“I’m willing to bet Glade plugins in every available outlet, but who knows?” Tristan teased, holding her elbow and directing her to where they could get fitted for skating boots. The nerves started to set in then. She was definitely going to bust her ass if she attempted to go skating. Cosima looked up at Tristan, ready to ask if they could watch families skate from the sidelines and found him smiling at her. Amusement sparkled in his eyes as if he had been patiently waiting for her to try to back out, but there was also something else that caused shivers to slide down her spine. He was looking at her like he’d just stumbled across the most exquisite puzzle that he couldn’t wait to solve. Cosima had never had anyone look at her like that. She’d seen fondness in people’s eyes, lust even, but she had never had anyone look at her with wonder…like they believed she was made up of magic and stardust and were happy just to experience her. Her words caught in her throat, so she tried to clear them away with a small cough, hoping it would help shake away the feelings crashing over her.

“Everything ok?”

She leaned into the small bubble of happiness expanding in her chest and realized despite her being scared as heck that she might fall on her ass, everything was okay.

“I think I’m going to have to wrestle one of those penguins away from a six-year-old,” she said instead. “I hope you took me seriously when I tried to tell you I’m gravitationally challenged.”

“Don’t worry,” he said. “I’ve got you.”

She flashed him a look filled with skepticism but laced her fingers in his outstretched hand anyway, allowing him to try to lead her to the rink. Except, Cosima wasn’t prepared for how much of a struggle it was to cross the small distance from the shoe exchange spot to the ice. She could tell Tristan hadn’t been prepared either for how many times he had to grab her arms to prevent her from toppling forward, backward, or straight into him as she tried and failed to keep her balance. It wasn’t much better on the ice. They moved at such a slow pace the little kids sped around them with the little stabilization animals Cosima was starting to get jealous of.

Tristan pulled her close, and in those few seconds, Cosima didn’t mind that she felt like she was always half a second away from seriously injuring herself on the ice. It felt so good being wrapped up in his arms that she found it easy to release the tension she was feeling and relax in his embrace.

“I’m going to release you just a little bit,” he said, trying but failing to keep the amusement from his voice. “Just try to stay upright.”