On Thin Ice: First Skate

You met each other briefly through mutual friends at a Winter festival not so long ago and decided to test the waters a little and go on a first date at the local Christmas market, with an ice rink, stalls of gifts and hot drinks to match.

He’s very far from your usual type, a pro ice hockey player, number 8 on the back of his center forward Bay City Blizzard jersey. He’s kinda cocky, loves bantering with you and getting it back twice as hard but you can tell there’s a sweet underbelly to him too.

Your Dad always warned you against dating athletes and especially hockey players, he’d know, he was one. Athletes have always been kinda boring and underwhelming for you because of how much your Dad blabbed on about the topic and you figured you’d never end up anywhere near one. He’s over-protective as hell but maybe he was right about that in a general sense.

It starts off as a bit of a silly, very improvised date but before the night is done you’re back at his place, learning more about him and yourself as you help decorate his tree. You’ve always had a hard time believing relationships were anything other than seasons, just temporary flings that never really led anywhere for you as schedules changed.

After so many bad dates from the apps and guys who only wanted a fling, it’s left you more than a little cynical. But maybe, just maybe, this one can be different…