Chapter 27 Boone
She grins, stepping tentatively onto the ice. Her feet wobble for just a second before she steadies herself.
“Whoa.”
“Are they tight enough? You don’t want your ankle to have any space to twist.” I drop down in front of her, checking the strings and tightening them a little to be sure her feet are supported. Then I look up at her. “Is that any better?”
She smiles and nods. “Yeah, that feels good. It’s been a while since I’ve done this.”
I stand and brush snow from my sweatpants. “Don’t worry. It’s like riding a bike. Do you want to hold my hand, and I can take you for a lap to get warmed up?”
She shakes her head. “No, just give me a second to find my legs on my own.”
I nod. “Okay.” Then I start to skate backward away from her.
“Ooh, fancy” she teases, her eyes following my movements.
“You ain’t seen anything yet, baby,” I joke.
I take the chance to show off a little, skating side to side before picking up speed. Then I build momentum to launch into execution of the most ridiculous, over-the-top, figure-skater worthy spin landing it perfectly with one leg out extended behind me.
In my opinion, it’s Olympics ice-skating competition worthy. But I’m not trying to win any awards tonight.
I’m just trying to win Rosie’s attention.
Her laughter explodes across the ice, full and unrestrained. Her head’s thrown back, blonde hair glowing with the moonlight and frosty air, and she’s clutching her sides laughing.
She’s never looked more beautiful to me.
“Oh my god. What was that, Boone?”
Grinning, I skate around her in a wide circle, laughing with her.
“They teach us stuff like that to protect ourselves. The more fancy moves you know, the better chance you won’t get an injury.
But I’ve taken a special interest in learning some figure skating tricks.
It doesn’t hurt that my mom put me and my brothers in gymnastics when we were little. ”
“She did?” Her eyes are wide.
“Yeah, it’s the only way I’ve been able to stay in the league this long with just a few minor injuries.”
She wipes her eyes, still giggling. “Can you do a backflip?”
“On land? Yes. On ice? I tried it once and almost broke my back. Don’t ask me to attempt it again because I will just to show off for you, but you might be carrying me to the hospital after.”
She smiles. “Please tell me you’ll pull one of those spins during your next home game.”
“Not a chance in hell,” I reply, circling around her.
Rosie wobbles again but she’s finding her rhythm now, her smile softening as she looks around the empty lake.
“It’s magical out here tonight,” she says, her voice dreamy.
“Sometimes I look out at the frozen lake on the weekend’s and wonder why no one else is doing this.
It’s like something out of a Hallmark movie where the couple go ice skating on a date except there’s no one here. I like it even better this way.”
I like that she watches Hallmark movies. And I like that she thinks this feels like one because being out here on the ice is my home. And if she feels the same way... well, hell, I can’t think of a more perfect moment to do what I’ve been planning for weeks.
Skating toward her, I reach into my pocket for the ring that I’ve been carrying around. The pink diamond with a silver band that feels more like her than the one she has to wear for the cameras.
There’s excitement buzzing under my skin as my fingers curl around the smooth, leather box. I’m giving this to her. I’m going to explain to her how I’m feeling and what I hope for our future when all this is done.
But just as I’m about to make my move, the tip of my skate catches on something—a branch or a stump frozen beneath the surface that I didn't see. And I crash.
“Dammit,” I hiss, twisting mid-fall the way I’ve been trained to. But without my protective gear, and one hand in my pocket, I still fall way too hard.
My hip slams into the ice with a sickening thud, pain jolting up my side instantly. I can tell it’s not broken, but it’s going to have a nasty bruise come morning.
Coach will be pissed if this impacts our next game.
“Boone!” Rosie’s panicked voice cuts through the cold, and I glance up to see her rushing toward me as fast as she can. My stomach drops because the crack I heard when I fell wasn’t coming from my hip. It was coming from the ice that’s surrounding me.
“Don’t!” I shout, raising a hand to stop her, but it’s too late. She doesn’t know about the unseen fractures in the ice, spiraling around me like cobwebs. She doesn’t know that coming closer will only make things worse.
The ice groans, the popping sound is louder now, spreading outward like splinters beneath her feet and causing deadly divides.
“Stay back!” I yell again, but the words are swallowed by the sharp, echoing split of the ice as it gives way. And then—She falls.
The scream she lets out is pure panic as the lake opens and consumes her whole. Icy water crashes up around her like jaws snapping shut as her hands reach out toward me, fumbling to grab onto anything.
“Rosie!” Her name tears out of me in a wail.
“Boone! Help me!”
I don’t think. I don’t hesitate. Adrenaline floods my veins as I scramble to my feet, skating hard and fast toward the hole that she's slipped inside. Her head bobs up once, her heavy coat dragging her down beneath the surface as she gasps, choking on the cold.
“No, you don’t!” I growl, diving forward, my arm plunging into the freezing water while my skates dig for purchase on what’s left of the surrounding ice. My fingers catch the slick material of her coat, but it’s slippery, and I lose my grip on the first attempt.
“Hold on!” I shout, my voice raw, and lunge again. I know we’re running out of time. I know there’s a strong chance I’ll fall in too and we’ll have to swim, but none of that matters right now.
This time I connect with her arm before more ice gives way beneath my legs. Her body is ice-cold, her lips turning blue, but I don’t let go. I can’t.
The ice around me groans louder, threatening to give way, but I grit my teeth and haul her up with every last ounce of energy and I have.
My legs slide into the water as the edge collapses under my weight, but I don’t stop pulling until she’s out of the hole, sprawled on the ice, soaked and shivering violently.
“I’ve gotta get us to the edge where it’s safe.” I keep pulling. Moving on my knees tentatively, trying not to upset any unseen ruptures while kicking myself for how bad I fucked this up.
Every inch we move slowly feels like a mile. My legs are numb from the water, Rosie’s teeth chatter loudly, but I don’t stop, I can’t stop.
I can hear the crack continue to echo behind us, the lake opening up to take what’s left of the ice with it. My feet are soaked with the slush, but I keep going. Until I’m sure that the ice beneath us is firm.
“I’m going to pick you up now.” I stand quickly, tap my skates twice to confirm the ice is still frozen solid here, then scoop her into my arms and take off.
Her body is shaking so hard she can’t speak, and her sobs are muffled against my chest.
I skate faster than I’ve ever skated in my life, adrenaline overriding pain and exhaustion as I push us toward the edge of the lake. I don’t care about my skates, the cold, or the way the snow that’s started to fall cuts into my skin.
Nothing matters except getting her inside and warming her up as quickly as possible. This isn’t about anything but survival now.
The second we hit the dock I bolt for the house. The wood creaks under my weight and sharp skates as I carry her over the threshold. By the time we’re through the door, her lips are a purplish blue and her eyes are starting to close like her body’s shutting down.
“Hang on,” I mutter, kicking the door shut and lowering her into a chair. My hands fumble with her skates, yanking them off her frozen toes and tossing them aside. I peel off her soaked coat, but she’s drenched through, so it makes little difference.
I tug off my skates and then scoop her up again, taking the stairs two at a time, heading straight for the primary bathroom.
When I hit the door, I’m laser-focused, running on pure instinct and fear. Her body feels too light in my arms and it’s trembling uncontrollably. I set her gently on the tiled floor, turn the shower on full blast, and crank it to warm.
The room starts to fill with mist as I strip her coat, my jersey, her sweatpants—everything soaked and heavy until she’s bare.
“Stay with me, Rosie,” I murmur, my voice shaking as much as my hands. I carry her into the shower, setting her carefully on the built-in seat. The water cascades over her, steaming and warm, but she’s still shivering, her skin like ice under my fingers.
I strip off my own clothes in seconds and help her stand, then step in behind her, wrapping her in my arms until we’re standing, pulling her tight against me. My hands move on autopilot, stroking her hair, rubbing her back, doing anything I can to bring the warmth back into her frozen body.
“Can you move your limbs for me? We need to try get some blood flow there.”
I don’t know if she’s trying but they’re still limp and shaking. I do it for her, lifting her arms, trying to get the circulation back then rub her shoulders with my free hand while my other wraps around her waist protectively, keeping her upright.
“You’re okay, Rosie,” I whisper, repeatedly, my lips pressed to her temple. That’s when I realize I’m shaking too. And not from the cold. But from fear. “You’re safe. I’ve got you. I’m so fucking sorry.” My voice breaks. “You’re okay. You’re going to be fine.”
Her teeth are still chattering, her body shaking violently in my arms. It feels like the hot water isn’t enough, like the cold inside her is too deep, too stubborn to let go.
I curse under my breath, holding her tighter to my chest, my heart pounding so hard it’s painful. She’s too fragile to be out in the cold. Too precious for my carelessness.