“Hey, man, you’re late.” He gives me props. “Once Vi gets the hang of things, we’re gonna play girls against guys.”

Violet snorts. “On a cold day in hell.”

“You’ll be fine. It’s easy. You’re marrying a hockey player. You have to learn how to skate.”

“Aren’t there skates with double blades on them? Can’t I learn on those?”

“Those are for toddlers, Vi. They don’t make them in your size.” Miller pats her on the shoulder. “You’ll be fine. Come on. Let’s do this.”

“Give me a minute. I’m psyching myself up.”

“That’s what you’ve been saying for the last twenty.”

“This takes a lot of psyching, Buck.” She taps her temple, then motions to her feet. “I’m wearing a set of blades. On my feet. It’s dangerous. Someone could die.”

“No one’s gonna die.”

“I could lacerate someone.”

Miller looks at me and cringes.

“Maybe we should all wear cups,” I say, mostly joking.

“It might not be a bad idea.” Miller looks back at Violet. “I’m sending Waters over here to get you if you’re not on the ice in two. He’s being super patient, Vi. You’re probably hurting his feelings.”

“Whatever. Nothing a BJ won’t solve.”

Miller points a finger at her face. “That’s your overshare for today. No more freebies.”

“You won the overshare contest today when you told me your dick is chafed from too much Sunshine cookie.”

“You two realize I’m right here, listening to this.”

They both look at me.

“And your point is?” Violet asks.

“Just letting you know it isn’t a private conversation.”

“Miller will pay for your therapy bills.” She turns back to her brother. “See? I used your real name. Give me five more minutes. Then I’ll come out.”

Miller shrugs, steps out onto the ice, and is gone. I sit down on the bench so I can adjust my laces. Violet’s got hockey skates on instead of the figure skating kind. Lily waves as she skates past us, doing a little twirl and a jump.

Violet frowns. “Seriously. I have no idea how she does that.”

We watch her make her way around the rink, leaping and spinning. She’s graceful and smooth. It’s exactly the way she is in bed. I fucking love it.

“You’re thinking about having sex with her,” Violet whispers. “I can tell.”

I glance at her. “Why would you think that?”

“Your woody.” She points at my crotch.

I glance down, even though I’m not hard.

She starts laughing. “Oh my God, Balls. You’re the funniest.” She punctuates it with one of her hip thrusts. She’s been managing not to do that as much lately.

I shake my head and lace my skates. “What’s your beef with skating?”

“I don’t have a beef. I’m uncoordinated. I can’t even do yoga without falling on my face. I don’t know why Alex thinks I need to learn how to skate. I’ll probably commit accidental manslaughter and end up in prison. They won’t even have a library, and if they do they’ll only carry the classics and none of the smutty books I like to read for fun. Not that I’ll want to read smut with no dick around. See why this is a bad idea?” She crosses her arms over her chest, eyeing everyone on the ice.

They’re in the middle of the rink. Miller’s disappeared somewhere. All of a sudden music blasts through the sound system.

Sunny claps her hands. “Oh! Alex and Lily, remember that routine you used to do?”

Lily and Waters share a look. I don’t like the hot feeling in my neck. They laugh.

I can’t hear the rest of the conversation over the music, but Lily and Waters face off against each other. It looks like they’re getting ready to drop the puck, but then they start talking, moving their feet in little stilted circles, making hand gestures.

“What’s going on over there?” Violet asks.

“I’m not sure.” I remind myself that Lily and Waters have known each other their whole lives. They’re like brother and sister, kinda like Miller and Violet, except hopefully not quite as open.

Waters holds out his hand and Lily takes it. They skate down the ice. Together. She doesn’t look at me when she passes; her eyes are glued to Waters’ as they start in on a routine. I glance at Violet, who’s looking at me with something like panic on her face.

I check the ice again. Waters is definitely rusty. He’s an awesome skater, but he’s been in pro hockey for the past six years, so the whole light-on-his-feet business hasn’t been much of a priority. But he’s still more graceful that most of the guys on the ice, and now I get why.

By their third pass, they’ve found their rhythm. Lily skates circles around him and does this incredible spin thing. Then things get serious. They’ve got their hands on each other. His are on her waist and hers on his shoulder. I’m not all that excited about them touching each other.

Their faces are close, and she gives him a nod. I don’t know what it means until Waters lifts her in the air. Her body arcs in this perfect pose. A slapshot of emotions hits me. I’m suddenly sad all over again that she lost her chance at the Olympics. She would’ve been amazing. I’m in awe because she’s damn well gorgeous. I’m also irrationally pissed that Waters is touching her. I recognize the emotion as jealousy. I don’t get to think too much about that, though, because suddenly Violet is elbowing my side.