Total pages in book: 47
Estimated words: 44479 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 222(@200wpm)___ 178(@250wpm)___ 148(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 44479 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 222(@200wpm)___ 178(@250wpm)___ 148(@300wpm)
York and I exchange glances, a silent conversation passing between us. I offer a shrug, unsure and a bit lost in the whirlwind of events. “I don’t know,” I admit, my voice trailing off. Truth is, I’m not entirely sure what’s planned next. I’m just trying to go with the flow, letting the moments unfold as they come. But my mind is abuzz with thoughts of York, and the yearning for another kiss is almost overwhelming.
Before I can voice any of this, my father leans forward, setting his phone aside. He seems to be considering something. “There’s a sleigh ride downtown tonight,” he suggests, his tone casual but with an underlying excitement. “Maybe you two should do that.”
The idea seems to catch both York and me by surprise. I glance at York, seeing a flicker of interest in his eyes. The thought of a sleigh ride—snuggled together under a blanket, the crisp night air rushing past us—sounds both enchanting and fitting for the evening.
York nods, a smile tugging at his lips. “That sounds like a lot of fun,” he agrees, his voice warm and genuine.
I nod too, trying to mask the thrill that the idea stirs within me. “Yeah, that sounds perfect,” I say, even as my heart races at the thought of spending more time with York, and hopefully, sharing another kiss under the stars.
With the suggestion of the sleigh ride hanging in the air, I can’t help but feel a flutter of excitement.
“Let’s do it,” York says, sealing our fate.
I smile wide, and try to hide my excitement. “Okay,” I answer back.
York and I are nestled together under a thick, warm blanket, being gently pulled through downtown in a beautifully decorated sleigh. The crisp night air bites at my face, causing me to burrow deeper into the blanket’s cozy embrace. The jingle of the sleigh bells and the soft crunch of snow beneath the runners add a magical touch to the evening.
“This is nice,” I whisper, letting out a small sigh of contentment despite the cold nipping at my cheeks. I shift closer to York, savoring the shared warmth and the intimacy of our close quarters.
York turns to me, his face etched with concern. “Are you cold?” he asks, his voice tinged with genuine worry.
“Just a little,” I admit, though the cold seems more a minor inconvenience compared to the pleasure of being so close to him.
As I sit here, I can’t help but reflect on how my romantic fantasies of this sleigh ride didn’t quite match up with reality. I had envisioned us sharing kisses and stolen moments, like teenagers sneaking away to be alone. Instead, I’m feeling like a block of ice, trying to ignore the chill and focus on the heat between us.
“Sir, you can let us off up here,” York calls out to the driver, his voice carrying over the gentle clatter of the sleigh.
The sleigh slows to a stop in front of a bustling ice rink, where couples and families glide gracefully across the ice under the twinkling lights. The sight of it brings a spark of excitement to my eyes.
“What are we doing here?” I ask, puzzled but intrigued.
York’s smile widens. “Care to ice skate with me?” he asks, his tone light and inviting.
My eyes widen in surprise. “I haven’t done that in years,” I say, a hint of apprehension in my voice. The last time I tried ice skating, I spent more time flailing than actually skating. The thought of slipping and sliding across the ice now makes me a bit nervous, but the idea of spending more time with York, laughing and enjoying the night, outweighs my hesitation.
York’s grin remains, his enthusiasm infectious. “That’s okay. We can help each other out,” he assures me, his gaze reassuring and warm.
With a mixture of excitement and trepidation, I nod. “All right, let’s do it,” I say, determined to make the most of this magical evening, even if it means risking a few wobbles on the ice.
The fact that York is a pro skater shouldn't intimidate me at all. Nope. Not one bit. I tell myself this as we head over to the ice rink, the cold air making my cheeks flush. We rent our skates, and after a few moments of awkwardly lacing them up, I catch sight of York gliding effortlessly across the ice.
“Showoff,” I call out with a playful tone, watching as he skates circles around the rink with the ease of someone who’s spent a lifetime on the ice.
York laughs, effortlessly spinning to face me. “Oh, come on. I thought you’d be the one leading us out here. I’m just following your example.”
I shoot him a skeptical look as I carefully step onto the ice, immediately feeling my balance waver. “Leading? More like stumbling. You might need to catch me a few times before the night’s over.”