The woman, who was bundled up in a deep purple coat, beckoned to Tristan for his phone. He slowly relinquished it to her, taking care to ensure he was offering enough support to keep Cosima standing upright. She found it ironic, really, that his steady support was keeping her from falling flat on the ice, but his actions were making everything inside her body and soul so soft and light that she marveled at the fact she didn’t float right out of the rink.

Tristan held her around the waist, pulling her flush against his body as the woman took a few photos.

“I know there isn’t a mistletoe, but I’ve got to get y’all kissing for the camera,” the woman said with a wide smile. “You two are just adorable together.”

Cosima froze. She knew the woman only meant well, but she was bringing an awkward dynamic into a date that was going surprisingly well. She turned to let Tristan know they didn’t need to kiss just because the woman thought it would be a good photo setup when she caught him looking at her in a way that had her lifting her chin as he lowered his head and caught her lips with his. The kiss was soft and lingering, and Cosima allowed herself to relish the feel of his mouth moving slowly and deliberately over hers. She parted her lips to urge him to deepen the kiss when she suddenly remembered where they were and pulled abruptly away. She started to worry that she’d made things awkward with how quickly she pulled away, but Tristan’s eyes were full of understanding as he kissed her forehead and whispered, “Later.”

Her nerves were fraught with anticipation as she took in what he said. “I’ll hold you to it.”

8. Tristan

Chapter 8

Tristan

It was as if the Universe conspired for them to have a perfect day, from the rink not being crowded so they never felt pressured to move too quickly to Cosima enjoying the hell out of his Christmas playlist to the older woman setting the scene for their first kiss.