The Holiday Switch(50)

It’s only when they’re feet away into the rink that I realize what’s happened once more. Another couples situation.

My heart soars with mixed emotions. Last night, during karaoke, there was a sparkle of connection, and that small moment with Santa added to the electricity. But this is Teddy; the highs I’ve experienced with him are bookended with the unexpected.

I enter the rink. Seconds later, I realize that Teddy isn’t with me.

I spin. He’s at the rink entrance, gripping the railing. His face is a mask of fright.

Teddy, afraid? I glide, carefully, toward him.

“Okay, so it’s been longer than I realized,” he admits, voice shaking.

I offer my hand. “The good thing is that the distance from you to the ground is way shorter than when you’re on a boulder.”

“On boulders there are handholds, little cracks even. The ice is just slippery.”

    “You can hang on to me.” I offer my second hand.

For a beat, Teddy hesitates, then reaches out, clutching one hand and prying his fingers from the wall.

“Breathe.” I inhale and exhale audibly. “Now, use your abs. I know you have them—I’ve seen them.” After the words leave my mouth, my face goes aflame. “I mean—”

But my flirtation faux pas relaxes him, and his hold on my hand eases. “Okay.”

“I’m going to move backward, and you’re going to skate toward me, okay?” I look up into his eyes. A hint of a smile graces his face.

I slide backward, and Teddy clomps toward me with heavy legs. “I suck at this,” he says.

“I mean…I won’t lie. I don’t think I’ve met anyone worse than me. But we can work on it.”

He nods, focused.

We continue with the pattern. Soon he’s sliding more than clomping. I let go of one hand and we skate side by side.

“We’re doing it.” The amazement is evident in his wide smile, and it’s so contagious, I can feel the cold wind against my teeth.

“You are! You’re a natural!” And while I know we aren’t going fast at all, in my imagination we’re ice dancers in a romantic but lively routine, bound not only by our grip, but our gazes too.

From my periphery comes a shadow. It’s another couple cutting in front of us, struggling to find purchase on the ice, causing Teddy to wobble.

I bear down on my skates to slow us down. His arms flail; I try to steady his torso. His hands land on my shoulders, and we tip.

“Whoa!” he yelps.

“Steady,” I command, more to myself than to him, and force my skates down against the ice. And after a few seconds, his thrashing calms, and he lets out a booming laugh.

    We still as we both realize what has happened. We are clutching on to one another. Our faces are inches apart. So close that our breaths mingle.

“Oh my God. That was wild,” he says. His voice is low, and it rumbles through me, momentarily taking my breath away.

“I can’t believe we didn’t wipe out.”

“It’s because of you. I feel like all you do is try to help me.”

The statement is both vulnerable and sweet. It hits me right in the heart. “Are you admitting that I haven’t been nagging, but helping?”

He laughs. “I plead the Fifth…” His gaze drops to my lips, and in that short moment, a thought skitters through me. That it feels good to be this close. That maybe he’ll kiss me. “Lila—”

He’s interrupted by Ms. Velasco’s ringtone in my jacket pocket. It’s like the gong of the town square’s bell at midnight, and the high of the moment plummets.

“It’s your tita,” I say.

He frowns. “You should get it. It’s probably about work.”

I do, but it means I have to let go of Teddy. It’s like ripping off a Band-Aid. “Hello?”

“Lila?” Ms. Velasco’s voice is a screech of panic. “Are you with Teddy by chance? He mentioned ice-skating with you and your friends.”

“He’s here with me.”

“Good, then this will be one message for the both of you. Could the two of you come in when you can? We’ve got four who called in sick.”

    I raise my chin to Teddy. “Four people called out at the Inn. Ms. Velasco needs us to cover.”

He nods.

“We’ll head in right away.”

“Oh thank God. I’ll see you soon.”

I hang up and clear my throat. Whatever was there between me and Teddy is gone; still, I brave a question. “What were you going to say before she called?”

Something passes before his eyes. “Just…thanks.”

“Of course.” I don’t know what I expected, but a part of me wished it was more.

“We should go, huh?” He looks longingly at the exit.

“Do you need help to get there?”

“If you don’t mind.” Half of his face scrunches into a wince.

“C’mon, Teddy, let’s go.” I giggle and take his hand, leading him to the exit. But this time, I remind myself that we’re just friends.





After I swing home to change into my uniform, update my mom, and pack myself a snack, I head back out into the afternoon. Like usual, the Inn is packed. Cars line the side of the road on the long driveway leading to the Bookworm Inn, and it takes me a couple of rounds circling the parking lot before a space becomes free.