Chapter 33
aimee
Sun shone down lazily, filtering between the branches and the leaves as Asher led me through the woods. He’d shown up early and dragged me out of bed. He’d dug through my drawers and closet, throwing jeans and a flannel and heavy socks at me.
“You have hiking boots right?”
I groaned, but an hour later, the sun had since broken the horizon and crawled its way into the sky.
We were God knows how deep into the forest. Hiking was not my idea of fun, but I was just curious enough to continue to trail along after the boy who had been occupying more and more of my thoughts.
He’d hinted at there being a fun surprise in his backpack, and Asher had never lied to me about surprises, so I knew I would like whatever he had in store.
But if the surprise ended up being this hike, then I wasn’t sure if I could be held responsible for my actions.
By design, I was not an early riser, was not a morning person—it was a necessity I had to face being a skater. But on the days I could sleep in—the very few, and very far between days—I did. And today was one of those days, and yet it was barely even ten in the morning and I was awake. Hiking.
Awake and hiking.
“Where are you taking me?”
Asher turned around, walking backwards and it was amazing he didn’t trip on anything. The sun caught his golden hair and his eyes twinkled.
“You’ll see,” he said.
I pouted, crossing my arms over my chest. He grinned and held out a hand to me.
“Come on, I promise you’ll like it.”
I couldn’t help the smile that pulled at the corner of my lips, as I reached out to take his hand. He stopped walking and pulled me towards him, into his chest.
“You know, I lamented about having wasted so much time not kissing you, and yet I haven’t done it since…”
“Something’s wrong with you.” I said simply, teasingly.
“Honestly, it’s all I think about sometimes. It’s all I’ve thought about for a long time.” He whispered.
“You still haven’t kissed me,” I breathed.
His eyes sparkled and then his lips were on mine and just like the first time, it felt like fireworks, like sparks flying and I was giddy.
I don’t know when I started thinking of Asher in any other way, other than just my best friend. We hadn’t really talked about it. After we’d kissed that first time, it was like we kind of ignored it, but also didn’t…it was weird.
It was like, we’d regressed in some ways, but he was suddenly finding any excuse to touch me—just simple things, simple touches.
But I’d be lying if I said I hadn’t dreamt of more.
He’d been on my brain more and more and more and it was honestly starting to drive me a bit mad. This need and want for him.
I pressed myself closer to him and one of his arms tightened around my waist as the other came up to cup my jaw. I could’ve lived in that kiss, the feel of him, but it wasn’t long before he was pulling back. I opened my eyes to his grin and he took my hand and started walking again.
“I think I’d rather just stand around and kiss you than hike,” I said.
“While that sounds like a fantastic idea, and I definitely want to do that with you—I do have something planned and I promise Aimes, you’re going to love it.”
My whole body warmed at the nickname. Before Asher I had always been Aimee, no one—not even Orion—had given me a nickname. But Asher came barreling into my life, and decided that Aimee was too much of a mouthful, and shortened. And I loved it.
I tried to call him Ash, and he’d chased me around the rink until I couldn’t breathe because I was laughing so hard. He never told me why he didn’t like Ash, but I respected his wishes after he’d finally caught me and flung me over his shoulder.
Gripping his hand tighter, I quickened my pace so I was walking beside him, and he shortened and slowed his stride so my shorter legs could keep up. I watched as he lifted our clasped hands to his mouth and pressed a kiss to the back of mine.
“We wasted so much time,” I whispered.
“We have the rest of our lives,” he said, softness in his gaze.
It was another 15 minutes before we reached whatever destination Asher had planned. I sucked in a sharp breath and the frozen lake stretched out ahead of us. It wasn’t huge, but it was stunning.
“I’ve been planning this for weeks, trying to time it right. I’ve been talking to park rangers almost daily—hell, I begged Brennan for today, so I could bring you here.”
My head snapped in his direction.
“You begged Brennan?”
“Yeah, I’ll be doing speed drills for the next month, but it’s worth it to see your face right now.”
“I’ve always wanted to—”
Asher cut me off. “Always wanted to skate on a frozen lake. I know.”
I squealed and threw myself at him, wrapping my arms and legs around him and holding him tight.
“Wait, I don’t have skates,” I said, cold realization dousing my excitement.
“Aimes, do you think I would have woken you up on your day off and forgot your skates when I was bringing you up here to skate on a lake?”
I eyed the bag on his back.
“You really thought of everything didn’t you?” I asked.
“Yep. I even have some snacks and hot chocolate tucked away.”
I let my legs drop, keeping my arms around his neck. His hands gripped my waist through my puffy jacket.
“Mmm, you know, if you spoil me this much, you’re never going to be able to stop.”
“Is that a promise?” He whispered before his lips pressed into mine.
We spent the better part of the morning skating over the frozen lake and it was amazing. We ended up practicing our upcoming routine—minus the complicated lift—and somehow doing it out in the open under the blue sky and pale yellow sun made it incredibly magical.
Asher left the ice before me, and held up a little cup of hot chocolate to entice me off. I made my way and I sighed, collapsing on the blanket that he had also stored in his magical backpack.
“I’ve never been so happy.” I sighed.
I was content and happy in a way I didn’t know I could be.
It was like a weight had been lifted. I’d needed this—a day away, and not just a day I didn’t spend training.
It was moments like these that reminded me that I truly loved skating, that it wasn’t just a job, or career.
That I loved the freedom and the fluidity of it.
“Never?”
Something in Asher’s voice registered in my ear wrong, and I sat up and looked at him. Something dark seemed to flicker over his features, in his eyes.
“I mean, I’m sure I have, but today has been so perfect.”
Asher scoffed, and I flinched. The blue sky started to darken, and dark clouds started to rumble and roll across the sky.
The sun disappeared behind them as a wind picked up.
I tore my gaze from the sky and looked back at Asher, and I gasped.
Blood coated his head staining his normally golden hair red and I backed away.
“You forgot about me.”
I flinched and clambered onto my feet as Asher stood and moved towards me. I was still in my skates having expected to head back out onto the ice after a little break.
“You fucking forgot about me.”
The blood was spreading and my heart was hammering in my chest and I felt like I couldn’t breathe. A storm was building and raging and brewing all around us and I had no idea what Asher was talking about, why he was bleeding, why he was mad.
“Ash-Asher, we-we need to get y-your head loo-looked at,” I stammered.
I wanted to reach out to him, comfort him, make sure he was okay, but I couldn’t stop backing away. I stumbled when my skate hit the ice, and then I pushed off, pushed away from him. Something stronger than my desire to go to him urging me away.
“Aimee!” He roared.
And I heard him chasing after me. “You fucking forgot about me! You said you’d never been happier. Didn’t you learn to never lie!”
His voice echoed and tears burned in my eyes, terror latched onto my chest and I could barely breathe.
“It’s your fault, Aimee.”
“If you hadn’t wanted to do that stupid fucking lift.”
I choked on a sob and nearly stumbled as the ice underneath started to crack.
“It’s your fault Aimee Bryant, and now it’s your turn.”
His anger was the last thing I heard before the ice cracked completely and I fell in, the ice water stealing my breath, my skates and jacket weighing me down. I saw his form over the opening of the ice and I reached upwards, but he just stood there.
Air escaped in bubbles through my lips and my tears were washed away by the water, and I felt myself drowning.