We all took selfies together with the huge holiday decorations, and we ate candy and Funnel cake until I was sure I was going to throw up. Kyle got quiet when we got funnel cake, and I knew it was because it had been Reece’s favourite. Not wanting him to lose the happy memories this trip was supposed to bring him, I had sat in his lap and wrapped my arms around his neck, holding him and reassuring him that I was there. It seemed to keep him with us, rather than letting the melancholy set in, and when we all stood for the next adventure, he was laughing and joking with Kade again.
At that point the guys decided it was a good time to take a break from rides and take to the ice. Since I was feeling a little green from sugar overload, I agreed to a break from the rides too.
“I don’t know about this, Ky.” I said nervously as he helped me tie up the skates I had been handed a few minutes ago. He already had his on and had looked like he knew exactly what he was doing.
“It’s going to be fun, baby. Promise.” He replied.
“I’ve never done it before though. What if I fall?” Suddenly vomiting halfway through a ride looked like the better option over cracking my skull open on ice!
“You’re not going to fall, I won’t let you.”
“Can you even skate?” I scoffed.
“I used to play ice hockey. Kade too. Don’t worry, we’ve got some moves. We’ll keep you up.” He was laughing as he said it, but when I looked in his eyes I saw the promise there, the promise to take care of me, and I trusted that, trusted him. I nodded, then let him pull me to my feet. The others were all in their skates already, and waiting for us at the entrance to the rink.
I squealed, terrified, the second my right foot touched the ice and slid away from beneath me. In a second Kyle had his hands around my waist and pulled me tight against him. He steadied me and I clung to his shoulders like the life preserver they were.
“Easy, Princess. I’ve got you.” He chuckled.
“Please don’t let me go!” I whispered as I clung to him.
“We’re gonna have to separate at least a little, Liv. We can’t skate slapped together like sardines.” He laughed.
“I can’t do it! It’s too slippy. I’m gonna end up breaking my back.” I panicked.
“You are not, Little Miss Drama Queen. Now, let go of the death grip you have on Kyle, and take one of my hands, and one of Kyle’s.” Kade directed as he appeared at my side, a huge grin on his face. He held out a hand, and I shakily released Kyle and took it. I wobbled a little, but Kade grabbed my arm to steady me, then I found myself between them, each of them tightly holding one of my hands.
“Come on, Beautiful. Show us what you’ve got.” Cole coaxed from where he and Matt skated backwards, before me, watching the disaster unfold.
I decided to ignore them and focus on remaining upright as I very tentatively moved my feet enough to go forwards at a snail’s pace.
“That’s it, Baby. Keep going. We’ve got you.” Kyle encouraged.
We went around a couple of times like that, every other person speeding past us as we crept around incredibly slowly, me not once allowing Kade or Kyle to release their grip even a little.
Cole and Matt stayed with us, watching me go, and I’m sure sharing a few jokes about how terrified I was. They all seemed to know exactly what they were doing, skating like pros in comparison to me, not that I was surprised. It seemed there really wasn’t much these guys couldn’t do between them.
“Ok Livy, my turn.” Cole said after a while. Before I could protest he was before me, taking my hands from the guys, that mischievous smile on his face, warning me he was up to something.
“Cole! Don’t you dare!” I cried, but it did no good. All I could do was squeal as he set off skating backwards and dragged me with him. He gained speed fast and all I could do was grip his hands like my life depended on it, and cry out threats of death for him if I fell on my head!
I needn’t have worried though. For the huge guy he was, Cole skated beautifully. He could seriously skate, backwards and forwards. He knew exactly what he was doing and looked so damned good doing it, while I wobbled around like Bambi on ice, screaming, laughing and cursing him repeatedly. He just laughed at me and continued to encourage me, showing me how to place my feet and how to move them, until after a while I was tentatively moving, very slowly, alone at his side, with Matt at my other side.
“See. You got this, Brains.” Cole praised, as I actually skated on my own. My legs were wobbling and I was moving at a snail’s pace, but I was doing it and I felt good to know I could. The guys remained beside me, ready to grab me if I started to go down, but I was doing pretty well.
“Go Liv! You’re doing great, Princess.” Kyle called. I looked around for him, and found him and Kade off of the ice, watching from the other side of the barricade, both smiling widely.
Just as I was giving myself a pat on the back for a job well done, two tiny kids flew past me. They couldn’t have been more than four years old and they were like pros.
“Well that’s embarrassing.” I laughed as I watched them go.
“Ignore them. You’re doing good, Cariña.” Matt reassured me, with his sexy smile.
We skated for a while longer before finally
