Page 54 of 300 New Year's Eves

They quickly break apart, but this time, Sergio keeps his footing. He lets his eyes linger on Jeremy, watching him blush as he lets go and pulls away after being caught by young eyes. Sergio winks at him, and that’s when it all goes to hell.

Slam!He lands on his back, feet in the air above him, with a thud.

“Henry!” Jeremy calls out, visibly trying not to laugh. He skates back to Sergio and holds out a hand for him to grab, and helps him up. “You should see your Uncle Sergio on skates. He’s terrible.”

“All you need to do is hold my hands,” Jeremy instructs, extending his palms forward for Sergio to take.

Feeling even more confident than yesterday in his ability to at least glide along with Jeremy, Sergio grabs them willingly.

“Good,” Jeremy says, giving his hands a little squeeze as he begins to skate backward, pulling Sergio along with him. “Now all you have to do is shift your weight with me from side to side. Don’t even worry about picking up your feet.”

“Like this?” Sergio asks, getting into the rhythm.

“Yeah! Like that!” Jeremy says, encouraging Sergio along with enthusiasm. He gives Sergio a smile. “Are you sure this is your first time?”

“I’ve maybe been on the ice twice before,” Sergio confesses. “But both attempts ended in a full body slam.”

“Well, we all fall down every once in a while.”

“Very true,” Sergio says, holding Jeremy’s gaze as they glide.

“I think you can try pushing off,” Jeremy suggests. “Rock your weight onto your right foot, then push off with your left.”

Sergio does as he’s told.

“Good,” Jeremy says, looking very pleased with Sergio. “Now do it again.”

Sergio does.

“So good. Keep going,” Jeremy lets go of one of Sergio’s hands and seamlessly moves himself to skate at Sergio’s side. “Just like that.”

“What about my other foot?” Sergio asks, not feeling fully steady in his abilities and adjusting to only having one of Jeremy’s hands to hold.

“Don’t worry about your other foot. Focus on pushing with your left and gliding on your right.”

“Alright,” Sergio says. “But promise me you won’t let go.”

“I won’t,” Jeremy says with a squeeze to Sergio’s hand.

With that squeeze of his hand and Jeremy’s expressed faith in Sergio’s newly acquired abilities, Sergio’s confidence in himself under Jeremy’s tutelage grows. Though he does miss being able to look upon Jeremy’s alluring face as he glides. Chancing a glance, he turns his head. His eyes catch Jeremy looking happyand free as they drift across the ice. Sergio’s lips break out into a smile.

“Are you guys skating without me?” Henry’s voice echoes throughout the barn.

Slam!This time, it’s his toe pick and the forward momentum that gets him, causing Sergio to slide across the ice like he’s stealing second base. The irony that this is the closest he’s gotten to any form of second base in weeks is not in any way lost on him.

“Henry!” Jeremy calls out. “You should see your Uncle Sergio on skates. He’s terrible.”

Thunk!

“Henry! You should see your Uncle Sergio on skates. He’s terrible.”

Slam!

“Henry! You should see your Uncle Sergio on skates. He’s terrible.”

Crash!

“Henry! You should see your Uncle Sergio on skates. He’s terrible.”