventured outside of it, but when Hayes gripped my chin, I felt my heart steady.
“You got this, Blue. I’ll be holding your hands the whole time.”
Nodding, I couldn’t formulate a word. Nothing. I was putting my trust in Hayes right now, and my heart told me I was safe. That I was in good hands. So, ever so slowly, with him facing me, he walked us out onto the ice. With one skate, then the other, I glided with him until we were fully out on the rink.
“You’re doing good, baby.” He praised as he skated backward with my hands still tightly gripped in his. I was the slowest moving person on the ice right now, and he, the hockey player, was telling me I was doing good.
I laughed.
“Hayes, I’m barely moving.”
Grinning, he continued to pull us along.
“Hey, at least you haven’t fallen.” He added with a smile.
We gradually made it around the rink, and with a few pointers, I was finally skating, holding only one of his hands. Now beside me, we watched as a couple of kids tried and failed at doing a spin.
“Got any moves like that?” I nodded toward the kid who had spun around on one skate.
“I got lots of moves, Blue.” He glanced down at me, and I scoffed. “I can spin, but not well. I’m mostly good with speed and agility.”
