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Looking up at Madoc, I actually gulped through my smile "I love you," I said in a shaky voice

He winked in his oh-so-sexy way, telling me he’d take that as a thank-you

"I’ll use this one," Lucas called out, grabbing the never-been-used board

"Oh, no" I snatched it from him "This one’s for you" I held out the ratty, torn-up one with the traction nearly worn away

He stuck out his top lip, taking the board froraduate," I explained "Got it?"

He nodded and took the board while I grabbed the new one Madoc sla one I looked at hi," he ripped the board at , "Great"

"Lucas," Madoc called, and we both turned around "Put these on"

Madoc tossed hi with pads and a helmet, and I tried to contain ether like he ay too cool for protective gear, but I was i

Was he like this years ago? Or had he grown up after I’d left? I searchedtimes he’d drink my Snapples to pissnored raot classrooross poe

Addie was right Madoc picked up the pieces

"Lucas" I set my board down on the sidewalk and ruffled his blond hair "Have you ever skated before?"

"Not yet But I want to do that!" He pointed down into the bowl as we stood near the edge He already had his helet in there today," I assured hi it down next to mine "But it’ll take a lot of practice before you’re ready to go fast Let me show you the first steps Do you knohich one is your front foot?"

The blood flowing through lad Lucas was here Madoc sat down, ar over the back of the bench as he watched us OrLucas here meant I wasn’t the center of attention Madoc should’ve just told ain without an audience

But he knewpushed

"Front foot?" Lucas looked confused as he lifted one foot and then set it down to lift the other, unsure

I so and walk up those stairs over there" I pointed up the sidewalk

"Why?"

"Just do it," I ordered withhis arms back and forth as he walked up the path

As soon as he raised a foot on the first step, I yelled "Stop!"

He halted, keeping his left foot raised and wobbling as he looked back at me

"That’s your front foot," I told hione back over to his car and left the doors open so we could hear music Method Man’s "All I Need" vibrated out, andLucas bob his head like the teenage boy he wasn’t This song was older than Madoc andout loud

"Okay" I bent down and pointed to his feet "Your front foot goes toward the top of the board, and your back one goes on the tail"

He did as he was told, and I watched as he cliht My feet started hu for the feel of , turn your front foot forward and push off with your tail foot When you put both feet back on, turn theain"

He wasted no tione He’d turned his front foot forward, at least as far as I could tell, since his black pants were so long his shoes were nearly covered At least he looked like a skater

Pushing off with his tail foot, he touched ground ti his speed

His arms flailed, and I tensed

"Whoa," he yelped, and I watched as he sturass

I let out the breath I was holding and looked back to Madoc

He shrugged and shook his head "He’s going to fall, Fallon Relax"

Madoc’s outstretched ar on the dips and curves of his biceps and triceps in his short-sleeved, heather gray T-shirt The wide, toned expanse of his chest, I reertips Madoc was hard and soft in all of the right places, andhi every inch of his skin

With oil Lots and lots of oil

"Fallon"