FULL NOVELXO Chapter 79
Chapter 79
1 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
1 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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Chapter 79
take it one step at a time.”
“I think I'm getting the hang of this,” I said proudly.
51%,
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
12:23 Fri, 22 Mar D
Chapter 79
your plate.” He shrugged, a rueful smile tugging at his lips. “It's all in the past
now. Wanna try another game?”
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I nodded, but a part of me wanted to
know more, to delve decpel iptarins
past. Ag ypysteppedlal! of the booth,
h “
I Sefibd quickly, “It must have been
” :
tough, though.” The content is on
Novelxo.org! Read the latest
chapter there!
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.”
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There was a heaviness in his words,
a weight that hinted at the m
complexities of hi Hxbeiences.
Wanfedty (ress further, to offer a
. . . )
listening ear, but Timothy's guard
seemed to have gone back up. The
content is on Novelxo.org! Read
the latest chapter there!
Visit Novelxo.org to read full content.
I 0 . »
Yeah, I guess you're right,” I said
quietly, following his lead to the other
end of the arcade. The tension still
remained, although aodidEée he!
NLS a
wasiryingHis best to hide it. The
laughter and light-hearted stories
, + 3 ,
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. The content is on
Novelxo.org! Read the latest
chapter there!
What was he hiding?