Page 56 of Heart Check
The shock of his statement makes me lose my balance. My already wobbly ankles collapse, my legs shooting out from underneath me, threatening to drop me ass first on the ice.
But Dawson swoops in, wrapping an arm around my waist in time to keep me from wiping out, easily spinning to counteract my fall. Bringing us back to balance.
The maneuver means we’re now very, very close together. Bodies pressed against each other. His grasp encircling my waist. I’d been chilly before, but now I’m burning up.
My mouth makes a tinyohof shock; his gaze drops to it quickly before his eyes flick up to meet mine again, and my stomach swoops. I don’t even care that half the school is here watching and judging us—I just want to kiss Dawson again. I tilt my head up… let my lips part…
“Cool down!” a familiar voice whoops, and then Ryan and Alex snowplow stop right in front of us, sending a fine spray of ice into our faces.
I straighten up and push away, the ice not doing anything to cool my cheeks. Dawson’s arm drops down immediately, and I miss it so much, I swear I could check a few hockey players myself right now. Alex must read it in my face, because he winces apologetically.
Not Ryan, though. “Did we interrupt something?” he asks with a gleeful eyebrow waggle.
“We’ll settle this in scrimmage.” Dawson shakes a threatening finger his way. But they’re all grinning.
Ryan and Alex take off around the rink again, and Dawson turns back to me, disappointment written all over his face.
“I’m glad we got to know each other better this year.” It’s all I can manage. I fight the blush rising to my cheeks at the idea of exactlyhow wellI’m getting to know Dawson.
Dawson nods contemplatively. “Yeah. Good thing you got my coach fired.”
“Hey!” I swat him with my free hand, and he grins that sunny grin again.
We skate on in silence, soundtracked by (sure enough) “Sandstorm.” And despite the horrible music, I’m really, really happy we’re both trying something new.
19.HARPER
By the time we leave, I’m warm and fuzzy and bubbly. Alex and Ryan thump Dawson on the back half a dozen times apiece, reminding him about some bet they have going for their next practice.
I’m overflowing with a weird sense of belonging. Like I’m a part of something in a way I haven’t been… maybe ever? Dawson breathes this air every day of his life. All these people wanting to be around him, trying to catch some reflected ray of his glow.
And the way he shared it with me made it almost seem like I could have that, too. Like it was in my reach if I stretched out a hand. He was so careful that I wasn’t left out, helping me skate, joking around, never abandoning me. He didn’t make me feel like I had to do anything differently. I made my same snarky jokes, got sidetracked by design ideas more than once, asked a lot of dumb questions about skating.
He laughed at the jokes, waited patiently while I jotted down ideas, and answered all my questions without judgment.
Honestly? I never imagined a first date could be this perfect.
“Nice job out there, Harper,” Alex says, smiling winninglyat me. “Have you ever tried hockey? We might have a position open soon!”
“Hey!” Dawson says. “Are you trying to get rid of me?”
Alex holds up his hands defensively. “We’ll see what happens after the Northview game, that’s all I’m saying.”
He means if Dawson gets scouted. I can’t think about the implications—would he move away?—and it’s way too early to get in my head about anything like that. We’re juniors. We’ve been on one date. Kissedonce.
But only because of lack of opportunity.
I let myself stare as he tells the guys goodbye. His face is open, grinning. He’s so happy after a few hours on the ice, and something clicks into place in my mind. No wonder he puts everything he has into this team and this sport. It’s just a part of who he is.
He glances over and catches me staring. I can’t even bring myself to be embarrassed.
“Can I drive you home?” He jingles his car keys, not breaking eye contact. “I owe you a ride.”
“Sure.” I try to keep my voice casual and level, but my stomach’s tight with anticipation at the idea of being alone in the car with him.
I climb into the passenger seat of the beat-up Ford Explorer, doing my best not to get totally overwhelmed by the scent of him all around me. I’m reminded of our drive to Ryan’s after the Black Friday shift, the way I’d itched to put my hand on his thigh.
The only difference is that now I know how good it feels to have that muscle pressed up against me.
