Total pages in book: 30
Estimated words: 27909 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 140(@200wpm)___ 112(@250wpm)___ 93(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 27909 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 140(@200wpm)___ 112(@250wpm)___ 93(@300wpm)
Releasing his hands, she did a simple spin to his right side.
Leo narrowed his eyes at her. “Show off,” he mumbled, with a slight curve of his lips.
She held out her hand and he took it again. “I skated in high school too, but I participated in competitions,” she told him.
“You were a figure skater?” His voice lifted in surprise.
She grinned. “Yep. A pretty good one, too. I competed in the World Junior Figure Skating Championship when I was fourteen and fifteen. I didn’t place, but I’m proud of having done it.” She glanced up and caught his smile.
“I guess I should consider myself lucky to be on the ice with a professional.”
She let out an inelegant snort. “Hardly. I ended up breaking my ankle in a bad landing when I was sixteen, just before I was old enough to move into senior-level competitions. That put an end to my skating career. I might have been able to get back into it after I healed and regained strength in my ankle, but that took months. Honestly? By then, I was a little scared of getting hurt again, so I moved on to something else and found my passion in art and graphic design. I still love skating though, especially around the holidays.”
They continued to make laps around the rink, with Leo’s form getting better by the minute, but he never let go of her hand. They didn’t talk much more as they skated. Although the point of this outing was for them to get to know each other, she didn’t feel the need to fill their time together with idle chatter.
She was enjoying herself, and even Leo seemed more relaxed by the time they decided they’d had enough and left the ice to return their skates.
“I bet they have peppermint hot chocolate,” he said, pointing to a nearby stall.
“Oh, yum!” She rushed over and sure enough, they both were able to order the peppermint flavor.
She tried to pay, but he insisted, once again giving her the feeling this was a date, and she had to remind herself it was anything but.
They found a bench near the side of the rink and sat down to drink their hot chocolates.
“What are those?” Leo asked, pointing to a cluster of clear plastic domes nearby.
“Igloos.” She heard the wistfulness in her voice. She’d always thought they seemed so romantic, but she hadn’t dated anyone in a while, and even if she was in a relationship, she didn’t have much extra money to rent one out. “They’re heated and you can eat dinner in there surrounded by the beautiful Christmas decor while you watch the skaters.”
He studied them without comment.
She shifted her gaze to the tree again, and an idea struck. “We should take a picture. I’ll make it my phone background for when we’re at the party. It’ll help sell our story if anyone glances at my screen.”
“You’re good at this,” he said, obviously impressed.
She didn’t tell him that she also wanted a photo because she wanted a way to remember him and their short time together. Instead, she moved closer, and they pressed their heads together. She raised her phone and behind them, the Christmas tree glittered in the background.
Cammie knew she would love this picture before she even took it. Thanks to the chill in the air, Leo’s nose was a little red and she was sure her cheeks were flushed as well. She smiled wide, though his was a little more reserved, but it reached his eyes, the sides crinkling as if he was enjoying himself as much as she was.
“You didn’t seem happy to be here when we arrived,” she said after they took the picture. “Why is that? You said you’d just outgrown childlike excitement, but I get the feeling that there’s more to it.”
A guy like Leo had to have grown up with a family who celebrated Christmas and gave out gifts. Why would he be such a Grinch now?
He sighed. “I’m not sure I like how easily you can read me. Is that a special skill of yours?” he asked.
She shook her head. “Nope. Now, answer the question.”
He took a sip of his hot chocolate and glanced around, his gaze landing on the shopping area. “It’s just the commercialism of it all. When I said I wasn’t excited about Christmas because I’m not a child anymore, I meant it. When I was a kid, Christmas was about warmth and happiness and family. It was meaningful.”
His words touched her, and she waited to hear more.
“But as I got older, I started to see that the holidays were about spending money. People get so stressed about how they need to buy, buy, buy. It’s made me see the whole thing as… soulless, I guess.”
She raised her eyebrows, finding his outlook sad but understandable. “I get that,” she said, as she downed the rest of her drink.