Page 12 of Off The Ice

At least I could do this one good thing, to make someone else’s life a little easier. It didn’t matter that my space would be taken up for a little bit. I could handle it.

I stayed in the kitchen late, listening to her pad around, the presence of someone else in the apartment feeling strangely foreign. I’d guarded my privacy so fiercely for years that I guess I’d forgotten what it was like to have someone around.

And really, it wasn’t the worst thing in the world to give her a few weeks to find somewhere else.

But for just a few weeks, I was sticking to that. Because no matter how endearing she was with those big blue eyes, I couldn’t afford to let a stranger disrupt the life I’d worked so hard to keep in order.

And something told me her presence would be no small thing.

Chapter Five

Cassie

I’d like to think of myself as a hopeless romantic—the kind who dreams of someone catching one glimpse of me, falling head over heels, and vowing to spend forever by my side.

Which, in retrospect, might explain why everyone who knows me always strongly advised against one-night stands. Apparently, they didn’t always come with that happily-ever-after guarantee I’d been chasing.

That was why, when I found myself trying to sneak out of a man’s apartment for the first time in my life, it came as no surprise that I was awful at it.

But, considering our less-than-stellar first meeting last night, I figured it would be for the best for Liam to see as little of me as possible.

Hence, the sneaking out before the sun had even risen, as if I were some sorority girl trying to make it back to her dorm. It wasn’t exactly the walk of shame you heard about in movies, but after the way I blubbered in front of a total stranger, there was definitely a heavy amount of mortification involved.

I’d set my alarm for the earliest hours of the morning, showered, and put the clothes Liam had given me back on to wear for my early morning trek across the city.

Despite his state-of-the-art flooring, the wooden panels still threatened to expose me with every tiptoed step I took. Even the door let out a groan as I pushed it open to make my escape.

“Please don’t wake up.” I winced, slinging my bag against my shoulder.

I didn’t know what Liam did for work or what time he had to be there, but I figured that no one would want to be woken up at five in the morning by their regrettable roommate creeping around their house. Especially when they were used to being alone.

Holding my breath, I continued my descent down the stairs, counting every step to the bottom until I finally reached the landing and threw my hands up in silent victory.

“Good morning,” Liam’s voice cut through the silence, and my head snapped toward it fast enough to hurt.

Perched in nearly the same spot I’d left him the night before, Liam leaned against the counter, sipping coffee with a neutral expression.

I might’ve wondered if he’d slept at all if not for the damp hair and fresh t-shirt that suggested he’d already been up for a while.

“No!” I groaned pathetically. “What are you doing up?”

He raised a brow. “Should I not be?”

“Well, I mean, no! It’s five thirty in the morning!” I said, dropping my bag to the floor. So much for tiptoeing around all morning.

“You say this as you’re standing here, clearly awake,” he retorted, staring me up and down. “Unless you have some sleepwalking issues I should know about?”

I most certainly didnot.

“Did I wake you up?”

“No. Were you trying to?”

“No, I wasn’t!” I countered, slightly insulted.

“So, what’s the issue?” he asked, sipping from his coffee mug. Coffee that smelled miraculously enticing.

“The issue is.” I stared at the cup longingly. “I was supposed to be gone before you woke up! You know, like I was never here.”

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