Page 22 of In His Skates

“What?” Keanu blurts out.

He’s about to blow a fuse, and I can’t let that happen. It’s not Ophelia’s fault we’re in this mess. “Paying attention to what?”

“Isn’t it obvious, dear? To each other.”

10 LEIGH

“Well, that was a colossal waste of time,” Keanu grumbles as soon as he enters the car.

I don’t offer him a retort because I’m too stunned to say anything to him. Instead, I grip the steering wheel tight and fight to get air into my lungs.

“Oh, for fuck’s sake. Are you going to pass out again? I should probably drive.”

“I’m not going to pass out,” I grit out but don’t look at him. My eyes burn from the tears forming in them. I focus on the car’s dashboard. I don’t want Keanu to see me cry even though I’m in his body.

“Then why aren’t you driving?”

I turn on the ignition and put the car in Drive. I’m shaking, but switching places with Keanu won’t do. Driving home will distract me. If I ride shotgun, I might curl into a ball and bawl my eyes out.

I can’t believe this is my life.

“Okay, we need to think of a strategy until we can figure out how to switch back to our own bodies,” Keanu continues.

“Right.”

“How long has it been since you ice skated?”

His heart clenches, but the feeling is my own. I don’t like where he’s going with this. “Why?”

“I told you I have practice this afternoon. You’ll have to go.”

“You’re insane.”

“No, this situation is insane, but here we are. We can’t stop living our lives, Leigh.”

“Fine. Are you prepared to say goodbye to your hockey career? Because that’s what will happen if I attempt to play in your place.”

“Oh, shut up. You used to be good.”

“I haven’t played in years!”

“It’s like riding a bike.”

“No, it isn’t.” I peel my eyes off the road to glare at him.

“Fine, it’s not. How about this? Grab your skates and let’s head to the arena before practice. We’ll see what we’re dealing with.”

I want to keep fighting Keanu on this, but my phone rings, interrupting my thoughts. Shit. It’s Bobbi. I forgot about him.

“You need to take that, or Bobbi will freak out.”

“What should I tell him?”

“Improvise.”

“Leigh, I’m not an actor.”

“Just do it, Keanu!”