Stealing for Keeps (Frost Lake High Book 1)
Stealing for Keeps: Epilogue

Three months later

Austin carefully steps onto the ice. The look of trepidation on his face is adorable.

“Are you sure I’m not going to fall through and get trapped under the ice?”

“The lake is frozen,” I say for what has to be the third time since we parked the car and walked out here.

“Uh-huh.” He doesn’t seem convinced.

Stepping next to him, I take his gloved hand in mine. He’s like a baby deer standing for the first time, legs at odd angles and hunched over.

“I can’t believe you’ve never been ice-skating.”

“There isn’t a lot of ice in Arizona.” He stands tall and then freezes. “Now what?”

“Okay, now push off and glide.”

“I don’t even know what that means,” he says, but he does a pretty good job of it.

I let him set the pace as he feels out the ice. A very slow pace. I show him a few basics and then skate ahead of him. By the time I’ve gone around the lake and am lapping him, he’s figuring it out.

“All right. All right. I got it.” He holds his hands out to his sides and wobbles backward, then corrects himself.

“Lean forward,” I remind him.

He grunts his acknowledgment. I wish he could see himself. That stubborn set of his jaw and brow creased in concentration. I love that I get to be here to watch him do this for the first time. It’s not chess, but I guess we can finally be even.

I breathe in the cool air and tip my head up to the sky. Today is a good day. Actually, most days have been lately.

I’ve made new friends with the girls on the hockey cheer squad and found the more time I spend with them skating and having fun, the less it hurts to think about my dreams of figure skating. I still don’t know what I’m going to do after high school, but I’m not sweating it. My mother does enough of that for me. Speaking of, after our talk, she’s eased up a little. She’s now spending her time with the other hockey cheer moms trying to raise money and make the squad “a reputable and elite group.” She told me I can be anything, and right now, all I know for sure is I want to be happy. And I am. Deliriously happy and in love.

She’s making compromises, and so am I. And I’m happy to report Austin has nearly won her over. I think it helps that he was named to the all-state first team and finished the first semester with straight As (I’m fairly certain he did it just to get on her good side). There’s a lot to love about him, but most of all, I love how he sees me and pushes me to keep dreaming.

I circle around him, watching him get more comfortable.

“You’re making me dizzy,” he says without looking at me. I think he’s afraid to take his eyes off the ice, like that’s what’s keeping him upright.

I skate next to him, and he eventually picks up speed.

“You’re getting it,” I say.

“Was there any doubt?” He lifts his brows and aims a cocky smirk at me. His movements aren’t smooth, but he looks like he’s been doing it longer than five minutes.

I move in front of him, skating backward and showing off. I like it when he chases me.

He speeds forward and grabs me around the waist. He tips forward, and I’m helpless to keep us from falling. Laughing, Austin spins us so I land on top of him. Oops. I forgot to show him how to stop. His laughter stops abruptly, and he squeezes his eye shut.

“Did I hurt you?” As I try to move off him, his grip around me tightens.

“No. I was just waiting for us to bust through the ice.”

My giggles start low, and then he joins in until we’re both unable to talk because we’re laughing so hard. When we finally stop, he leans forward and presses his lips to mine.

“I love you,” he says. “But I think I should stick to cleats.”

“You wouldn’t be able to get around on the ice very well,” I tease.

His hands move to my waist, and he tickles me until I squirm and beg for mercy. Then he slides his fingers under my coat and sweatshirt. “How many layers do you have on?”

“Enough to keep warm,” I say as his cold, icy gloves move under my T-shirt and replace my bare skin.

I retaliate by doing the same, except he has on far fewer layers.

“I give, I give,” he says, wincing. His hands lift from my waist but remain under the layers. “Maybe we should head back to your place and cuddle in front of the fireplace. Drink some hot cocoa.”

What he really means is go make out somewhere warm.

“Five more minutes,” I say, untangling myself from him and getting to my feet. With some effort, I help him up, and our arms wrap around each other again. “You and skating, skating with you… I feel like my heart might burst. I love you so much.”

“Are you talking to me or to the ice?” His green eyes spark with mischief.

“Both.” I grin back.

“Hey,” he says quietly, mouth hovering an inch from mine. “I dare you to kiss me.”