Page 31 of Off The Ice

Damnit,I thought.Did she feel uncomfortable being there? Did she think I resented her presence?

I wouldn’t blame her if she did. I certainly hadn’t welcomed her in that first night. But I didn’t resent it anymore, and I’d told her that. I was happy to help while she found her footing again.

“Okay, she just texted back that she’s coming,” Maggie said in the silence of my contemplation.

“Great,” I responded as if my heart hadn’t done a tumble at those words.

“Why did you move the key anyway?” she asked.

“I don’t know.” I tried to shrug her off. “Why does it matter?”

“I’m just curious why you moved a key that’s been in the same spot since the day you moved in?” she asked.

“It’s just a privacy concern,” I responded. “You know how many people try to get in when I’m not there.”

“Well, it wasn’t a big privacy concern before,” she countered, and I could picture the look on her face on the other side of the line.

“Yeah, well, that’s when it was just me living there.”

“Meaning?”

“Meaning, I’m not going to leave a key to my apartment that anyone can use to let themselves in when I have a girl living with me. It’s just not safe.”

In Maggie’s silence, I mentally chastised my word choice.

“Staying,” I corrected quickly, running a hand through my hair. “A girl staying with me. Not living.”Definitely not living.

“Aww,” Maggie gushed dramatically. “Is Liam being protective over his little sister’s friend?”

“No,” I said in a clipped tone. “It’s just common courtesy. I wanted her to feel safe.”

Wanted her tobesafe. I wasn’t going to chance some crazy fans being able to get in when she was there inside the apartment. It didn’t matter as much when it was just me. I was more than capable of calling security or escorting unruly fans out myself, but I wasn’t going to chance that with Cassie there.

“Awww,” she repeated in a sickening tone. “Youcare!”

“It’s just practical!” I responded, getting worked up. “Have you seen the girl? She’s so tiny. I don’t want any creepy, hockey-obsessed guys to break in while she’s there.”

“You looooove her,” Maggie droned on.

“Shut up, Maggie.” I groaned.

“Awwwww, you’re not even denying it!” she squealed into my ear, causing me to hold it away from my face while I recovered from the high decibels.

“Well, I don’t!” I responded gruffly. “I didn’t think I’d have to say that to you. I don’t even know her. It’s just a favor foryou,in case you forgot.”

“Calm down, I was kidding,” she said, still laughing. “She’ll be there in fifteen minutes.”

“Okay,” I bit out. “Bye, Maggie.”

“Bye,loverboy.”

I hung up to the sound of her snickering down the line.

Little fucking sisters, man. They were a guy’s worst nightmare.

Chapter Thirteen

Cassie

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