‘Don’t let go,’ Georgie shrieked.
‘Relax,’ Billie said, and guided her over to Raf and stood her next to him, side to side. ‘Okay, I’m going to show you some basic moves together. First, just link hands.’
Georgie did not want to link hands with Raf. It would just be a bit weird. You didn’t link hands with people who, despite your better judgement, you couldn’t help finding excruciatingly attractive.
‘I…’ she began. And then Billie let go –let go– of her, right there in the middle of the ice. ‘Help!’ she screamed.
And then Raf took her hand. Therelief.
‘I said “link”,’ Billie said, laughing, ‘not hang on for dear life.’
‘Doing my best,’ Georgie said.
‘Okay. So keeping your fingers linked, just stand there and relax, and roll your shoulders.’
Raf rolled his shoulders and his arm moved up a bit.
‘Dooooon’t,’ Georgie warned.
‘Yeah, okay, no shoulder rolling,’ Billie said. ‘You’re obviously warmed up anyway. So. Amazing. Right. Turn so that you’re facing each other and hold hands.’
No way could Georgie do any turning. And also: hold hands?
‘Erm.’
She didn’t have much time to worry before Raf moved his feet and reached for her other hand and pulled slightly so that they were standing facing each other on the ice.
And… gulp.
His hands were big and warm and enclosed hers perfectly. And her eyes were level with his nicely muscled chest, and when she looked up a little she could see his firm, very slightly stubbled chin, and his mouth and… he was looking at her, just like she was looking at him, as though they were drinking each other in with their eyes.
Georgie swallowed and then she saw Raf swallow too. She could see a hint of dark hair at the neck of his T-shirt again, and wondered whether he…
‘Isaid—’ Billie’s face was suddenly almost between theirs ‘—Raf is now going to skate backwards and you’re going to skateforwards, Georgie, so that you’re skating together. And with all thisamazingchemistry—’ she indicated between them with her finger and nearly took Georgie’s eye out ‘—your bodies are going to be so in sync you won’t believe it.’ She clapped. ‘And off you go. Raf left foot and Georgie right foot.’
Raf started moving backwards and Georgie tried to move at the same time, but she already couldn’t remember which foot to move and, help, her feet were going in opposite directions from each other and she was going to fall… and, no, it was okay, Raf was holding her up. She clung on to him, possibly screaming slightly, until he drew them to a stop and she was able to arrange her feet underneath herself.
‘I’m not ready for this,’ she said.
Raf was laughing so much he couldn’t speak.
‘Amazing.’ Billie skated effortlessly over to them. ‘This time, Georgie, why don’t you keep your feet still and Raf can just guide you.’
‘Drag me, you mean?’
‘Guide you.’
Raf was still laughing.
‘Shut up.’
‘Okay. Georgie, stop holding Raf’s arm so tightly,’ Billie told her. Georgie looked down and, oh, right, she had both her hands clamped, knuckle-whiteningly hard, around Raf’s left arm.
‘Okay.’ She transferred her hands into his and planted her feet beneath her. ‘Ready to glide gracefully.’
Raf began to skate backwards slowly, pulling Georgie, and really, this was actually quite pleasant. She wasn’t moving her feet atall, but it felt almost as though she was properly skating. It wasn’t fast enough for exhilaration, but it was definitely mildly exciting.
As was being in such close proximity to Raf. They were just sliding around the ice, holding hands, standing really very closetogether, and she was struggling to look anywhere other than at his chest and face.
