He doesn't know how he's managed to handle this so far! He's not talking about the ice skating either. That part was easy and a simple shift of weight and balance. The praise? That was harder to take.

"I just don't want to be hurt again or put myself or anyone else in that position." He didn't want to be a bed warmer. He wanted to be a partner. And Jiang Cheng was fully aware he wasn't an easy person to get along with and everyone who had been close to him validated that with their actions.

Looking around them, he felt okay enough that he could lean in closer, squeezing Riley's hands in the process. "Can I ask you for a hug?" He doesn't, usually. CHeng prefers keeping a certain length of distance between himself and others but right now, he needed some contact. And it had nothing to do with the cold.