Page 41 of Cozy Hometown Christmas
She put on her own skates, showing him how to tighten the laces properly, and then checked his once he was done. She held out her hand. “Come on. It’s easier than you think.”
His first few steps on the ice were shaky, but Kristen held on to him, and it didn’t take long before he was taking a tentative glide.
“Hey, this isn’t so bad.”
Kristen hooked her arm through his. “Let’s try to take a tour around the pond. I’ll hold on just in case.”
They went slowly around the edge. Mason stumbled a few times but did pretty well overall. Julie and Nolan sped past, holding hands and waving cheerily with their free hands. Ivy and Malcolm skated up, and Malcolm executed a hockey stop that sent chips of ice flying at them and almost sent Mason tumbling.
Malcolm grabbed Mason’s arm to steady him. “Sorry, man.”
Mason held his hand up. “It’s okay. Just getting used to these skates. First time skating.”
“Really? You’re catching on quick. You’ll be playing pond hockey with us in no time.”
Mason laughed. “We’ll see about that.”
“We’re going to go get a firepit with Nolan and Julie in about a half hour. You guys want to join us? Julie has marshmallows,” Ivy said.
Kristen glanced at Mason, her cheeks heating at Ivy’s inference that they were together.
His green eyes were glittering as he nodded. “That would be great.” Then his eyes slid to hers. “I mean if you want to.”
“I’d love to, but first, you have a few more rounds of skating.”
“Darn. I was kind of hoping we could go over there now and save a seat.”
Kristen laughed. “No chance. You’re not getting out of a lesson that easily.”
Ivy tugged Malcolm away. “Come on. Let’s go get some cider.”
As they skated off, Malcolm looked at them over his shoulder and said, “Nice scarves.”
They were on their second trip around the pond when a gaggle of kids flew past them, knocking into Mason. He teetered backward, his legs and arms flailing, then he overcorrected forward and went down, pulling Kristen with him.
They lay there in a tangle of arms and legs. Mason looked at her with concern. “Are you okay?”
She laughed. “Yes, I’m fine. It’s not the first time I’ve fallen down, and it probably won’t be the last time you do either.”
Even though they were lying in the middle of the skating pond with half the town around them, the way Mason looked at her made it feel as if they were alone. He brushed a curl away from her cheek, and the air around them became electrified. She could barely catch her breath when he leaned in and kissed her.
It was a sweet kiss—more of a peck that lasted a little bit longer than usual—but when he pulled away, the look in his eyes held the promise of more.
Mason struggled to his feet, pulling her up with him. He put his arm around her and started forward.
“If that’s what happens when you take me skating, I’m going to want to come a lot more often.” Mason winked at her.
Kristen smiled. What could be more perfect than this? The pond looked gorgeous with the decorations she and Mason had done together. Her mom was getting out and starting to live her life, even if that included handing ragamuffin scarves out to the whole town. Ethan was finally socializing with his friends. Ivy, Julie, Malcolm, and Nolan were waiting at the firepit, and Mason was by her side. And even though the tree problem wasn’t exactly solved, she knew Ethan would work it out.
Kristen had a feeling this was going to be the best Christmas season yet.
