Page 7 of The Penalty Box

Evie chuckles, shaking her head at me. “You’ll do great. I believe in you.”

I believe in you.

Such a simple statement, but I can feel my heart start beating faster. Words of encouragement I didn’t even realize I needed until she uttered them, but just like always Evie knows what to say, what to do, to make me feel better.

“You still coming?”

I’m not one to pressure, but for some reason, I want her there. I want her to see me start. I want to share this moment with Evie, with my best friend, more than anybody else.

Evie’s smile grows softer. Her hand reaches forward, making me suck in a breath, and for a split second, I think she’ll do… something, I’m not even sure what. Cup my cheek? Touch my lips?Something. But all she does is push one unruly curl out of my face, her fingers barely grazing my skin, before she pulls back.

“Of course, I wouldn’t miss it for anything.”

Pulling back to her side of the bed, completely unaware of the impact her sudden nearness has on me, she picks up the book she was reading.

The silence falls over us, and although I never thought of it as uncomfortable, it’s exactly what it feels like right now. I guess I’m the only one who feels like that because Evie goes back to her cheerful self. Switching back to her stomach, she tugs a pillow underneath her chin. Her stomach grumbles loudly.

“Do you know when dinner will be ready? I’m starving!” Evie breaks the quiet, and it’s like her words push a button inside of me. Slowly, I release the breath I didn’t even realize I was holding.

She’s Evie, man. Yourbestfriend. Get a grip!

Shaking my head, I force a laugh. “Someone would think you’re the one who spent the last two hours running drills on the ice.”

Evie “accidentally” kicks me with her swaying legs. “Hey, just because you’re Mr. Hot Shot Hockey Player doesn’t mean you’re the only one who gets to claim all the food. We, mere mortals, can get hungry too.”

“There is no way I’m getting between you and your food. I learned my lesson.”

For a while we each do our own thing. I’m not sure what Evie’s reading. It could be something for school or one of those smutty books with naked dudes on the cover. With Evie, it could be either.

“Hey, Eves?” I ask after a while, breaking the silence.

“Mhmm…”

I know it’s probably the dumbest thing I could do, but I can’t help myself. No matter how hard I tried to push it away, Jack’s and Mike’s earlier words wouldn’t leave me alone. That stupid question keeps nagging at me, and I know it won’t go away if I don’t ask her.

“Ever thought about dating?”

“W-What?” she stutters the words out, a shock so big she almost falls off the bed in her haste to turn around and look at me.

I can feel my cheeks burn. “F-Forget about it.” I start to pick up my stuff.This was dumb.I have to get out of here. Like now.

“No, wait. Liam…”

Exasperated with myself, but even more with my friends for getting this shit into my head, I ask, “What?”

“Dating?” A frown appears between her brows. “Why would you ask that?”

“I-I just…” I rub my hand over my face. “It’s stupid, really. It doesn’t matter.”

“Liam…” She tries again, but just at that moment, her mom calls from downstairs.

Saved by dinner.

Although, if it’s judged by the look in her eyes, Evie isn’t about to let this go so easily.

Chapter Three

EVIE

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