Free ICE (The Benders Series) by B.T Hoax

anyway,” she changed the subject, “as long as we are here on this date type thing, we should probably take care of some big questions.” Kenna made eye contact with him as he took on a countenance of confusion. “You know, what do you like to do? What’s your family like? What are your life goals? Your job? Religion? That sort of thing.”
    He nodded his head upon understanding her point. “Well, I like sports obviously and just the basic stuff I suppose. How about you?”
    Kenna was pleased that he actually took an interest in what she had to say, unlike during their previous encounters. “I don’t know. I like to walk and to go to the beach. Well, I used to like to go to the beach anyway. Not sure what I’ll like to do up here yet. Skating is alright I suppose,” she said, seeing a smile curl around Jon’s lip at her answer. “So what about your family? Your mother seems like quite a nice lady,” she added with the usual sarcasm.
    “Well, it’s my mom and my three brothers as you’ve seen. Bryce and I are close I would say, and my mom is protective,” he replied. He could see the question on her face and quickly clarified, “My dad died in a car accident like ten years ago. But don’t worry about it, nothing I can do about it now. So how about you? Bryce says you moved up with your dad?”
    Kenna swallowed the bulge that built in her throat at his response. “Sorry about your dad,” she said. It was quiet for a few seconds. And for a brief moment, Kenna thanked God that she still had her dad. “Yes, I moved up with my father. I used to live in Jacksonville and would go back and forth between his house and my mom’s. But my mom got remarried and has three other kids now. So when my dad moved up, I decided I would go too.”
    “Why? Didn’t you have a life in Florida?” he questioned upon her response.
    “Yea, but my mom and I just didn’t see eye to eye, and I thought a change of scenery might be nice. So, here I am,” she said with a smile. “So you are nineteen? Are you still in school then?”
    “Graduate with my AA this winter. I’ve been working in the family business for a few years now though, which is why I still live with my mom,” he explained as he grabbed a hockey stick for the girl and placed a crushed pop can on the ice. “My older brothers are in the family business as well. Pays too good to leave I guess. So what are your college plans?”
    She shrugged her shoulders as she took the stick. “I don’t even know yet. I just want to get through this semester,” Kenna said with an eye roll.
    “And you’re only seventeen?” he asked as took a stand several feet away from her and passed the puck with a quick move of his stick.
    “Yup,” she said. “I know, this date is scandalous.” Kenna stopped the pop can with her skate as it glided towards her. “So how about religion?”
    He paused as he watched her rather effortlessly pass the puck back to him. “Well I believe in God if that’s what you’re asking,” he said though his sentence was a bit scattered as he was too impressed with her pass.
    “Same here,” Kenna smiled, noting how fascinated he was. “It wasn’t that great of a pass.”
    “I know,” he shot quickly to hide his amazement. “Decent for a beginner though I guess.”
    They smiled at each other, and the world truly did stop. No wind, no snow, no breath, no movement. Just perfection.
    Jon was the first to divert his gaze. “So that covers the big questions I suppose. Well, except one,” he pointed out. “What’s your idea of dating? You know like dating me?”
    Kenna laughed. “I think dating you would be…fun. But the thing is, when I date someone, it means that I’m not dating anyone else.”
    “Deal,” Jon replied with enthusiasm.
    The smile never left her face as she skated towards the Colewell. “So how about we blow this popsicle stand and get something to eat.”
    Jon smirked. “But I like popsicles.”
    Kenna shook her head.