Page 43 of Off The Ice

“I told you, the guys are already there.” He shrugged. “It’ll be no problem.”

I stared at his profile, softly illuminated by the glow of the city outside the car. I wasn’t imagining it. He was definitely tense. But why?

I tried to focus on something—anything else, rather than being caught staring at him like a creep that he would be forced to bring home with him at the end of the night.

His car was clean with black leather seats and the unmistakable scent of Liam filling the small space.How do I know what he smells like already?But I did. He smelled like cedar and ice and cold winter mornings. It was comforting.

But for some reason, he certainly wasn’t. At that moment, he looked anythingbut.

“Liam, are you okay?” I couldn’t help but ask after a few more minutes of watching him drive with a tight jaw.

At my words, Maggie looked over to examine her brother, scanning his face for whatever she thought I had seen in it.

He looked back at me, startled as if he hadn’t expected me to notice him. But how could I not?

“I’m fine,” he said before returning his eyes to the road. Somehow, he looked a bit lighter than before.

Maybe I put him on edge. Maybe now he thinks he has to pretend.

“He’s fine,” Maggie agreed. “Liam just hates going out.”

“Why?” I asked. At the same time, Liam said, “I do not hate going out.”

“Because he gets swarmed by women. The horror.” She giggled. “Though I don’t know why anyone would try. He’s like the most unapproachable guy in the world.”

Something twisted in my stomach. I really didn’t want to spend the night watching that. Not that it was any of my business, but it would only exacerbate the feeling of loneliness in the pit of my stomach.

He scoffed but didn’t bother denying Maggie’s comment as he pulled into a parking lot that had a valet ready to take the keys from Liam.

We all got out, me fumbling awkwardly with my seatbelt while Maggie and Liam hovered, waiting for me.

“Are you cold?” Liam frowned, looking down at the outfit Maggie had picked out for me.

“It’s fine,” I lied. “We’ll be inside in a minute anyway.”

“Come on!” Maggie pulled me toward the door, leaving Liam trailing after us with his hands in his pockets.

As soon as we got inside, the stench of alcohol hit me, and I wished we hadn’t come at all. It was dark, loud, and, most of all, crowded.

Music boomed from every corner as bodies swayed under the dim lights. Maggie looked dazed, staring in each direction. I’d known since college she was a partier, but my party days had started and ended with that infamous night when I first met her.

Now, I wrapped my arms around my body, feeling totally out of my element.

“Come on,” Liam said, as I felt his hand come up to my lower back. “Let’s go find the guys.”

My body tingled from the sensation of Liam’s guiding hand, but I mentally reminded myself that it was only there so I wouldn’t get lost in the crowd.

I focused on anything else, taking note of how many people, inebriated states and all, stopped in their tracks to stare at Liam.

“Brynn!” multiple guys called out, attempting to stagger their way toward him.

But he was quicker. As if practiced, he had us lost deeper in the crowd before they could get to him.

“Huge fan, man.” Another drunken guy attempted to dab him up as we passed by.

“Liam Brynn,” A girl cooed, reaching out as if to grab him and steal him away.

I bristled, immediately uncomfortable by the audacity of people. I knew we were in the Harbor Wolves’ home city, but I found myself shocked by how recognized he was in the darkness of a bar. And what surprised me more was how he didn’t pay them any mind. Like he wasusedto it.

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