Page 67 of Like A Daydream
Just because this is a big deal for him doesn’t mean he has to advertise it.
Danielle and Harper sit on the first level of bleachers, and Andrew walks to the door, grinning over his shoulder before he steps onto the ice. He takes off, skating around the boards at full speed before slowing down, the crisp air filling his lungs.
He’d spent an hour shooting around at a smaller rink with JT a few days ago, and he knew then that he’s missed this more than he’d realized. He sweeps his eyes around the arena, invisible crowd cheering as he moves in a slower lap. The ice has been home for as long as he can remember, and he thinks that he’s finally getting back to why.
His skates cut through the ice easily as he moves back towards the door of the arena, grin on his face as he skids to a stop, spraying snow on Harper.
She laughs in delight, and Andrew grabs the chair from inside the door. He unfolds it and sets it on the ice just in front of the door, nodding for Harper to hold on.
“Alright, bug,” he says, “you’re going to want to walk when you get on the ice, but you have to glide. The chair is for balance.”
“What do you mean glide?” she asks, eyes wide as she holds onto the back of the chair.
He grins, pulling the chair further on the ice for her. He turns it so she’s also next to the boards, just in case she wants something a little bit more solid to hold onto.
“You use one foot to push, and balance on the other.” Andrew says. “Like this.”
He pushes off with his right foot, gliding on his left, before setting his right foot down and repeating the process. Harper watches, tongue between her teeth, holding onto the chair as she tries.
“It’s okay if you try to walk while you’re figuring it out,” he says, skating beside her slowly, “or until you know how the ice feels. It’s not what you’re used to, but it’s a lot easier.”
“You won’t let me fall, right?” Harper asks, looking up at him. He nods.
“I won’t let you fall,” he says, “that’s why I gave you the chair, and you’re skating next to the wall. And I’m here to catch you if anything happens.”
She nods, taking short steps until she’s brave enough to try to glide. She catches on quicker than Andrew expects, but little kids are always quicker on the uptake.
The five-nine brunette on the other side of the boards is going to be a lot harder to teach. And not just because she’s clearly nervous, biting at her thumbnail as she watches Harper.
“Are you okay if I get Aunt D?” Andrew asks, turning around to skate backwards next to Harper. Harper’s eyes widen as she watches him, but she nods.
“She’s a scaredy cat, sometimes,” she says, “you might need to hold her hand.”
“Best wing woman ever,” Andrew says, laughing as he changes direction and skates back to the door.
Danielle is staring at him, wide-eyed, and nowhere near ready for him to pull her on the ice. He stops at the door, spraying her legs with snow and holding a hand out for her.
“Come on,” he says, grinning, “your turn.”
“I think I’m good here,” she says, shaking her head no. Andrew looks over his shoulder at Harper, making sure she’s okay before he steps off the ice and walks to Danielle, crouching in front of her and taking her hands in his.
“I’ve got you, D,” he grins, standing to his full height, “come on.”
“Andy –”
“I want you to like this part of me, too,” he says, smiling softly, “if you don’t like skating, I’ll never ask you to do it again, but I want you to know why I love it.”
She pulls her lower lip between her teeth, and he wants to kiss her. So, he does.
A quick one, short enough that Harper won’t catch them, but long enough that Danielle’s eyes practically pop out of her head in surprise before she grins.
“Plus, Harper says you’re a scaredy cat, and I want you to prove her wrong,” he says, pulling her up so she’s standing on her feet. “I’m not going to let anything happen to you.”
He helps her wobble toward the door, vice-grip on his arm, and they step onto the ice. She holds onto the wall with one hand, and his arm with the other.
“Glide,” he says, showing her the same steps as he showed Harper. And to her credit, Danielle tries. She really does. But she’s holding onto his arm, and the boards and trying to walk and it’s just not working.
He stops.
