Total pages in book: 143
Estimated words: 130275 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 651(@200wpm)___ 521(@250wpm)___ 434(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 130275 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 651(@200wpm)___ 521(@250wpm)___ 434(@300wpm)
“I think I’ll just leave you to it,” I said and shuffled my way back onto dry land, far away from the chance of falling over too.
“Sav!” Dylan said in complaint. “Fine!” he added, then pointed at me as he scrambled to his feet. “But you’re getting a hot cocoa with me after this.”
“Deal,” I said, then scooted to the bench and quickly untied my skates, and in less than a minute I had my boots on my feet and a lot less fear in my heart.
I stood at the boards and watched my new friends circling the rink, holding hands and having some much-needed fun. It was such a beautiful sight to see. If they were anything like me, it had probably been quite some time since they’d let themselves experience true joy like this.
I huffed a silent laugh as Travis pushed by Dylan, almost knocking him off his feet again, when something drew me to look to my left. The square was busy, the rink becoming close to full, but through the crowd of people, I spotted a familiar black beanie and coat. Cael was staring at the rink, a gutting expression on his handsome face.
Any happiness I had found watching my friends disappeared at the look of absolute sadness on Cael’s face. He stood back away from the boards, hands in his pockets.
I blew on my hands to ward off the cold and walked to where he stood. I approached slowly so he could see me coming. When he did, his spine straightened.
“Hi,” I said and stood beside him. Cael’s eyes were fixed back on the ice rink.
He wanted to be on there.
I recalled what Dylan had told me. Cael was a hockey player. Was immensely talented, from what he’d divulged. But he no longer played. The way he was watching the skaters, I believed that in his heart, he still wished he did.
“You don’t want to skate?” I said, testing the waters. Cael’s gaze hardened, and he shook his head. A firm, unyielding no.
I huffed a laugh as Lili and Jade began to race Travis and Dylan. I wondered if those who opened up at last night’s campfire felt any lighter today. Their reason for being here had been shared. They had been so brave. I wondered if it felt liberating to just place your pain in the hands of people who supported you. To pass it over to others in bite-size chunks so that your burden was lessened, and life would seem just that little bit less unkind.
“I don’t know how people do it,” I pushed myself to say. I didn’t want Cael feeling so low. Wanted to try to make it better. “I couldn’t even move my feet without slipping.”
I didn’t expect a response, so surprise made me turn my head to Cael when he said, “It just takes practice.” He met my gaze. “I … I …” he trailed off, fighting back whatever was trying to stop him talking, and said, “I saw you.” He inhaled a long, strength-giving breath. “I wanted to come and help you, but …” His words became trapped in his throat and his pallor turned ashen.
What was this moment costing him emotionally? It seemed to cost him everything to be staring at this rink, to be speaking these words.
I placed my hand on his arm. “It’s okay,” I said and moved before him, blocking the view that was causing him so much strife. “Do you want to grab some food?” I pointed to a cluster of food cabins nearby. He nodded and tore his eyes from the ice. It appeared as though the rink was a magnet to him, drawing him close. But he was resisting the pull. And it was hurting him to do so.
The urge to make him feel better was so strong within me that I pushed my arm through his. I was never this forward. I had never had a boyfriend in my life. I was socially awkward and had no clue how to make anyone but my family feel better when they were hurting. But I felt the same need within me to take care of Cael as I did for Ida. Like I had done for Poppy too.
I wasn’t sure why. But it was an urge I couldn’t ignore.
We decided on the cabin filled with sweet treats. We ordered a bunch of items—butter cookies, almond cookies, and cinnamon-type buns, all things traditionally from Norway. I handed a cookie to Cael. His troubled eyes softened when he took a bite. Color seeped back into his cheeks, and he next reached for a cinnamon bun with a hint of humor on his face. Knowing I’d made him feel just a fraction better was as heady as if I’d truly achieved something remarkable.
We had barely made it a couple of treats in, when Jade, Lili, Travis, and Dylan came running over. Dylan threw his arm over my shoulder. “Hot cocoa?” he asked.