Page 33
Toren nods, but the question isn’t for him. Or me, I realize. Max is using Sadie’s youngest brother as a test subject. Liam starts quickly blabbering to Mr. Koteskiy about every single moment of practice from start to finish, before looking back to me with a slightly shier smile.
“Can I hug you?” Liam asks.
I nod, stepping off the ice and onto the damp carpeting, kneeling down so he can step into my arms and squeeze. His eyes are bright as I ruffle his hair and start to push up, wobbling on my blade for a second, before a large hand wraps around my bicep and sets me upright like a doll.
“Thank you,” I mutter quietly, side-eyeing Toren now next to me.
Protective instincts.
He crosses his arms and nods.
We don’t speak again as we all walk out, but I soon feel my father’s gaze land on Toren like a brick to the stomach.
Toren huffs out a breath, massaging his temples with a quietly muttered, “You’ve got to be fucking kidding me.”
I expect, for a moment, my dad will say something to him, but he doesn’t move. Only looks pointedly down at his watch, making me scurry over quickly.
“I just need to change into my shoes.”
He nods and I take off to the bench seats and cubbies nearby. I sit and quickly unlace my skates, sliding on my short Hunter boots, glancing around a little frantically looking for my—
Lilac skate guards extended from a tattooed hand suddenly appear in my view. I follow the black Dri-FIT material up, up, up to Toren’s golden gaze as he sets them in my lap.
There’s a moment where it almost seems like he’s going to kneel. To unlace my skates for me like he’s done a million times before—as if it’s muscle memory, harder not to do it than to pull the skates from my feet.
“Thank you,” I say again, my words breaking his trance.
He nods, before stepping over to sit somewhat near and yet not, unlacing his own skates.
Still, he’s close enough that his shoulder brushes mine with his movements, and he drops his voice deeply low and quiet as he whispers, “Are you okay?”
The question is surprising, but his eyes are pools of sincerity. I nod my head subtly, keeping an eye on my dad where he’s still speaking to Max a few spaces away.
Toren, hesitating for a moment, then says, “I believe you. That you didn’t know I was here. That your dad—” He cuts himself off, clenching his jaw again. “It’s just a lot for me to get used to, again. Being around you is difficult.”
My chest pulls again.
“I understand,” I whisper. I’m hopeful that he can hear the sincerity in my words.
Toren wanted me out of his life enough to legally ask me to leave him alone. And now, I’m here, in his space. I understand it, even if it hurts.
“Lillian,” my dad snaps.
Right. I race back into action, avoiding the distracting heated presence next to me. Tossing everything into my small duffel bag, I stand and follow my dad as he speaks briefly with Max Koteskiy—as if they’re already friendly.
“Coffee, next week?” my dad asks Max.
Max nods, then turns to me. “Thank you for your help today, Lily. The kids loved you. Liam seems to have a crush as well.” He laughs, eyes turning to the kid in question, who is standing in front of Toren, mouth running a million miles a minute.
And without the hovering adults, there’s a softer quality to Toren’s face as he listens intently, offering a few words here and there that make Liam squeal or nod rapidly.
Protective instincts. That’s good for defense.
• • •
It’s cold outside, not snowing but a bit icy from the rain earlier, cloudy and dark enough that it doesn’t even look like it’s midmorning.
“Carson’s going to take you to lunch, and then back to the house for today.” My disappointment must show because my dad adds: “Unless you have plans?”
