Page 37 of Off The Ice

Was I? Now that I thought about it, I realized I sort of had been. There was no one I’d even entertained the idea of in the last few years. No one interested me enough to think about them that way.

“I’m not against relationships,” I said, picking my bag up and slinging it over my shoulder.

“Right, like, for other people.”

“No. For me,” I corrected.

Brody laughed. “Yeah, okay, Mr.I-Reject-Anyone-Who-Comes-Near-Me.”

“I just hadn’t met the right person,” I said before realizing my word choice.

Brody’s eyes widened, but I rushed to correct myself.

“I haven’t yet, but that doesn’t mean I never want it.”

“So, do you?”

I thought about it. The idea of one person by my side, doing life with me, sharing private moments with just the two of us.

I could never imagine it before because everyone had always wanted something from me. They’d never liked me in any real way.

Cassie wasn’t like that… and with her, I got to feel what it would be like to have someone at home, to sit on the couch with, or have coffee in the morning with…

What the fuck is wrong with you?I scolded myself when I realized where my train of thought had landed.You don’t even know her, and she’s reeling from a serious breakup.

It wasn’t Cassie that I was fantasizing about, I realized. It was just because she was the first normal girl I’d met who wasn’t after me because I was a hockey player. And she was sweet and shy and kind.

I couldn’t lie to myself and say she was nothing to me. Ididenjoy being in her presence. And I liked the way she blushed or stammered when she was embarrassed. It was cute.

Friends,I thought suddenly.This must be what it’s like to have a girl for a friend.

That explained why I felt a warm fondness at the sight or even the thought of her. It wasn’t anything else but that. And there was nothing wrong with being a friend to someone who had been through a lot.

“Liam?” Brody’s voice interrupted my inner monologue.

“What?”

“I asked if you wanted that because I have plenty of girls I could set you up with.” He beamed, his face animated as he schemed. “Are you just secretly shy? Do you need a wingman? Because I could be a great wingman.”

“No, Brody.” I sighed. “I don’t need a wingman.”

“But you just said—”

“I meant that I’m not opposed to it if it happens. But I’m never going to be hanging around bars trying to pick up women.”

“But that’s the beauty of being you!” Brody exclaimed. “You don’t have to try to pick up women. They’ll be throwing themselves at you.”

The very thought of it made me cringe.

“Hard pass,” I said, itching to get out of this conversation and, more importantly, this whole arena.

“You’re killing me, Brynn.” He groaned. “Sending me out all on my own.”

“You mean all on your own with half the guys on the team?”

“But no one gets me the way you do,” he feigned protest. “Man, you having a girlfriend now sucks.”

“I don’t have a girlfriend.”

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