Page 73 of Full Court Crush

“Keira…it’s beautiful.” Amelia ran her fingers over the box. She removed the tab at the end to get out the Ferris wheel, and tilted it, causing a handful of small photos to fall out instead.

“What are these?” Amelia put down the box and picked up the photos.

“I know that it can be faffy getting things printed, so I thought I’d do it for you. You don’t have to use them, obviously,” Keira said quickly, her cheeks heating even more.

Amelia’s eyes started glistening the longer she flicked through the photos. Keira had put in a couple from their evening at Winter Wonderland, and a scaled-down version of a Blizzards team photo. She’d included a photo of Amelia and her sister as children. Amelia’s hands started trembling.

“I got it from your socials. I hope that’s okay,” Keira said quietly, then realised it made her sound like a stalker.

“More than okay.” Amelia replied, and there was a catch in her voice.

Then Amelia put down the photographs and pulled the Ferris wheel frame out of the box. She removed the remaining packaging and set it on the table. She giggled as she slowly made the wheel turn. The sound made Keira feel like she was filled with helium.

“It’s beautiful,” she said when she made eye contact with Keira. “I love it, thank you.”

Keira grinned.

“I got you something as well,” Amelia said. She took a small present out of her coat pocket. “I didn’t know if you’d want it, or want to burn it, so I wasn’t sure whether to give it to you…”

Amelia held it out, and Keira gingerly took it, as if it was a bomb that might explode if she jiggled it too much. She ripped off the wrapping, revealing a plush velvet box inside. With a snap, she opened it and examined the small silver necklace that was inside; a beautifully detailed silver ice skate pendant hung from it.

“Amelia, it’sgorgeous.” Her eyes went wide with wonder. She traced her finger over the intricate charm, and was immediately whisked back to that night on the ice. How scared she’d been. How calm Amelia had made her feel.

“Here, can you help me put it on?” She took it out of the box and undid the clasp.

Amelia got up as Keira turned sideways in her chair. Amelia gently swept stray strands of hair off the back of Keira’s neck, and a delicate shiver cascaded down her spine. She handed Amelia the necklace. Once the clasp was secure, Keira reverently touched the pendant that hung down her front.

Amelia sat back down. Keira stroked the pendant as if it was a lucky charm.

Maybe it was.

“It seemed we had a similar thought process.” Amelia laughed, gesturing to the Ferris wheel box on the table.

“It seems like we did.” Keira laughed, relieved. This felt good. This felt more like the easy conversations they’d had before everything had gone wrong. But her body wasn't reacting to Amelia like they werejust friends, and Amelia wasn't looking at Keira like they werejust friends, either.

They both took a sip of their drinks. Amelia again picked up the Ferris wheel box, apparently reading the description. Keira kept a hand firmly on the necklace, grasping it like a lifeline of hope. Maybe whatever they had wasn’t completely over.

Amelia’s phone vibrated on the table, and she casually glanced at it, before nearly dropping the photo frame.

“It’s Clara…she’s messaged me back.” Amelia snatched the phone off the table.

“What did she say?” Keira asked excitedly.

“Hey, Amy. I miss you, too. I was thinking about you as well. You must have sensed it. I hope you’ve had a good Christmas.”

Happy tears flowed freely from Amelia's eyes. She seemed to be trying to type a message back, but kept wiping her eyes instead, half laughing, half crying.

In one swift motion, Keira got up from her chair, grabbed the napkins from the centre of the table, and sat down next to Amelia, handing her the napkins and embracing her in a one-armed hug. Amelia wiped her eyes and leant into the hug, resting her head on Keira’s chest as her whole body shook. Keira pulled her close, making comforting noises and stroking her hair. She could only imagine the years of bottled-up emotions that were spilling out.

Once the tears had slowed, and Amelia's breathing had evened out, she sat back up, wiping her face with her hands.

“Sorry.” Amelia blushed.

“Nothing to be sorry for.” Keira removed her arm from around Amelia’s shoulders. “Are you going to reply?”

“Yes, but I don’t know what to say." Amelia laughed. "She’s my sister, how can I not know what to say to her?”

“Because she’s probably changed, and so have you. You don't know each other as the people you are now. Start there — just get to know each other. Invite her over, or ask to meet somewhere. Where does she live?”