The child blinked, his tears forgotten as he nodded.
“What color coat was she wearing?”
“G-green.”
“And does she have brown hair like yours?” Rosie added, impressed with Matt’s ability to calm the little one, who nodded.
Matt stood on shaky legs, grabbing onto the wall to hoist himself up to his full height. “We’ll help you find her.”
The little one toddled off, leaning on one of the little walkers they rented out for kids. She wished they came in adult sizes.
As they skated slowly towards the exit, a frantic woman in a green coat raced around the outside of the rink. “Davy! Davy!”
“Mama!”
Matt followed little Davy down to the exit as Rosie hung back. She was suddenly aware of her entire body, especially her weak knees. Gripping the wall hard, Rosie sighed, a soft smile on her lips as her vision went fuzzy around the edges, like in the movies. She’d never felt like this before, but something tickled at the back of her memory. Something Grandad had talked about.
That’s right. This was just like the night he fell in love with Gram.
She could hear his voice as he told her the story, when she’d been small.“I just knew, after that, that she was the one for me.”
But it was too early to tell him, wasn't it? Still, she beamed as he stumbled his way back to her, to take her hand again. Skating seemed a little easier when she was floating on a cloud.
After a couple more loops around the huge indoor Mimi DiPietro Skating Center, Rosie suggested they go get some hot chocolate. Matt helped her off the ice and onto a bench, then bent to untie her rental skates. Flutters erupted in her chest at the big guy tending to her. He made her feel like a princess. Skates in hand, they walked back to the locker where their shoes sat, and then returned the rentals on their way to the snack bar.
Rosie tried to rub the feeling back into her cheeks as they stood in line. A gas fireplace warmed the space, and so did Matt’s arm as it snaked around her waist. Now that the dam had burst, he seemed incapable of keeping his hands off her. But had he talked to Olivia yet? He hadn’t said anything about the conversation. And she expected to hear about it, one way or another.
Olivia wasn’t treating her any differently. So that meant only one thing.
Sitting on a bench away from the families crowding the snack bar, in view of the fireplace decorated with hearts for Valentine’s Day, Rosie turned to face him. “What did Olivia say when you told her?”
Matt’s eyes went wide, and he looked down at his drink. “I haven’t gotten to tell her yet.”
She sighed, disappointed. “Matt … I understand if you’re worried.”
“It’s not that,” he said, taking her hand. “I tried. She didn’t have enough time to talk on the phone. Liv’s been so busy with the new business, she’s never available.” He squeezed her hand reassuringly. “I’ll tell her, I promise. I just need more time.”
Rosie nodded. Oliviahadbeen busy, only making time for girls’ night because Jade would drag her out if she didn’t. And because their D&D nights involved her boyfriend, Jake, as well.
Her heart twisted at the thought of lying to her best friends. “I don’t want to keep this a secret, Matt.” She wanted to shout it to the world. Sliding across the inch or two of bench between them, she laid her head on his shoulder. He laid a warm, chaste kiss on her forehead.
“We won’t. I’ll tell her as soon as I can, okay?”
“Okay.”
Then his beard tickled her ear as he whispered, “Let’s drink these then get home. I want to kiss you where there aren’t any kids around.”
Rosie grinned around her hot chocolate and snuggled into his side. “Sounds like a plan.”
“Your place or mine?” Matt asked with a blush as they pulled into the parking lot.
“Mine,” Rosie answered. “I need to pack your muffins, or they’ll go stale.”
“Okay. Wait there.” Matt rounded the car to open her door. She smiled. Gram and Grandad would like him.
Inside, Nadia and Caleb climbed the stairs ahead of them, talking loudly. “Crap,” she whispered. “If they see us together, you won’t get achanceto tell your sister.”
“Let’s wait, then.” They ducked behind a pillar until the sound of steps on metal faded away, and a door opened and shut.
