“I can’t work with you,” I called through the wind.
“Why not?” he asked simply, without bothering another glance at me.
I pushed aside a strand of hair that flew over my face. “Because... you wouldn’t trust me.”
He didn’t say anything and kept focused ahead.
“I lied.”
“Did you? About what?”
My cheeks were getting cold. “You know about all of them.”
He guided us to a halt, and twisted me to face him. “Good,” he breathed. “Then there aren’t really that many.”
I searched his eyes trying to figure out what on earth he was telling me. Are full sentences no longer part of his abilities?
Frustrated, I took the opportunity to skate away from the man that only confused the hell out of me.
But he caught up. “Because I remember nearly every word you said to me, Elle.”
God I love it when he says my name.
“And I’m not as ignorant as you think I was. I can tell when I’m being lied to. I just didn’t care to question it until it was thrown in my face.”
I wavered for a moment and shot him a glance. My eyes stung and I skated past him praying the wind would cease any tears in their tracks.
He slid effortlessly beside me. “I know you tried,” his voice was gentle and a bit desperate. “I know you fought to be as honest as you could be.”
A lump caught in my throat and the first tear fell. “Not hard enough,” I kept my voice even and swiped at my cheek.
“I made mistakes too.” He caught my waist and pulled me against the rounded wall. “All starting that last night you came by.”
I looked up at him. “Really? What would you have done differently?”
“Not much, probably. It was still too fresh. But when I kissed you, it would have been sweet and gentle, the way you’re meant to be kissed,” he brushed my lips with his thumb and swallowed hard, letting his eyes fall. “I wouldn’t have taken you the way I did. And when you told me you’d fallen in love with me,” his eyes were back on mine. “I would have held onto you... and made you say it again.”
My breath caught.
“Then I would have swooped you off your tired feet and laid you down in my bed. Kissing you right here.” He brushed my forehead with his fingertips. “You would have argued that it wouldn’t be right to stay and I would have assured you we could continue our screaming match in the morning.”
I smiled, then pressed my lips shut immediately. “And do we?”
“No. Dean comes over first thing, so I hide you in the closet.”
A laugh escaped and I nearly lost my balance on the ice. He caught me and held me close.
Tiredly, I fell into him, resting my head on his chest. “What about the rest of it?” I asked.
“You want to know what would have happened if you were honest from the start?”
I closed my eyes. “Not really.”
He pulled me off him and cupped my jaw. “Neither do I. Because I like our story just the way it is. Comical, entertaining, and quite suspenseful, no?”
I laughed lightly and shrugged. “I should have trusted you anyway.”
“Do you now?”
