Total pages in book: 91
Estimated words: 86751 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 434(@200wpm)___ 347(@250wpm)___ 289(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 86751 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 434(@200wpm)___ 347(@250wpm)___ 289(@300wpm)
Her grip on my hand is light as we glide away from the bench.
“You know there’s no money involved in skating, right? No betting.”
She turns to me, eyes pinched in confusion. “What are you talking about?”
“I think I’m being hustled.” When she continues to frown, I say, “Look at you. Perfectly steady. No wobbling at all.”
“We’re on the carpet, Miles.” After she says my name, she looks around, worried that someone will have heard her, but there’s no one in earshot.
“Still.”
She lets go of my hand and moves ahead of me, giving me the perfect opportunity to check out her ass. Of course, it looks just as good in denim shorts as it does in yoga pants. Her legs are incredible, too, but I don’t allow myself to look for long.
She does two loops around the changing area before venturing to the edge of the uncarpeted path that leads to the rink. There, she waits for me, and reaches for my arm when I’m close.
“Relax. I’ve got you. Not that you need me.”
She’s shakier when we skate onto the smooth surface, but nowhere near as bad as she claims to be. Out on the rink, I keep her arm tucked around mine, and lead her around the edge until she’s moving more steadily.
After we’ve made one lap, her sister glides over to us with her groom following close behind. “Hello, you two,” Sadie says, a big grin on her face.
As Callie returns her greeting, Sadie looks back and forth between me and Callie and the spot where our arms are linked. She smirks at us, looking playful, then gives Callie a wink before skating off.
I bend to Callie’s ear. “What was that about? You said you told her we’re not really a couple, didn’t you?”
Callie looks completely flustered. “I’ll tell you later.”
We make a few more laps, with Callie growing steadier on her wheels with each one. When I skate backwards in front of her, still holding her hand, she mouths, “Show-off,” and the way she laughs has me smiling wide.
It’s so easy to forget my mission when I’m with her. Too easy.
She swivels her hips and my eyes follow every curve. I swing around so that I’m behind her and put my hands on her hips, because I can’t resist touching her.
She looks up at me over her shoulder with those big, brown eyes, and something squeezes in my chest.
I never have a problem staying professional. I’ve never been so conflicted.
CHAPTER 30
CALLIE
I’m lost in Miles’s eyes, with the old song that’s playing, “Walking on Sunshine,” perfectly expressing my mood as we roll around the rink, linked together. I feel like I’m floating.
He makes me feel both light and grounded at the same time.
I think I’m reading something very similar in his expression, when all of a sudden, he looks away, his mouth dropping open.
“Look!” He rolls us to an abrupt stop, and with an arm still wrapped around me, he turns my head to follow his.
“Oh my god.” It’s Aunt Iris, skating circles around people, literally, like she was born with wheels instead of toes. “What the?”
His breath is warm on my ear as he leans down to whisper, “That dirty old lady is my hero,” and I crack up, my head falling back against his shoulder.
“Let’s go before she comes over and asks you to do a couples skate with her. Unless you want to skate with her, that is. Don’t let me come between you.”
His arm drops down around my waist, and he takes my hand as he starts off. “I think your mom needs help at the snack bar … and I have to make a phone call.” His full smile is so gorgeous as he keeps me steady beside him. “Or maybe the sky is falling?”
The two of us are doubled over with laughter when we reach the benches. Even when we sit and I no longer need his support, his arm stays circled around me, keeping me close.
I look up at him and find him looking right back at me, a thoughtful expression on his face.
“What?”
“It’s nice to see you having fun.”
I realize then that I am having fun, truly. No worries, no stress, not a thought in my head except how good it feels to skate with him, laugh with him, and be in his arms. All I can do is smile back at him.
Miles lifts a strand of hair out of my eyes. “What were you going to tell me before—about your sister giving you that look?”
“Oh.” He’s so close, I can’t help but think about kissing him. “Sadie knows we’re not really dating, but she doesn’t know who you really are, of course. She knows you both as Max.”
“Right …”
I dip my head. I can’t believe I’m about to tell him this. “Sadie said we should have a fling.”