Page 46 of Melt His Heart

I love these moments between us.

“So what is it?”

“I’ve always just kinda been waiting for you.”

“What do you mean?” I ask, brows pinching together.

“I didn’t have any gym today or yesterday when I took you home or any of those other times. The team has schedules for that already.” He laughs.

“You’re such a creep!”

I throw my shirt I’ve just changed out of at him, the sound of our laughter echoing through the room. He’s such a sweetheart. I wish I were ready to tell him those kinds of things, but it’s still awkward for me.

Chapter 15

Today, me and Carson are both going to stay back after he brought up the realization we’ve never done a skate together. Which is insane, seeing as we both spend more time on the ice than on solid ground. I finish up my session with Coach Peters and head over to the benches where Carson has been watching replays of the team’s last game while he waits for me.

It’s just the two of us here now, and even after all this time, I still feel nerves bubbling under my skin when he meets me at the boards.

“You look so leaderly right now.” I tease as I skate in small circles, near the entrance.

“Leaderly? That’s the first time I’ve ever heard you not make sense.” Carson laughs.

“I learn from the best.” We both laugh, and Carson skates out onto the ice to where I am.

“I wanted to ask you. What would you be doing if you weren’t skating?” He says.

I hum, never having thought about what I would be doing if not this. It’s the only thing I know, honestly. I’ve never even tried anything else, and I think that might make me sad if I think about it for too long.

“Maybe a florist,” I say sheepishly.

“I can see that for you.” He says, skating alongside me as we do another lap around the ice.

“Really?” I tilt my head.

“Yeah, and I think you’d be really good at it too.”

“I don’t know about that.” I chuckle.

“Believe in yourself a little? You can do more than skate, Juyeon.” He says. My heart fluttering against my rib cage; I love when he calls me by my name.

I bite my lip and give him a small nod. Because again, I’m working on it.

“What about you?” I ask.

“I’d still be a hockey player.” He replies.

“Really?”

“Yeah, I always loved the sport, but never really saw anyone who looked like me playing it. So I figured I’d change that.” He shrugs, smiling at me.

“That’s amazing, Carson,” I say, my voice soft.

He’s amazing.

We skate in a nice silence for another few laps before Carson breaks it, “You should teach me some techniques.” He smiles.

“Like what?”