Page 47 of One Pucking Secret
“Hey, Jasper, I’ve got something for you,” I say. I pop open the trunk with my key fob, pulling out a box wrapped in colorful paper. His eyes light up as he tears into it, revealing a pair of brand-new ice skates.
“Wow! Thanks, Wyatt!” Jasper exclaims, beaming up at me. “Can I wear these today?”
“Absolutely,” I reply, smiling at his excitement. Seeing the pure joy on his face fills me with a strange sense of pride.
Turning to Chloe, I notice her watching us with a soft smile. I clear my throat and hand her the second box. “I also got a pair for you, Chloe,” I say. “In case you wanted to join us.”
Her eyes widen slightly, and I catch a flicker of uncertainty behind her gratitude. “Thanks, Wyatt,” she says, her voice warm, but there’s something in her gaze that makes me wonder if I’ve overstepped.
I clear my throat again, breaking the moment. “Let’s head inside.”
Zach’s towering frame is instantly recognizable by the entrance. His surprise at seeing us together is a raised eyebrow away from a question he doesn’t ask.
“Wyatt, didn’t expect to see you here. Chloe?” He nods toward us, his voice tinged with genuine curiosity, his eyes shifting between the three of us.
“Hey, Zach,” Chloe says, her voice cheerful as she approaches him with Jasper’s hand clasped in hers.
“Who is this?” Zach bends down, offering Jasper a high-five, which the boy shyly reciprocates.
“Jasper,” Chloe introduces, pride swelling in her voice like a warm tide. “He’s my son.”
Zach’s brows rise. “Son? No kidding. I didn’t know you had a kid.”
As Zach straightens up, his eyes linger on Jasper for a moment longer, a flicker of something—recognition, maybe—crossing his face. He glances at me, and I can tell what he’s thinking without him saying a word. Jasper’s resemblance to me is undeniable, the same blue eyes, the same dark hair. Zach doesn’t comment on it, but the knowing look he shoots me speaks volumes.
Chloe smiles, oblivious to the unspoken exchange, the kind only a proud mother can conjure. “Wyatt’s teaching him to ice skate today.”
“Stinking adorable,” Zach teases, ruffling Jasper’s hair, now tousled from the winter cap he’d been wearing.
“Best teacher around,” I chime in, trying to keep the mood light, though I can feel the weight of Zach’s silent observation. He knows. Or at least, he suspects.
“Have fun, little man,” Zach says, giving Jasper a conspiratorial wink before glancing at me once more, his expression unreadable. The question is there, but he keeps it to himself—for now.
“You’re not going to skate?” I ask Chloe as she watches us, her arms folded across her flannel-clad chest.
“Maybe later,” she replies, a corner of her mouth tilting up in a half-smile. “I’ll watch for now.”
“Alright, keep an eye on us then.” I wink at her, and she shakes her head, but her eyes are sparkling green, like sunlight filtering through leaves.
Jasper wiggles his foot into the first skate, his tongue peeking out from the corner of his mouth in concentration. “Pull it tight, bud,” I instruct, guiding his small hands. The satisfying sound of laces being pulled taut fills the air. With both skates secured, we shuffle toward the rink’s entrance, the sound of the blades muffled against the carpeted floor.
I hold on to Jasper’s shoulder as we step onto the slick surface. His body is rigid at first, but as I show him how to glide one foot after the other, he relaxes. Jasper is a natural, slicing through the frosty air with growing confidence, his laughter echoing off the walls.
“Look at you go!” I call out.
Every few strides, I glance over my shoulder to where Chloe stands by the boards. She’s got her phone out, capturing Jasper’s every move.Her cheeks are tinged pink from the chill, or maybe it’s the excitement lighting her up from inside. Either way, she’s beautiful in ways I’ll never forget.
“Good job, Jasp!” she yells, waving at him, and he beams, pushing himself harder, faster. He’s radiant with pride and joy, his new skill unfolding like wings. Seeing him this happy, under my guidance, swells something warm and unfamiliar in my chest.
“Did you see that, Wyatt?” Jasper calls, breathless, after a particularly successful lap.
“Every second,” I assure him, grinning as wide as the rink itself. It’s more than just teaching him to skate. In these moments, with the chill biting at my cheeks and Jasper’s exhilaration infectious, I’m part of their world—a place I never knew I’d fit until now.
“Let’s take a break, buddy,” I tell Jasper, patting his back. The cool air of the rink has kept the heat at bay, but my shirt clings to me with a light sheen of sweat from our exertions, and Jasper’s cheeks are flushed with both cold and effort.
As we glide over to the exit, Chloe’s laughter reaches us before we see her. There’s something about the sound that seems to cut through the frosty atmosphere, makingeverything feel a little warmer. She’s perched on the edge of the bench, Zach standing beside her.
“You’re doing so awesome, Jasp,” Chloe tells him as we approach, her voice full of pride. She extends a bottle of water toward him, which he grabs with small, eager hands, thirst evident in the way he gulps it down.
