Page 27 of The Rebound Play
I try a few more moves with Benny before time’s up. Together, we skate back to the edge of the rink where Keira is waiting for us.
“You looked great out there, champ,” Keira says as Benny flops down beside her.
“It was so fun. Dan’s the best. He said I’m gonna make it to the NHL.”
“Keep up the great work you put in today and you’ll have a shot,” I reply.
“Well, how about we focus on one lesson at a time for now and then see how things go?” Keira suggests, clearly tempering her nephew’s lofty aspirations.
“Speaking of which, is the day after tomorrow for his next lesson okay with you? Same time?” I try to keep the eagerness from my voice. Fail.
“I don’t want to use up too much of your time.”
“You’re not. Trust me.”
“But what about practices and all the things you’ve got to do with the team? Publicity and such, and spending time with Emmy and your parents, not to mention Mimi? You must be super busy.”
“I’ve got a few things coming up, but practice is in the mornings, and other than spending time with my family, I’m as free as a bird.”
She shoots me an uncertain look. I get why. She feels indebted to me, her ex. But what she doesn’t know is that I’ll do anything to get close to her, and besides, teaching Benny has been a lot of fun. It feels good to give back to a kid from my hometown with the same dreams as I once had.
“What about your wrist? The last thing we want to do is set you back. The whole town is counting on you leading this team to victory.”
“Do you have any more arguments to throw at me for me not to teach your nephew?”
I can almost see the cogs in her brain turning over. “Look, Benny’s got a lot of promise. He picked the skills up pretty fast out there. Plus, he’s a great kid.”
She smiles, looking down at her nephew who has removed his skates, the love she has for him palpable. “He sure is.”
“So that’s set then. The day after tomorrow, same time.” She opens her mouth to say something, and I add, “I want to do this for him.”
And I want to be close to you.
“Thanks,” she replies.
“Now, how about that hot chocolate you promised me?”
Her lips lift into a smile that brightens her whole face. “One hot chocolate, coming up. Do you want one, too, Benny?”
“Hot chocolate!” he says, bouncing up and down on the spot.
She shakes her head in good humor at her nephew. “I’ll take that as a yes.”
We order our hot chocolates and sit in the bleachers to drink them. We ordered extra marshmallows, mainly for the delicious goo factor, and as Keira takes her first sip, she gets a marshmallow moustache. It takes all my strength not to lean in and kiss it right off, savoring the sweet taste of the marshmallow—and her.
I know it’s way too soon, but a man wants what a man wants. And this man wants the woman sitting next to me looking so sexy and adorable with a marshmallow moustache.
“This is nice. Like old times,” I say.
“It is,” she replies.
“Aunt Kiki’s got a mustache!” Benny teases, and her eyes wide with embarrassment; she quickly wipes her top lip.
“Personally, I thought it suited you,” I say and win a laugh from her.
“You could have told me.” She nudges me with her shoulder, and it strikes me that this is our first physical touch since we broke up. It’s a small thing, but I see it as a definite step in the right direction.
“How’s Mimi doing? Emmy told me she lives with her these days to help out.”