18

"I got a long term plan with short term fixes."

Joshua

A sense of tranquillity washed over me as I stepped into the library. A contrast to the hustle and bustle of the hallways. Sunlight peered in through the windows, casting patterns of light and shadow across the rows of shelves. My footsteps echoed on the polished floors as I made my way deeper into the library in search of Sawyer. My eyes scanned the area until I spotted her in the far corner. Her focus was on her notebook.

With a soft smile, I made my way to her table. I pulled out the chair beside her and sat down. My eyes never left her face. She hadn't noticed my presence. I reach out to tuck the stray strand of hair behind her ear, marvelling at the softness of her skin. My touch must have alerted her back to reality, as a surprised smile etched her features.

"Hey," she said, her voice filled with warmth. "What are you doing here?"

"I came to whisk you away." I placed my hand on top of hers to yank the pen held firm in her grip. "You need a break."

"I still have so much to plan."

I shook my head, grabbing the pen from her. She reached out for it, but I recoiled.

"Just a quick break." I said, my expression gentle but firm.

She hesitated for a moment, torn between her desire to finish her planning and her craving for a break. She looked into my concerned eyes and closed her notebook with a weary sigh.

"Fine," she said, as her corner lip twitched. "What do you have in mind?"

"Well, since you're helping so much with the fundraiser, I thought I'd let you see what hockey is all about."

She raised her left brow.

"I've never skated before." She said. "I'm clumsy."

My smile widened. This would be an experience I got to share with her.

"Well, there's always a first for everything."

??

The icy air bit at our cheeks as we stepped onto the slick surface of the rink. Her eyes lit up as she noticed no one else was on the ice. She was fearful of others seeing her fall. We sat on the bench to lace up our skates as she glanced at the ice with a mixture of excitement and apprehension in her eyes. Her fingers fumbled as she tried to lace them. I knelt in front of her with a reassuring smile.

"I struggled my first time, too."

With skilled hands, I laced up her skates. I looked at her from under my lashes to find her gnawing on her bottom lip.

"We don't have to skate if you're not up for it."

She shook her head.

"I want to." She insisted. "I trust you not to let me make a fool of myself."

I stood up and offered her my hand.

"I promise."

She stepped on the ice like a fawn on wobbly legs. Her hands clutched onto the railings for support. I skated beside her, offering her words of encouragement.

"You've got this," I said. "Just let go, I've got you."

With a deep breath, she pushed herself from the railing, her skates unsteady beneath her. She stumbled, but I was there to catch her.

"You're okay," I whispered into her ear. "Just remain calm."

With each step, she grew more confident. Her movements became more controlled as she found her balance. She laughed with joy as we picked up speed. Our laughter echoed through the vacant rink as we skated hand in hand. I pulled her closer, wrapping my arm around her in a tender embrace.

"Thank you for doing this with me," I said. "I know it's not your thing."

She placed her hands on the sides of my cheeks.

"No need to thank me." She said. "It's nice to experience your world."

With a soft smile, I leaned in close, my lips meeting hers in a gentle, lingering kiss. My stomach fluttered as her cherry-scented lip balm invaded my nostrils, a scent I never loved until Sawyer. Now it's as if no other scent could compare.

A surge of warmth brushed over me, overwhelming me with contentment and joy. It had been a while since I'd allowed myself to feel this way, but I knew I'd found something special in Sawyer. She makes all my worries disappear. Almost.

My smile dropped as my mind drifted to the impending scholarship. My brows furrowed with worry, as my mind doubted every aspect. She reached out and placed her hands in mine, giving them a squeeze of encouragement.

"What's going on?"

My hands fidgeted in hers.

"My dad told me some scouts are going to be at the charity game," I said. "There's this huge summer training camp where they only recruit the best to prepare them for the college season."

She pursed her lips in thought.

"Are you afraid you won't get it?"

Her hands rested on my arm as she gazed at me with concern in her eyes.

"I'm more afraid of disappointing my dad," I admitted. "He made this all happen for me and I'm afraid of ruining it."

She brushed the stray hairs away from my eyes. Her touch was so gentle that I had to fight to keep my eyes open.

"You're being too hard on yourself." She said. "You're an amazing player and you need to believe in yourself because I do."

A sense of peace settled over me like a warm blanket, as I felt a weight lifted from my shoulders. Her words were the comfort I needed, offering me the safety I hadn't had in a long time. I curled my arms around her, luring her into my warmth. I placed a gentle kiss on her forehead before placing my chin on her head.

"I needed to hear that."

Her arms squeezed around my waist, causing a smile to slip from my lips.

"We support each other, remember?"

I sighed in bliss.

"No matter what."

??