Page 36 of Cloudless
YOU MAKE IT SO EASY
LILA
I fidget with the zipper on my jacket as Kam kneels before me. The chilly air cools my overheated skin as I take deep breaths. “Are you sure about this?”
His confident smirk calms my nerves as he ties the laces of my skates so tight it's bruising. “I won’t let you fall, Sunshine. I promise.”
I roll my eyes as he pulls a smile from my lips. “You can’t promise that.”
His smirk turns into a full-on grin as he stands. “Watch me.”
I take his extended hand as I stand on shaky legs. “How am I supposed to walk in these things?”
Jasper walks by unimpeded by the blades on his feet. “You don’t walk, Lulu. You skate.” His skates connect with the ice as he mumbles, “Obviously.”
Kam doesn’t fight his grin as he steadies me. “He’s right, you know.”
My light smack on his shoulder adds fuel to his grin. “Don’t make fun of me.”
Happiness dances in his eyes as he threads an arm around my waist for added stability. “Oh, but you make it so easy.”
I take an uneasy step as my knees threaten to buckle under the weight they’ve had no problem holding for years. “How do you make this look so easy? I’m not even on the ice yet, and I feel like my knees are about to crumble.”
My eyes are so focused on my feet that I feel more than see Kam’s shrug. “Practice. I’ve been skating since I could walk.”
I take deep breaths to settle my raging heart as I reach the boundary that separates me from my laughing friends and siblings. I stand on the edge of the ice like I would a cliff as the six-inch drop to the ice looms before me like a daunting leap of faith I’m not prepared to take.
Kam’s quiet words flow through me. “Take the step. I’m right here. I won't let you fall.”
I take the leap of faith and raise my foot as I grab Kam’s hand in a death grip. My blade touches the ice with a feather-light kiss as I stand stranded between the edge of safety and the edge of uncertainty.
My foot slides with the first hint of pressure as my stomach threatens to spill its contents. I grit my teeth and transfer my weight to my front foot.
Ice and a blade will not beat me. Not today.
My legs wobble as I plant both feet solidly on the ice. “I’m doing it!”
Kam chuckles behind me as my momentum propels me forward. “Heck yeah!”
A relieved breath leaves my lips prematurely. My feet slowly spread under me as panic takes hold of my voice. “Um, how do I stop?”
I dig into Kam with both hands as he pulls me to a stop. His laughter booms through the rink as I fight for balance. “One thing at a time.”
Mace looks like he’s floating as he flies by us with a grin on his face. “Looking good, Sullivan!” His voice falls to a level to prevent little ears from overhearing. “Glad we finally popped your ice skating cherry!”
Kam’s muscles tighten under my hands as a growl rumbles through his chest. His eyes turn dark as he clenches his teeth. “Not funny, Mace!”
My face heats. Not from Mace’s comment or the wink he sends my way as he speeds off, but from the look on Kam’s face as his eyes stay locked on his friend.
I tighten my hold on Kam’s arm until he dials back the fire in his eyes. “Hey, it’s alright.” I shrug as his eyes search my face. “I thought it was funny.”
Kam grumbles, “He should know better than to say something like that at all, let alone to you.”
I raise a brow as I fight a smile. “Oh, yeah? And what makes me different from everyone else?”
His voice falls to a deadly level as he grabs my waist. “Because you’re mine .”
I lose the fight on my smile as butterflies take flight in my belly. “Oh, really? I don’t recall you asking.”
“You didn’t ask her to be your girlfriend? What’s wrong with you? I taught you better than that, Goose.” The exacerbation rings through Ellie’s voice as she slips her skates onto her feet at the edge of the rink.
Kam’s eyes blaze as they stay locked on mine. “Stay out of this, Shrimp.”
Dax’s whistle echoes through the empty stands as he skates over to us. “You didn’t lock her down? What’s wrong with you, Cap?” His dimple appears as a smirk blooms on his face. “Go ahead then, ask her.”
Wyatt rolls his eyes as he circles us. “You guys are ridiculous.”
A smile blooms on Mace’s face as he stabilizes Posey before she takes off around the rink again. “You love us anyway, Ranger.”
My eyes are drawn back to Kam by the weight of his stare. His eyes hold a hint of apology. For his friends' antics or this situation, I’m not sure. “Did I really not ask you last night?” I shake my head as determination fills his eyes. “Be my girlfriend, Sunshine.”
I raise a brow as a smile takes over my face. “Was that a question?”
A smirk pulls at his lips as his hand tightens on my hip. “No.”
Silence descends around us as everyone stops to watch a moment I’m sure will stick with me forever. “Well, in that case, I would love to.”
Cheers from our friends take the place of the silence as Kam’s lips connect with mine.
He breaks the kiss as smiles bloom on our faces.
His voice is a whisper against my lips. “I’m sorry.
We should have left the hill last night as a couple.
That was my intention when I planned everything. I just got distracted by our visitors.”
Ellie’s voice infiltrates our bubble as she throws an arm over my shoulder. “I, for one, am glad you forgot. This way, we all get to bear witness to the beginning of your story.” She fakes wiping a tear from the corner of her eye. “It’s beautiful, really.”
Wyatt grabs a handful of the back of her sweatshirt and drags her away from us. “Alright, Ellie. Give the new couple some space.”
A pout forms on her face even though she doesn’t even try to fight his grip. “Ah, come on! I was just having a little fun.”
Their banter fades to the other side of the rink as my eyes gravitate back to Kam. “It’s alright, Trouble. It all worked out in the end.”
Regret takes over his face as he looks down at our skates. “That just wasn’t how I wanted it to happen.”
I poke him in the chest to get his attention. “Hey! No pouting!” My lips pull into a mischievous smile. “My new boyfriend is supposed to be teaching me to skate!”
His eyes light up as his smirk returns. “I can’t keep my new girlfriend waiting, then.”
Dax makes a gagging sound from across the rink. “You guys are so cute. It makes me sick.”