Page 137 of Off The Ice

Shut the fuck up.I told my head, knowing I was getting way too ahead of myself.

It’s like I was driving a car, and I’d pulled Cassie into the passenger seat and superglued my foot to the gas pedal.

In other words, I needed to chill the fuck out.

“That’s because I already know everything.” I aimed for light-hearted banter, desperate to mask the route my thoughts had taken.

“I don’t doubt that you do.” She grinned and then paused in front of the long dining room table.

I pulled out a chair for her, letting her settle into it before sitting in the one beside her.

Maggie slid down into the one on the other side of her, grinning at Cassie as if she were the long-lost sister she’d always wished for when we were kids.

“This is so fun that you’re here,” Maggie chirped as if she were having a sleepover. “You’re going to need to be at every Brynn holiday from now on, just so you know.”

On that, we were in total agreement.

“I don’t know about that.” Cassie laughed. “You don’t think it’s weird that I’m here with all your family?”

“I’d rather have you here than him.” Maggie pointed to me with the fork she’d picked up.

“Thanks, Mags.” I huffed out a laugh.

But what I really took note of was the way Cassie fit in between us so naturally. My sister’s friend and my… what? I had to know. We couldn’t exist in this weird limbo anymore.

Especially not after today, when I saw that look in her eyes. The one that gave me hope there might be a chance for us after all.

“Before we all start eating,” my mother’s voice pulled me from my thoughts and toward the end of the table where she sat, “I just wanted to get everyone’s attention to thank you all for coming again. I know everyone has their own busy lives going on, so it really means a lot to have the family together like this for a meal. Especially my busy children who are living their lives in the city, far away from their mother, who misses them dearly.” She dabbed at her eye, apparently already emotional.

“Mom, you literally were living with me for the last three months.” Maggie rolled her eyes over the table, sending the relatives into a chorus of laughter.

“Well, I’ll miss you all the more now that I’m here by myself,” Mom defended. “Okay, okay. Everyone eat. And if you don’t like it, pretend that you do to spare my feelings.”

The table sounded with the clinking of silverware against plates, and arms were moving haphazardly as everyone reached for food across the table.

While everyone was caught up in conversation, I let myself look at her. Really look at her without any preconceptions.

I watched the way the glow from the chandelier caught in her hair, turning the ends of those curls golden. The way her blue eyes, which I loved so much, went soft when she was listening, sharp when she was amused. I noticed how every emotion she felt could play across her face in such a distinctlyCassieway.

And then she turned, looking up at me with a smile that made me know for certain.

Whatever it took, whatever I had to do, I would do it to make sure that Cassie sitting next to me like this wasn’t something temporary.

Chapter Forty-Six

Cassie

Everything felt strangely like home.

With Dave’s family, I always felt distinctly other. As if they knew at any second, he might get rid of me and treated me as such. Hey, maybe they had known all along. They even kept me out of the family photos, even though I would’ve sworn up and down that we were going to be together forever.

Well, I guess they made the right call.

But here?

I didn’t feel as out of place as I feared I would. No one treated me like I was this weird intruder crashing the family party.

And I was sandwiched between Liam and Maggie, who were the two people I loved most in the world.

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