Page 104 of You're The One
I’m eager to steal a moment with Mia, but I take the time to greet everyone first and help them lace up their skates, per Bodhi’s instructions. Once they’re set, I lead them onto the ice.
I was right—none of them know how to skate. Everyone except Mia is unsteady, clinging to the boards.
Now’s as good a time as any to take advantage of having my teammates here, so I pass the women off for skating lessons.
All but one.
I pair each woman with one of my teammates. Emma is the last.
Mia’s trying to help her, but I cut in and gently guide Emma across the ice. I glance over my shoulder, mouthing to Mia,I’ll be back for you.
“It’s fun to see you in your element.” Emma pulls my attention back to her. “It must be nice having your friends here, too.”
“Yeah. It is.”
Of all the women here, Emma’s the one I’m most worried about hurting. She seems genuine. She might actually have real feelings for me.
But there’s no future with her. Not with Mia in the picture.
Honestly, even if Mia weren’t, I still don’t think we’d work. My feelings for Emma have remained purely platonic. Which is why I don’t want to mislead her. Or anyone.
Mostly, I don’t want to give Mia any reason to doubt me.
We reach Helm. “Emma, this is Easton. He’s the other winger on my line. Helm, think you can help her out?”
He takes her hand like it’s a precious gift, and I shake my head. Rookies.
I skate up behind Mia, slide my hands to her waist, and pull her in. “I missed you.”
“You saw me less than three hours ago.”
“Doesn’t matter. I still do.”
She laughs, low and warm, fogging the air between us.
“Say it,” I murmur.
She laughs, gives my forearm a quick squeeze. “I miss you, too. Happy?”
“Very.” I ease her around to face me.
I lean in without thinking, but she stops me with a palm to my chest.
“We can’t kiss in front of them.” She tips her chin toward the others, who are still wrapped up in their skating lessons.
“Why not? I’ve seen the show, they kiss in front of each other all the time.”
“What about the curse?” she whisper-shouts. “If they know it’s broken, they’ll all start kissing you.”
I grin. Wide.
She hooks a finger in my hoodie. “Don’t give me that look.”
“What look am I giving you?”
“You knowexactlywhich one. The self-satisfied look that assumes I care if you kiss them.”
That wipes the smile clean off my face. “You don’t?”
