Page 121 of Off The Ice

Both Liam and the other player were throwing punches like wild while the ref just skated around them, watching.

“It’s hockey. Fights are encouraged.”

To my surprise, the roars of the crowd weren’t ones of protest—but, like Maggie said, encouragement.

“This is crazy!” I looked at her in absolute panic. “This is like The Hunger Games! You have to stop them!”

“Cassie, sit down.” She tugged me back into my seat. “Before you give yourself a heart attack.”

“I can’t watch,” I said, hiding my eyes. But somehow, not knowing what was happening was worse. Especially when the crowd “oohed” and “aahed” at things I couldn’t see.

I opened my eyes just in time to see a fist connect with Liam’s face. I imagined the crunch it made and screamed when I saw blood pour from his nose.

I covered my mouth to stifle the gasp, panic settling in my chest. The other guy had gotten his fair share of bangs and bruises, buthewasn’t bleeding the way Liam was. My hands curled into fists by my side as I watched the refs finally break it up.

“Is he going to be okay?” I frantically asked Maggie.

“It’s just a nosebleed,” Maggie said. “Trust me, he’s had worse.”

“Worse?” I asked, appalled. “Hey! Why aren’t they taking him off the ice?”

“Because the game isn’t over,” Maggie responded as if it were obvious.

“But he’s hurt!” I said, watching as they merely wiped the blood away and sent Liam back out to play.

Maggie laughed.

“I don’t know if I can keep coming to these games if it gets worse than this.”

“Protective girlfriend vibes.” Maggie nodded. “How cute.”

I didn’t bother to deny it.

The game lasted another excruciating fourteen minutes.

Thankfully, Maggie knew which hallway to bring us to that would lead us directly to Liam. She brought us to a restricted section, flashing her last name to get us past the security guards, but I didn’t even worry that we were going to get in trouble the way I usually would. I just needed to see him.

The hallway was crowded with hockey players filtering in and out, staring at Maggie and me like the intruders we were as we infiltrated the space outside their locker room.

A door opened a few dozen feet away, and Liam walked out.

“Stay cool,” Maggie said, but I was already running.

“Liam!” I called as I rushed toward him.

His eyes jerked to mine in shock, widening slightly as I moved toward him. My hand came up, reaching out to touch the bruise blooming on his face already.

“Cassie,” he breathed, leaning into the palm of my hand on his cheek.

“Oh, God.” I bit my lip. “This looks awful.”

“Not so bad,” he said, green eyes blazing into mine.

“Are you okay?” I scanned the length of him. “I was so worried. I thought that guy broke your nose.”

I fumed, anger igniting at the thought of his rival player. If I were five inches taller and one hundred and fifty pounds heavier, I would’ve let that guy have it.

“I’ve had worse.” He laughed softly.

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