Page 49 of Off The Ice

Chronically single? Ouch.

“You know this how?”

“Rumors.” She shrugged. “The internet.”

“Well, the rumors are wrong. Because like I said, I have a girlfriend.”

It came out more easily than I would’ve thought.

Changing tactics, I decided to avoid eye contact with her entirely, putting my focus back on the stage where they were now transitioning into the chorus ofGives You Hell.

Maggie was sloppily singing, but Cassie was grinning from ear to ear despite her friend’s obvious drunkenness.

“Is that her?” the girl’s poisonous voice declared.

My back stiffened as I looked over to find her attention fixed solely on Cassie, who was now staring back at us with a watchful look on her face.

“No offense,” I said, mustering up as much offensiveness as I could. “But please leave me alone.”

The girl, persistent in her mission to work me into a rage, continued. “I haven’t seen her in any of your pictures,” she retorted.

I didn’t know if she meant the paparazzi photos or the social media account that the team media manager ran for me, but either way, she was bordering on stalker territory.

I stood from my seat, realizing that the girl wouldn’t be the one to walk away first. Grabbing Cassie’s bag that she’d left in her seat, I made my way through the crowd, away from her.

Cassie and Maggie were getting off the stage in a fit of laughter as I moved toward the stage.

“Hey,” Cassie said as I approached them.

Maggie was so close to her that she was almost leaning on her for support, sweat glistening on her brow from the exertion of their performance.

“Having fun?” I raised my brows with a smirk.

She blushed, hiding behind her hands. “I hope you didn’t watch any of that.”

“Oh, I saw all of it,” I confirmed smugly.

“We did great, huh?” Maggie giggled. “I never knew we could harmonize like that. We should totally sign up for community theater together.”

“Oh, God, no,” Cassie blurted, but Maggie had already moved on to her next thought.

With an arm around Cassie’s neck and her other one attempting to reach up toward mine, she pulled us toward her.

“Awww,” she cooed. “My best friend and my brother. We’re all out together. How fun is this!”

She ended with a squeal that had me grabbing the ear that was in closest proximity to her.

“Easy, Maggie,” I said through a wince.

“And look, Liam,” she continued, letting go of Cassie to put both her hands on my shoulders. “You’re smiling! I haven’t seen you smile in so long! No, I haven’tseenyou in so long.” Her face contorted into devastation. “Why do you always want to be alone?”

I shifted uncomfortably, unsure what to say back to my sister, whom I had never known wanted to spend time with me.

I didn’t mean to neglect her. She was always off living her life, doing her own thing. She never needed me. Or so I thought.

“How much did you have to drink in the hour we’ve been here?” I asked, examining her.

That sent her into another fit of giggles.

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