Page 123 of Off The Ice

“I didn’t mean it like that.” I sighed.

“It’s fine,” he said, a wall going up between us.

“It’s just that I’m embarrassed,” I admitted,

“Embarrassed?” His whole demeanor changed, going from closed off to perplexed in seconds. “Of what?”

“Of my mom,” I said, stepping closer to him to shield myself because somewhere along the way,hehad become my safe harbor, and I found solace in his touch.

Even though he was upset with me, he still took me in his arms, letting me hide against his chest as he questioned.

“Your mom?” His voice sounded confused. “Why would you be embarrassed about her?”

“She can be aggressive. And blunt. And sometimes really rude. But other times, she’s fine.” I groaned. “I don’t know. It’s complicated. I just never know how she’s going to be, so it’ll make me more anxious bringing you into that situation when I don’t even know what to expect from her.”

“She’s not a reflection of you, Cassie,” he said softly, hands running through my hair. “She could set my car on fire, and I wouldn’t hold it against you in the slightest, okay?”

I snorted at his dramatics. “That’s only because you have like a million dollars to afford a new one.”

“Well, yeah. That helps.” He laughed, and I could picture his eyes rolling as he said it. “So, will you let me take you? Please?”

I couldn’t fathom it. That Liam Brynn, who had just been a superstar on the ice, whose face had just been blown up on a Jumbotron while thousands of people cheered for him, was asking to be part of my messy life.

“Fine,” I relented, sagging against him. “But don’t get scared off by her if she’s acting up. I promise I won’t let her hurt you.” I meant it to be teasing but also sort of a warning.

Dave had only ever met my mother a handful of times in our six-year relationship, and those few times had been too much for him. I couldn’t bear the thought of Liam taking off because of something my mom said or did in his presence.

But Liam apparently didn’t know the extent of what she could be like. I had explained it to him, but that was different than seeing it in person.

“The only woman who can hurt me is you,” he said as casually as if it were something he said every day. “Besides, I already took a few hits tonight. What’s a couple more?”

Chapter Forty-One

Liam

I’d never been much of a fan of hospitals. For me, every time I’d been there was for some hockey injury I’d gotten growing up, which, at the time, always served to remind me that one bad injury could put me out of the game forever.

But watching Cassie walk into the hospital to go pick up her mom reminded me just how lucky I’d had it. I hadn’t dealt with any serious injuries or diseases. The most I’d gotten in my life was a broken bone.

But Cassie? I’d gotten the feeling she’d been through this all before. And it put things into perspective about how good I’d had it without ever knowing.

My eyes were glued on the door the entire time since Cassie went in. She had insisted that I wait in the car, and though Iwanted to be with her every step of the way, I couldn’t begrudge her that request. Not when she’d already let me drive her here.

When they came out together, I stilled. Her mother looked shockingly like Cassie, same blue eyes, same blond hair—but the resemblance only served to make the differences all the more jarring.

Cassie’s mother looked weathered in a way that had nothing to do with age. Her face was hollow, her body gaunt. Her skin had a jaundice to it that was painful to look at. One look at this woman, and it was obvious that she’d spent years fighting a battle against her own body.

It was difficult to see her and not imagine how much it pained Cassie every time she looked at her mother. I couldn’t imagine looking at my mother and knowing that everything that was wrong with her was her own doing.

They approached the car, and I panicked. Did I get out of the car to help them? Did I stay in so it didn’t look like I thought they needed my help?

Shit, I didn’t know what to do. I’d never met a girl’s parents before. Especially not under circumstances like these.

After a moment’s hesitation, I unbuckled my seatbelt, choosing to lean against the car as they approached.

“Hi,” I said, feeling awkward as hell when I didn’t know how to address her.

Cassie’s mom paused in her tracks, looking at me warily and then at Cassie with furrowed brows.

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