Page 17

When he starts lacing my skates up for me, I just freeze and let him, looking out onto the ice. Alice looks over and waves and I manage a meek, semi-frozen wave back. Alexei’s head pops up from somewhere between my legs and I try to ignore that look on Alice’s face.

“Ready?”

“Yep.”

I expect Alexei to shoot out onto the ice the way he does during hockey games, but instead, he steps into the perimeter where the entrance is and waits for me. I’m awkward even walking on regular ground in skates, and I know I’m going to end up on my ass at some point today.

Alexei presses his lips together to stop from smiling as I take my first tentative wobble out onto the ice, holding onto the wall for dear life.

“How the hell do you-” I slip immediately and ready myself for the pain. Maybe a bruised tailbone. But something solid slams into me and I’m held up above the ice, no pain, just a bruised ego when I realize Alexei has caught me and is holding me up under the armpits the way you’d hold a baby.

“Wow, you really are Bambi aren’t you?”

“I told you I couldn’t skate.”

His laugh brushes the back of my neck, and if I wasn’t in danger of making an even bigger ass of myself, I’d be turned on.

“Let’s get you over to the side here and we’ll try this again.”

As soon as Alexei deposits me against the half-wall surrounding the rink, I lean back and hold on tight, feeling like nothing could drag me away from this spot.

Once he’s made sure I’m not gonna slip, Alexei skates backwards with a smug smile.

“Show off.”

He laughs, those dimples making an appearance.

“You joining me?”

“No way, I’ll stay here, thanks.”

“Ahh come on.” He holds a hand out as he skates closer. “Keep my hands warm will ya? It’s mad brick out here.”

“Shut up.” I laugh and shake my head.

We’re laughing when Alice and Mischa skate over. Alice has this glint in her eye, but I get the feeling it’s not only because she’s on a date.

“What are you two laughing about?” She asks.

“Me being Bambi.” Despite the cold, my cheeks are hot, and I’m relieved when Alexei skates in to retrieve me and pull me away from Alice’s scrutiny.

“Come on, I’m not letting you off the hook that easy.”

Grabbing my hands, he pulls me away from the wall and my legs instantly want to go in two different directions.

But he intuits this and slides one arm around my waist, holding me up with one arm whilst still holding my hand.

I’m not skating as much as being pulled along like a caravan trailing a pick-up truck.

When I spot Alice and Mischa again, they look like swans out there compared to me.

“Sorry, this isn’t very fun for you.”

“Are you kidding? I’m gonna clown you forever over this.”

Forever?

“Whatever.”

“Move your feet.”

“No thanks.”

He laughs. “I’m serious, I got you, I won’t let you get hurt. I swear on Gretzky.”

“I don’t know who that is, but okay.”

He tuts and shakes his head while I tentatively try to walk on ice.

Knowing Alexei is holding me up and won’t let me fall – or else something bad will happen to this Gretzky guy – seems to send some sort of signal to my legs to go in the right direction and stop freaking out all over the place.

“See, you’re doin’ it.”

I try to tamper the grin splitting my face. I fail.

No one tells you how exhausting skating is.

I have a whole new respect for those guys running around on blades covered in padding while they chase a tiny rubber disc and try to beat each other up.

It’s hard enough just trying to stay on your feet.

I don’t know how they do it. Sweat pools under the layers I wore for the cold weather to the point where I’m worried Alexei will feel it where he still has me in a vice around my waist.

“I’m exhausted, how do you do this?”

He laughs, his cheeks and nose rosy from the cold and his eyes bright.

“Why do you think we take so many breaks? You wanna take a break and grab a hot dog?”

“Sure.”

Alexei leads me towards the exit, still holding me up. I think about how in pain he was last night from an old injury and hope I haven’t put any pressure on it.

My legs stop working and I freeze as I spot a familiar face making their way towards the ice.

“What’s wrong?”

Alexei follows my gaze and I swear to god, he growls. “This fuckin’ guy.”

When he helps me off the ice, he does it so gently, I’m surprised by the anger on his face when I look up.

“Hey, let’s go get that hot dog.” I tug on his sleeve, but he’s still focused on Dorian.

Dorian spots us, he’s with Eve and she gives me an apologetic smile and dips her head before walking over, Dorian trailing reluctantly behind.

“Hello Stef, how are you?” She asks. No ‘cute’ nicknames this time?

I force myself to speak, despite the pounding of my heart in my ears and the way my hands seem to have seized up. “Great, thanks, how are you?”

I’m pointedly ignoring Dorian, my heart hammering in my chest, waiting to see if he’ll say something or just stand there staring like an idiot.

A guy I don’t recognize comes up behind him and puts an arm around his shoulder before leaning down and planting a kiss on his cheek. Oh.

“And who’s this?” Eve asks, pulling my attention away from Dorian and his new boyfriend.

“Alexei.” Alexei introduces himself while I stand there mute.

He shakes Eve’s hand before pulling it back and glowering at Dorian. “We’ve met.” He says.

“Um, yeah, hi, good to see you again.”

Good to see you again? That fucking dick. That fucking dick of all dicks.

I’m seething, but nothing’s coming out when I try to speak.

When Alexei puts his arm around my shoulder and gives it a squeeze, I squeak.

He makes it seem like a familiar gesture, like we do it all the time.

He leans in close enough for me to smell his aftershave, the minty toothpaste on his breath. "Shall we go get that hot dog… babe?”

Ohmygosh, why do my insides feel like they’re turning to jelly?

Dorian’s nostrils flare, the gesture is almost imperceptible – almost. A little flicker of glee fizzles up inside, but I don’t think it’s just because I made Dorian jealous. In fact, I don’t think it’s about that at all.

“Yeah, let’s go. It was nice to see you again Eve.”

“Call me,” she shouts as we walk away. “We’ll have brunch sometime.”

Alexei doesn’t drop his arm until we find Alice and Mischa drinking cocoa by a food truck.

“Was that Dorian?” Alice asks.

“Yeah.”

“That dick.”

“Right?” Alexei agrees.

“I was going to come and help, but it looked like you guys had it under control.” She smirks.

Mischa smiles at us like a kid who isn’t in on the joke.

“We were making Stef’s dickhead ex jealous,” Alexei explains.

“Oh, cool.” He looks down at his cocoa before his head snaps back up. “Wait, who was your ex, the guy or the girl?”

“The guy,” me and Alice say at the same time.

“Oh, cool.”

Alexei slaps Micha on the shoulder. “You want a hot dog man?”

“Fuck yeah.”

“Come help me then.”

I take the seat next to Alice on the bench and she links her arm through mine.

“Okay?”

“Yeah actually, seeing Dorian with another guy wasn’t as shit as I thought it would be.”

She grins. “Hmm, I wonder why.”

“What does that mean?”

She makes a gesture of zipping her lips and my face flushes.

I can’t help but look over to where Alexei is standing at the food truck, laughing about something with Mischa.

He looks so carefree, until Mischa turns to the food truck guy to order his hot dog and a concerned expression etches itself onto his face.

He turns back to where we’re sitting and our eyes meet for a second before we both panic and look away.