One Last Shot

[47] Family Meeting

                Iris

Finally all my friends are on the ice, and Billy thinks it's a good idea to play tag with just me, so basically chasing me around the ice. I need a blockade, in case he comes ramming into me, and then I see Liam. Perfect.

"Pretty boy!" I call, skating over. "Come skate and be my blockade."

"Seems I still have my land legs, give me a few minutes."

"You're such a dork." I see Billy charging for me. "Well, we don't have a few minutes, so now is your chance." I grab both his hands, and yank him into fast motion.
"Are you crazy?!" He shouts.

"Always," I smile, skating backwards, facing him as I pull him. He's flailing a bit, but I don't stop. It might be fun to watch him fall. Eventually, Billy gets bored, and we can slow down. "Do you think you got your rink legs yet?"

"If I say yes does it mean you'll let go of my hands?" I jab his knee a little with mine and he stumbles a little bit. I pull him back up to safety and smile.

"It seems you're still adjusting, I think for fear of embarrassment I should protect you."

"My big, strong hero," he jokes. I roll my eyes and punch his shoulder, which sends him off balance. I grab his shoulders with my hands and pull him up from his backward flailing position. "Is there anything you can't do?" He asks, looking at me in awe.

"Ski," he laughs, I chuckle, and our hands drop. We start skating side by side, at a nice, regular pace.

"Is it weird being back here, playing basketball and everything?"

"Kind of, but it's nice. It reminds me of my glory basketball days, and while I don't really miss it, it's a nice walk down memory lane. Being at the rink, too. We used to sneak in here on the weekends or Friday nights and skate. In case you didn't know, drunk skating with sharp blades on your feet isn't the best idea." Liam gives me a concerned look and I laugh, pulling my hair out of its ponytail so the cold air can flow through it all freely.

"I like it here. I wouldn't be mad coming back here for holi-" he stops, catches himself mid sentence.

"And why would you be coming back here for the holidays?" I raise my eyebrows at him, a playful smirk on my face. The ice is empty, everyone has left, it's just the two of us, but I don't care. For all I care, we could be the only two people in the world right now, because it sure feels like it.

"I don't know. Just gives off that vibe."

"Stop lying."

"I'm not!" He exclaims. "It's a Hallmark Christmas movie waiting to happen!"

"As someone who lived here, not so much, but okay keep thinking that pretty boy. Or would you like to come back here, because you're my boyfriend?"

"Maybe..." I see a stupid smile on his face, and can feel the same smile on my face. The conversation stops. Naturally, not a harsh stop, and we're just skating next to each other, looking at each other. Nothing can break our eye contact, it's like we're saying everything without saying anything.

"Can I kiss you?" The question catches me off guard.

"There's people around..."

"Does it matter? We're the only two people here right now, in the world right now."

"You want to kiss me on the ice, where you have no balance?"
"Just let me kiss you."
"What about people seeing?"

"Let them, I love you. Fuck keeping it a secret, I want them all to know I'm yours," he laughs, his laugh automatically warming me. "I would kiss you a thousand times and no one else. No matter what, I am here for you and only you."