Page 130 of Off The Ice

“Honestly, it was hard feeling like everyone here hated me, so it’ll be nice to have at least one friendly face around now.”

She paused in her steps.

“What?” She gasped. “Cassie, no! Everyone here loves you, which I guess also set me over the edge a little. Everyone raves about how you’re the most patient, kindest kindergarten teacher they’ve ever seen,” she gushed. “If anything, people think you’re a little shy, but no one hates you. In fact, everyone wishes they had a chance to get to talk to you more.”

Was that true? Had I spent my entire time at this school avoiding people I thought hated me for no reason? I could’ve spent the last few months building friendships, but I was so stuck in my head that I’d gotten in my own way.

“Come eat with us at lunch today,” she suggested with a smile. “I think everyone would like that a lot.”

“Really?” I grinned, feeling like a middle schooler who’d finally been accepted into an inner circle. “That would be—”

I paused, looking down at the belongings I carried.

“No!” I whined. “I forgot my lunch at home.”

She laughed. “That kind of day?”

“You have no idea,” I muttered under my breath.

“At least your outfit is fabulous.” She gave me the once over in a way that no longer intimidated me. “Where do you find all those cool shirts?”

I looked down at what I was wearing. A graphic tee that said “It’s okay to feel all the feels” in huge colorful block letters accompanied by a group of cartoon characters paired with lavender jeans.

“Etsy,” I told her, about to go off on a tangent about all the fun websites with teacher shirts when someone buzzed the front door we were currently passing by.

“Holy shit, is that—” Marissa started, but I was already turning to see for myself, my heart stopping when I saw him.

“Liam?” I gasped, staring at his face outside the glass window.

“Why isLiam Brynnat our school?” She looked at me with wide, excited eyes. “Dibs on being the one to let him in!” She squealed, running over to the front door while I stood frozen as a statue. Disassociating only slightly.

Marissa opened the door with quite obviously feigned nonchalance, gesturing for him to come inside.

Apparently famous hockey players didn’t require a BCI, according to Marissa’s logic.

“I’m here for,” he said, then spotted me in the crowd of teachers that had paused at the sight of Boston’s most recognizable player standing in the lobby.

He looked beautiful in his joggers and backward baseball hat, even in the harsh fluorescent lights of the school.

“Cassie.” His eyes landed on me, holding something up in his hand.

My lunchbox.

Liam was holding my pink daisy lunchbox, staring at me while the crowd of my coworkers stared at him. Everyone’s head whipped from him to me and back to him.

“You forgot your lunch,” he said, coming to stand in front of me in an easy stride. “And I know how hangry you get when you don’t eat, so I figured I’d better bring it before you burn the place down.”

“I do not,” I said, pretty sure my face was brighter than a firetruck.

“Yeah, okay.” He snorted. “And by the way, I looked inside. A quarter of a bag of crackers and a few slices of cheese isnota lunch, so I repacked it for you.”

“Not all of us are on an intense meal plan,” I retorted, comforted slightly by our easy banter, even though I was hyper-aware of people whispering around us.

“Maybe I should get you on one to make sure you’re getting sufficient nutrition,” he joked. “In fact, we’ll start tonight. I’ll make dinner.”

“Whatever you say.” I rolled my eyes. “Thanks for bringing this.” I peeked into the bag. “Liam! Who on earth eats three granola bars?” I sorted through the contents.

A yogurt. A pack of trail mix. A sandwich. The cheese and crackers. An orange, an apple,anda banana.

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