Page 171 of Until We Burn
Cold air blasts across my face, drawing my head up. “Oh my god.”
Marley and Babette’s Christmas Wonderland is utterly magical. The skating rink is doused in whimsical blue light that’s pricked with glimmering stars. The stars rove around the vast ceiling and shine across the glittering wire reindeers pulling Santa’s sleigh. The decorationtwinkles above a quaint, snowy village surrounding the skating trail. Nat King Cole echoes from the speakers as he sings about toys and mistletoe.
Kai wraps his arms around my waist and whispers into my ear, “If you’re at a loss for words, I believe the ones you’re looking for are‘Kai, this was such a great idea! I’msoglad I listened to you.’”
I playfully roll my eyes, nudging his face away. “The air inside this rink is already addling that big head of yours.”
He smiles against my ear. “Alright, I’m gonna start moving, okay? Just move forward when I do.”
With my head tucked beneath Kai’s chin, I’m fully cocooned in him. Still, I grip tightly onto his hands as they clasp together over my stomach. Kai pushes forward. The ice starts gliding beneath my feet. I gasp, my heart fluttering.
“It’s alright, princess, I got you,” he assures.
We start curving down the pathway, winding past gingerbread cottages and flocks of animatronic animals prancing around heaps of snow. Families and couples skate by. They pause and smile into the polaroid cameras the workers use to snap their photos. I smile in wonder. A laugh escapes me as gentle air sweeps through my hair.
“I just know Mellonbaum would eat this up.” Kai clears his throat and points at a horde of animatronic elves packing gifts.“Look upon these majestic elf tushies! Aren’t they divine?”
I giggle.
“They’re truly a marvel,”I mock back,“They flaunt themselves with such gravitas!”
An elf suddenly springs out of a gift box. “Weee!”
“Oh my god!”
“Diana!”
Kai tries to wrangle me still, but the ice slips under my skates. I writhe around like a fish being drawn out against its will.
“I don’t like this!” I panic.
“It’s okay! You’re good, princess! I got you!” Kai laughs. He yanks me back up and hugs my waist tight.
A little girl in a pink bunny hat cackles at me. “Look, daddy! She fell!”
I scowl irritably as she and her father skate away. “That little gremlin laughed at me.”
“Oh, howdareshe express her joy?” Kai scoffs. “Want me to get her?”
I smack his chest. Kai’s smile deepens, so carefree and mischievous that my toes curl at how utterly handsome he is.
“You two are adorable!” A bright-eyed old lady in an ugly Christmas sweater skates up to us. The name Meredith is scrawled across her tag in white chalk; it angles crookedly when she waves the disposable camera in her hand. “Would you like a polaroid taken of you? We want our skaters to have a little keepsake from the event since you’re not allowed to take photos on the ice. Don’t want anyone tripping and falling!”
Kai nudges me. “What do you think?”
A wave of giddiness ripples through my heart at the thought of owning a secret polaroid of Kai and me.
“It’d be nice to have some pictures of us together.”
Kai kisses my forehead. He then nods at Meredith. “Do you mind taking a few?”
“Of course not, dear!” She holds the camera to her eye. “Whenever you’re ready!”
“Kai?” I tug his collar until he glances down at me. I smile softly, whispering to him, “I hope we get to have a hundred more dates like this.”
Kai brushes his smiling lips against mine. “I’ll be sure to leave out the earpiece next time.”
I laugh into the kiss. My eyes flutter shut as the camera goes off.
