Page 104 of What Are The Odds?
“Because I am.”
“You really think I’d let you fall?”
He set my foot down then got to work on the other. After a few grunts on my end when he made it feel as though my foot was about to snap, I reluctantly placed my hand in his outstretched one. Like a fish out of water, I awkwardly trudged towards the rink. I tightened my hands around his when he transitioned from the safe ground to slippery ice.
“You trust me, Hughesy?”
I shook my head. “Not after the stunt you and Will just pulled on Lana.”
“She’s my little sister. I’d never do that to you.”
“If you do, I’m withholding sex.”
He snickered. “Noted.”
He pulled me onto the ice. If he hadn’t, I don’t think I would’ve taken the step. My entire body stiffened as he skated backwards, dragging me with him. An amused look took over Levi’s face.
“You can move your legs.”
“Mmhm.”
He chuckled. “Or you can stay like that and I’ll do the work.”
“Okay.”
He circled the rink a few times like that before he turned so he was holding only one of my hands and skating forward. As uncomfortable as I was on the ice, I trusted he had me. His grip on me never wavered.
“You really hate this, huh?”
“Nope,” I lied. “Though I am thinking of ways I can get you back.”
“I have an idea.”
“Yeah? Hit me.”
Any distraction was welcome.
“You can teach me to surf. I guarantee I’d be more uncoordinated than you are now.”
“Where can you surf around here?”
“Not here,” he said, slowing our pace. “In Australia.”
When I looked at him, I lost my footing. Levi tugged my arm and pulled me to his chest before I hit the ice. He came to a complete stop, arms tightly wound around me.
“I was thinking whenever you go home next, assuming it’s not during the hockey season, I could go with you.”
My chest constricted. “Really?”
Levi nodded. “You’ve seen my world, Hughesy. I want to see yours. I want to see where you grew up. And get to know your brothers. And maybe pummel Luke.”
That made me laugh. Levi’s expression shifted from confidence to nerves.
“I’m not sure if that’s what you want, but–”
“Of course it’s what I want,” I interjected.
“Thank fuck.”
