Page 64 of Rugged Hearts: Part One
“It’s just us? Really?” I ask Liam.
“Yeah. Oh I almost forgot.” He walks around the corner and a few minutes later that same ambient music that we danced to in the kitchen is playing throughout the rink. By the time he returns I have the skates on. This is either going to be great or a disaster. I did rollerblade a lot as a kid, that’s basically the same right? Liam has his skates on in no time.He’s first on the ice, turning with his hand stretched for me.
Grabbing it tightly, I step onto the ice with shaky legs. “Easy, I’ve got you,” he says softly. I gaze up at him. He’s so relaxed, probably the most relaxed I’ve seen him. We move together, him backwards and still holding onto me while I slowly move forward. “You know,” I huff out while trying to move but not fall on my ass, “you’re full of surprises. Dancing, ice skating, the music.”
“Is there a question in there?” he teases.
“Yeah how or why did you get into all that?” Feeling steadier, I stand a little straighter. My slightly hunched position seemed to be the only way to balance. Think rollerblades, you could do those at some point in your life, it’s the same idea.
Liam doesn’t let go of my hands as we continue to move,albeit slowly, around the rink. “My mom taught me, she loved dancing and skating, really anything that moved the body in a fluid way. Skating was really her passion.”
“Was? Did something happen?”
“She has muscular dystrophy. When she was initially diagnosed when I was a kid, things didn’t change that much right away but it’s a disease that will progress, and medicine can only help slow it down. She hasn’t been able to skate or dance like she used to in years. My dads take care of her though.”
“I’m so sorry. That has to be hard. Do you see her often?”
“In person no, but we try to have a video call at least once a week. Her diagnosis is part of what motivated me to go into medicine in the first place. Helping people, taking their concerns seriously. It took a long time for my mom to get answers on what was wrong. Too long, if her primary listened better, tested earlier—it doesn’t matter now. As long as I can help someone like she needed, that’s what’s important.”
“She must be so proud of you.”
“Mhm, yeah, well it doesn’t mean anything if I can’t save the one person I need to.” He looks away from me. “Sorry, didn’t mean to bring the mood down.”
“You know Keelan told me once no one expects me to be happy and perfect all the time. That goes both ways. He was right when he said that isn’t real. I want it to be real, with you, the pack,” I say, pulling us to a stop.
“You know I’m going to do everything I can to get you through this heat safely, right?”
I reach up to wrap my arms around his neck. “I know you will. I have my own fears about the heat but never one about whether or not you’ll be able to get me through it.” I pull him down for a kiss. It’s gentler than I expected but perfect for us. His hand wraps around my waist, pulling me close to him, our bodies connected as much as possible in this position. When we break away, I’m a little breathless and as he notices, a smug smirk forms on his face. There’s my Doc.
“C’mon let’s skate for real, I can do it,” I say. He looks at me questioningly. Playing off my own inexperience, I move ahead with one foot then another. Not fast but better than before. Liam catches up to me in no time. The showoff he is, he skates backwards again in front of me. “How about a race then?” He thinks I’ll back down but I won’t. I know I’ll lose but it’ll still be fun.
“Good idea, what are the terms?”
Surprised I agreed so quickly, he thinks for a moment before saying, “First one to the net wins.” We’re about halfway so at least it’s not the entire rink. I’m pretty sure I can get there without falling, yeah, totally, like sixty percent sure. “You’re on,” I say in all seriousness. I do get competitive so I’ll still try my best.One day I’ll beat him at something.
He moves next to me so we’re starting in the same place. “Ready…set…go!” he shouts as he speeds off at a pace I could never match. I’m trailing far behind him but still steady, so I count that as a win so far. I’m halfway to the net when he reaches it, circling around it with a huge smile on his face. I love that look. Definitely worth losing for, that was my prize anyways. Staring at him must’ve been too much of a distraction as my foot lands weird and my balance is thrown off. Before I know it, my ass is hitting the ice.
“Fuck, are you okay? This was a stupid idea.” Liam reaches the spot where I fell.
I’m laughing at myself for falling and he looks at me like I’m crazy. “Okay I know you didn’t hit your head….”
Rolling my eyes, I sniff, “Always so serious, I’m fine. I’m laughing because I fell. Now help me up.” He lets out a huff of annoyance but reaches down to help me but I pull hard, making him fall next to me.
“What was that for?”
“I didn’t feel like getting up yet and wanted you next me.” I shrug as I lie down on the ice.
I feel him lie down with me and move closer. “You could’ve just asked,” he grumbles.
“Nah, you would’ve made a big deal about making sure nothing was hurt and all that.”
His shoulder is just about where my head is and I slide over a little and rest my head on it. “Liam?”
“Yeah, Sweetheart?”
“I’m falling in love with you.” I’m pretty sure he stops breathing. “You alive over there?”
“Yes I’m alive. A little warning, otherwise I need a minute.”