Page 46 of Off The Ice

“No,” I admitted almost shamefully. “I never have.”

“Why?” he asked softly. “Not that you need a reason not to. But is there one?”

“Uh,” I said hesitantly. “I guess I figured my entire family drinks enough to make up for the fact I don’t.” I chucklednervously. “In fact, even if I wanted to, there probably wouldn’t be any left for me if they were around.”

He nodded as if understanding. But I was sure he didn’t. He couldn’t. Not the full extent of it, at least.

“I always thought it was overrated anyway,” he said, changing the topic to himself in a way he must’ve known I wanted.

Somehow, he was able to pick up on little cues from me. Knowing when I was uncomfortable, tired, or cold, without me having to say anything at all.

“I mean, if you need to be drunk to have fun, then maybe it’s more of a you problem.”

“Right!” I exclaimed, practically jumping from my seat. I settled back down, embarrassed, before continuing, “I mean, like, why can’t we do anything else besides go to a bar? The bookstore, or the beach, or whale watching—”

“Whale watching?” He smirked. “Do you want to go whale watching, Cassie?”

“I’m not opposed to it.” I made a face at him. “I’m just saying that there aresomany things to do, but all anyone in our age bracket wants to do is get drunk.”

“Well, don’t worry,” he said. “I’ll take you whale watching, and we can freeze our sober asses off on some boat in the middle of the ocean.”

“Yeah, it’s getting a little cold for it,” I agreed. “More of a springtime activity.”

“That’s a better plan. We’ll go then instead.”

I smiled, not wanting to break the comfort of the joke to remark on how we probably wouldn’t really know each other better by the time spring came around. Certainly won’t be onhanging outterms by then, but it felt nice to share a moment with someone.

Cue Maggie.

“Why are you looking at each other like that?”

She looked between us suspiciously.

“We weren’t!” I rushed to defend, though I was sure that the blush covering my cheeks made me look a lot guiltier than I was.

Liam, for his part, looked pissed.

I didn’t know how he could do that. Look so soft and open one moment and totally hardened and closed off the next.

“Don’t mind my sister. She’s always been nosy,” Liam said, but I noticed the way his chair was pushed slightly farther than it had been.

“It’s not being nosy when it’s my best friend and brother,” she countered before pulling on my arm. “Come on, I need you.”

“For what?” Liam and I said at the same time.

“Karaoke!” she squealed.

“Noooo.” I resisted her tugging. “No, no, no. I think I’ve been humiliated enough for this week.”

“It’s not humiliating!” she whined. “It’sfun.And I’ll let you pick the first song.”

I scanned around the room, noticing how engaged people were in their own conversations. I was sure no one would pay us any mind, and if they did, they’d probably be too drunk to remember.

“Fine,” I said, letting her pull me off my seat. “But we’re doing ABBA.”

“I knew you’d say that.” She sighed as if in disappointment, but the smirk on her face was all-encompassing.

“Save our seats for us,” she called over her shoulder to Liam, who was watching with a smirk of his own before she pulled me away toward the stage.

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