Chapter 79

Chapter 79

I bit my lip, feeling a bit sheepish. “Maybe just a little?”

He extended his hand, his touch warm and reassuring as I tentatively placed mine in his. His grip was steady as he guided me

forward, his movements deliberate and patient. It was surprisingly comforting, and I found myself focusing on the feel of his hand

in mine rather than the skating itself.

My breath was getting a bit more labored, but I wasn’t so sure that it was from the skating. I could feel my hand growing

embarrassingly sweaty in his grasp, but I knew pulling away would only result in me crashing to the floor.

With Timothy’s guidance, I felt a bit steadier on my feet. His touch was firm yet. gentle, and I focused on his voice as he offered

tips and encouragement.

“You're doing great, Evie. Just relax and let the skates do the work.”

His words were oddly soothing, and I found myself growing more comfortable with each step. My initial embarrassment began to

fade, replaced by a determination to master this newfound skill.

As we glided together, I couldn’t help but steal occasional glances at Timothy, his chestnut hair ruffled by the breeze, his hazel

eyes warm and encouraging. The proximity between us sent a rush of warmth through me, and I felt a familiar blush creeping

onto my cheeks.

It was like my body had become hypersensitive in his presence. The material of my shirt felt constrictive, rubbing against my

hardening nipples as the cool breeze and Timothy's hot touch conflicted with one another. I swallowed hard, growing more

breathless by the minute. “See, you're a natural,” Timothy said, his voice. breaking my daze. Evidently, I’d managed to skate a

short distance without stumbling.

I cleared my throat, which felt painfully dry. “Maybe I’m getting the hang of it.”

After what felt like an eternity, but was likely only a short while, my body had begun to cool and the tension in my muscles had

loosened. I could eventually skate with ease by Timothy’s side, but I would occasionally snatch his shirt sleeve. between my

fingers when I felt myself slipping.

“You're doing great, Evie,” Aria encouraged, already a few paces ahead of us. “Just

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take it one step at a time.”

“I think I’m getting the hang of this,” I said proudly.

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Timothy's smile widened, his hazel eyes locking onto mine. “See? I knew you could do it.”

By the tenth lap, my legs were trembling but still intact. Aria’s excited cheer echoed through the air as we made our way off the

rink, and I couldn’t help but beam with a sense of accomplishment.

“Let's grab some food,” Aria suggested, already kicking off her skates.

“Great idea. I’m starved!” Timothy called after her, taking my arm to gently guide me to one of the closest seats.

As we removed our skates and made our way to the counters for some much- needed sustenance, I found myself walking

beside Timothy, the warmth of his presence sending a shiver down my spine.

Aria ordered a mountain of nachos for us to share. Timothy settled on some fries. and buffalo wings. We took our trays to one of

the tables and dug in, barely coming up for air.

“This kind of skating always makes me feel like a kid again,” Timothy mused, waving a french fry in the air. “It’s nice to let loose.”

I nodded in agreement, watching as the thick cheese dripped from my nacho chip. “I can imagine. It’s like this little escape from

all the responsibilities of life.”

He chuckled, his gaze meeting mine. “Exactly. Not gonna lie, adulthood kind of stinks.”

Aria cackled. “Oh, you have no idea how right you are, Timothy. Evie is practically a workaholic.”

I rolled my eyes playfully, sticking my tongue out at Aria. “Not entirely true.”

Timothy's eyes danced with amusement as he regarded me. “Well, a little break every now and then can do wonders. Speaking

of breaks, I think I see an arcade over there.”

After finishing our food, we ventured into the arcade area, the vibrant lights and

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Chapter 79

sounds of nostalgic games surrounding us. We tried our hand at various games, challenging each other and reveling in the

lighthearted competition. The atmosphere was infectious, and I couldn't help but feel a sense of contentment.

As Aria drifted toward the coin—-eating claw games, Timothy and I ducked into one of the game cabinets for a zombie shooting

simulator. After shutting the curtains, we struggled to find the coin dispensers in the darkness. Our hands would occasionally

tangle together, sending a spark of energy up my arm.

The dark intimacy of the room only made me more aware of the little space between us. Squeezed together on that tiny little

bench, we couldn’t help but bump our thighs and graze against each other’s warm skin. I found myself holding on to his wrist,

feeling his rapid heartbeat just beneath my thumb.

Perhaps he was just as flustered as I was?

When the game commenced, I was already laughing at how clumsily he was handling the game. He would consistently miss the

targets or shoot our allies, costing us points.

“I'm a little out of practice,” he said, although the disclaimer wasn’t needed by that point. Granted, I wasn’t exactly skilled myself.

Eventually, we both ran out of lives. We watched as the timer ticked down for us to reinsert our coins, but neither of us made a

move to do so. I looked over at Timothy, gaging the shift in his mood.

His gaze had turned slightly distant, his fingers tapping absently on the gun’s trigger. “I can’t recall any other year where I’ve

laughed this much,” he said softly.

I frowned, setting my gun back on the holder before

back on the holder before turning to him.

He shook his head, his expression growing more strained. “This is probably the most child-like I’ve ever felt.”

Curiosity piqued, I glanced at him, sensing a hint of vulnerability beneath hist words. “What was your childhood like?”

Timothy's smile faded, his eyes clouded with a mixture of memories. “It

was...complicated. My father had high expectations, and fun wasn’t exactly part of the equation.”

I nodded, understanding the weight of his words. “It sounds like you had a lot on

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your plate.” He shrugged, a rueful smile tugging at his lips. “It’s all in the past now. Wanna try another game?”

I nodded, but a part of me wanted to know more, to delve deeper into his past. As we stepped out of the booth, I added quickly,

“It must have been tough, though.”

Timothy's gaze met mine, albeit with a little less enthusiasm than before. “We all have our struggles, Evie. What matters is how

we move forward.”

There was a heaviness in his words, a weight that hinted at the complexities of his experiences. I wanted to press further, to offer

a listening ear, but Timothy’s guard seemed to have gone back up.

“Yeah, I guess you're right,” I said quietly, following his lead to the other end of the arcade. The tension still remained, although I

could see he was trying his best to hide it. The laughter and light-hearted stories continued, fortunately. Still, Timothy’s past

remained a mystery, a puzzle I was eager to solve, but for now, I was content with the simple joy of being in his company.

What was he hiding?