Page 113 of Off The Ice

“What you’re suggesting would require declaring her legally incompetent,” he said cautiously. “That’s a long legal process, involving lawyers, court orders—”

I felt defeat wash over me. I didn’t have money for lawyers. I didn’t know if we even had time for that. With the route she was going, she was a few binges away from drinking herself to death.

“Please,” I begged to no one in particular.

I was so broken. So angry. At her, at the world, at the unfairness of it all. And most of all, so completely and utterly out of control.

“I’m so sorry,” the doctor said sympathetically. “But, it’s not your job to save your mother,” he said, as if this would relieve the burden from me.

As if anything would.

“We’ll keep you informed of any change to her condition,” The doctor said, but was cut off by a voice calling a name.

My name.

“Cassie?” Liam’s voice was searching, “Cassie!”

I turned and saw Liam on the other side of the corridor, calling out for me.

“Liam?” I breathed out, the floodgates of emotion I’d been trying to hold back opening at the sight of him.

Still dressed in his suit, he looked so out of place in the dingy gray of the hospital lights. He was the most beautiful man I’d ever seen.

I felt it when our eyes locked, even from a distance, I saw the relief in his eyes when his gaze finally landed on me.

He said my name again and started toward me, but I was already running in his direction, every instinct in my body telling me to just get to him.

Tears were streaming down my face now, but I didn’t care. All I knew was that I was throwing myself at Liam, and his arms were open and ready to catch me by the time I got there.

“Liam,” I cried against his chest, feeling the weight of his arms lock around me.

“It’s okay, baby,” he said, his chin coming down atop my head.

I couldn’t see or hear or feel anything except Liam’s body around mine, as if he was shielding me from everything happening around me.

“It’s all my fault,” I sobbed, knowing he probably didn’t have a clue what was going on or why I was even here, just knowing I needed him in that moment more than I’d ever needed anything.

“Nothing’s your fault. Shhh.” His arms wrapped impossibly tighter, and he sounded so strong and certain.

“Everything’s a mess.”

“We’ll fix it,” he said, and I clung to him even tighter.

“You’re okay,” he reassured me, and I felt his lips come down hard against the side of my head. “You’re fine.”

I didn’t know why I was falling apart like this in his arms. Maybe it was the feeling of safety that I finally found in his arms after all this time. I knew I could let myself fall apart as long as he was here to hold the pieces together.

“You need to breathe, baby. Okay?”

In a swift movement, he lifted me off the ground and carried us over to the hospital bench. I clung to his neck as he lowered us down, his hands moving my hair back from my face.

I knew how I must look. Blotchy-faced and red-eyed, but I didn’t care because I knewhedidn’t care. There was no judgment coming from him. Just concern.

I was vaguely aware that people were staring at him, but I don’t even think he noticed.

He was just here with me. Like I was the only thing that mattered.

“What’s going on, Cassie?” he asked so softly it hurt.

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