“Okay, maybe I’m not ready for the team just yet, but you have to admit I’m already getting better. Watch, teach.”
Letting go of his hand, I skated a little harder toward the exit and turned around, sliding to a stop in an impressive shower of ice. I squealed with excitement and then did it again toward the middle and then back toward the exit again. By this time, Gabriel was standing there waiting for me, a proud grin on his face.
“You’re definitely becoming a pro,” he said with a nod. “A few more times around the rink with me and I’ll have you playing forward on the team next season.”
A few more times with him? I couldn’t say no to that. Especially not when he offered his hand to help me step out of the rink. Electricity danced between his skin and mine, like delicious little static shocks of longing. My heart was thundering, my pulse throbbing. I looked up at him to check if he was feeling it, too. He met my gaze with a slight frown. The flash of his blue eyes seemed to suggest something was going on inside of him as well. I wished I could know what exactly he was thinking.
And if he’d hate me come Saturday morning.
“I guess we should get to work,” I said, running my fingers nervously through my hair. I could feel a word vomit coming on. It seemed to be my response to any boy-related stress. “I’ve got my laptop over there. We’ve just got the finishing touches to put on the report and the videos. I lost my dad’s memory chip somewhere, but I managed to save copies of the videos we liked on my hard drive, so we’re good there. But in the meantime, if you find it, let me know. That’s going to cost me a good chunk of allowance money.”
I laughed
to fill the silence. His eyes were flashing, emotions flitting so quickly over them that it was hard to read. The hardening of his jaw was the only thing that made me snap my mouth closed. He probably didn’t want to hear me blabbering on. I was pulling a Lexi. That girl was rubbing off on me. She always had a hard time quieting down. Zane seemed to love her for it, though.
“Beth?” Gabriel took in a breath and bit down briefly on his lower lip. There was hesitation in his voice. He seemed to be fighting an internal battle, too. “You do know that I’d give up my slot in the gaming finals for you, if it meant you could play, right?”
I dropped my hand from his, shock and guilt coursing through my body. What had brought that up? Did he have some kind of sixth sense? I wasn’t sure I could handle this line of questioning. Walking toward the bench, I sat down and busied myself with unlacing my skate.
“That’s nice of you, but it’s just not possible.”
I didn’t have to spell out that not only was it not possible, but it was unnecessary. He’d already helped me get a spot in the final round. And it was that reason I was so torn up right now.
He sat next to me, but didn’t move to undo his skates. “I know it’s not possible, but I would. And I’d go back in time and stand up to Michael for you, if I could.”
I sat up straight then, facing him. He looked so serious, his eyes dark and hooded. I could tell he desperately needed affirmation. He needed it from me.
“Don’t worry, I believe you,” I said softly, putting my hand on his arm.
“You were right. I’m an enabler.” He pressed his lips tightly together and swallowed. “And yesterday, when he was giving you crap in anatomy, I just sat there. I couldn’t say anything. And I realized how right you were. About everything. Honestly, I’m surprised you don’t hate me right now.”
My lips twisted into a wry smile. “Who says I don’t?”
He gave a pathetic chuckle. “Really, though, why don’t you?”
I clenched my fist tight, my nails biting into my palms. Nerves pricked my stomach as Gabriel stared at me, waiting patiently for an answer. If we started down this road, I wasn’t sure I was going to be able to rein myself in. He was going to see right through me, straight to my thundering and traitorous heart, and realize I’d been playing him since the beginning. But I couldn’t just smirk and say one of my dismissive lines. He needed the real me right now.
“To tell you the truth, if you’d asked me two weeks ago, I probably would’ve said I hated you.” I squeezed his arm gently. “But that was because I didn’t know you. I thought you were just like Michael. Maybe a little bit quieter and more intimidating, but still a bully. I didn’t realize you’d been playing referee between us for the past five years.”
He groaned and put a hand to his forehead. “The worst referee ever. I’m sorry for that.”
“It’s not your fault Michael and I are both extremely stubborn.” I laughed and slid a little closer to him on the bench, until our thighs touched. It sent another forbidden spark through me that landed right behind my belly button. “But now I know you’re different. You’re kind. You coach little kid hockey teams and help clumsy teenage girls learn how to skate.” He snorted, which made me grin. “You’re smart, you’re hard working, and frankly, I think you’re the better-looking twin.”
That made his chin snap up. He stared at me for a long second before he burst into laughter. His face lit up in a way that was hard to look away from. I liked the way his eyes squinted and how I could see the hint of a dimple on his right cheek. He swept his hand over his head, mussing up his curls. With a final, humorous sigh, he turned toward me.
“Thank you for that. I know I shouldn’t have put that on you, but I needed to hear that. Sometimes I’m afraid that my identity gets lost around Michael. I get this irrational fear that I’m going to fade away while no one is paying attention.”
“No. I won’t let you fade away.”
I slid my hand down his arm to interlace my fingers with his. With the pad of my thumb, I traced the gentle curve between his thumb and forefinger. His smile slowly melted from his face, leaving behind a grave expression tinted with a hunger that I felt reflected in my own gut. Gabriel’s eyes flicked down to my lips and then back up to my eyes. I did the same, taking the time to appreciate the fullness of his bottom lip and the slight parting of his mouth.
When I’d told myself this morning that I was going to be strong and focus on my goals, I hadn’t realized how hard that would be with Gabriel so near. I’d had a brief taste of those lips not too long ago. My body wanted more. It didn’t care about gaming or sticking it to the patriarchy. All it cared about was that boy right there making my heart beat faster.
“Beth, I have to confess something.” Gabriel’s voice was hoarse. I bit my lower lip and then forced my gaze away from his mouth and up to his eyes. His grip on my hand tightened. “The last time we were here together, you ran away, and I was pretty sure I ruined everything between us. But a wise friend of mine said I should give you time to figure out what you feel. Did you get enough time?”
I nodded, remembering our online conversation before the last battle. I had told him to give me more time and over the last couple days, my feelings for Gabriel had only intensified.
He laughed nervously at my silence, raking his hand through his curls once more. “If I’m misreading the signals, just say something. Anything at all. One word and I won’t ever move in on you again, I promise.”