Walking Heartthrob

Chapter 44 Smoke and Mirrors

"No, no, no, don't you dare let go of me, Daylen!" Ten minutes on the ice and I'd already done two belly-flops and a butt-fall—turns out, I was worse than a flamingo on ice. What? I'd never been on it. The closest I've ever come to ice was ice cream. I squeezed Daylen's hands tighter for balance as I felt myself wobble like crazy.

"You can do it, Lys, just stop looking down!" Daylen laughed at my terrified face. I groaned. While I was all knotted legs on the ice, Daylen took to it like a pro skater and was whizzing along it like he'd been doing it his whole life.

"It's not fair, how are you not falling flat on your face?" I whined. "What, have you been a pro skater all this time?"

"Actually," Daylen snickered, "this is my first time on the ice too."

"What?!" I squealed. "Aw, man, this sucks! How are you so good at this?"

"I suppose it comes with being naturally athletic," Daylen teased me, flexing his sexy biceps. I gave him a shove, hoping to bring him down—big mistake. With my lousy balance, I went down like a sack of potatoes as well, falling on top of him as both of us sprawled on the ice.

"Oof!" I grunted, smacking against his chest. I was met with his white-toothed laugh.

"Hello, darling." He winked at me. "Taking a breather?"

"Hmph!" I huffed, getting myself up. "Ice hates me!"

"Well it's only your first time, don't give up yet," Daylen encouraged me as he stood up. I wiggled my nose which was starting to feel the nippy air.

"No, it's embarrassing and I don't want to fall on my butt again. I'm still recovering from the last time it got bruised!" I shuddered, remembering the 'great goat chase' incident.

"Maybe we should try a different tactic," Daylen suggested. He skated behind me and suddenly I blushed as I felt his hands on my waist.

"Daylen, what are you—"

"I'll be your guide from here," he lisped in my ear. "I won't let you fall."

"O-okay," I said meekly. Boy, this just got ten times more romantic.

"Just go slow, kick off one leg at a time," Daylen instructed me in a husky lisp. I tried it out and found myself gliding along the ice without the fear of an imminent fall. Daylen followed right behind me, his hands guiding my waist.

"Hey, I'm doing it!" I said more carefreely, starting to enjoy myself.

"Keep this up, and soon we can do what your parents are doing," Daylen said with amusement in his voice.

"Why, what are they doing?" I asked, glancing across the rink to where my parents were. My jaw dropped as I saw them do one-legged spins while holding each other. Dang, when did they become pros?

"You've got to be kidding me." I gaped. I had no idea my parents could do that!

"They certainly make a great ice-skating couple," Daylen said in admiration. I grunted.

"Oh, great. My competition is my parents." Daylen laughed.

"We'll get there, with a bit more practice."

"Yeah, in like ten years. I'd rather try roller skating, at least that's warmer." Daylen spun to the front, facing me. He cupped my face with his hands and smiled at me.

"My dove isn't really a snow queen, is she?" I smiled back at him.

"Now you're getting it. I'm more of a—melted-ice person. I mean, put me in a pool and I'll swim circles—" I was cut off by a snowball exploding right in my face. I gasped, the icy feeling startling me.