Page 64 of Off The Ice

It could be the stress of the season starting and all his late-night games, but I got the feeling it had more to do withme.It was obvious I was encroaching on the territory of overstaying my welcome.

I couldn’t believe that I’d been there for almost two weeks. The time had slipped by faster than I could’ve imagined, what with the business of school and the ease I had found myself existing at Liam’s.

I had been lulled into a false sense of safety, and I think subconsciously, I didn’t want to leave it, which proved to me that I needed to be working on plans to leave immediately.

Which was what I was doing when Liam got home that night. I had the listings I’d printed out at the library days ago spread across the table, accompanied by a myriad of highlighters and colorful pens, when he walked through the door, freshly showered and smelling like bergamot and winter air.

“Hey.” I smiled up at him, determined to break the weird tension that had lingered between us the last few days.

I was sure that once he saw I was serious about getting out of his hair, we’d be able to live in relative peace again in the meantime.

“Hi,” he said, dropping his duffel bag and walking toward me.

“I wanted to tell you—”

“I wanted to ask you—”

We both spoke at the same time, immediately cutting ourselves off at the other’s voice.

I stilled, terrified he was about to tell me I’d been there too long and had to leave immediately. Right then, if possible.

I blinked up, waiting for him to continue.

He arched a brow as if waiting to see if I wanted to say my piece first.

When I didn’t speak, fear thick in my throat at the rejection about to come my way, he cleared his throat and started. A little hesitantly.

He looked nervous. Of course he did. Because he was too polite to tell me he wanted me out without feeling a little badabout it. But he shouldn’t feel bad. I was the one imposing on him.

God, I was such an idiot.

I stared at him, waiting for the blow to land.

“Um, I just wanted to see if—” He cleared his throat.

If I’d found a place yet? If I knew that it had been two weeks of my being here? If I could get the hell out of his life already?

“If?” I asked shakily, preparing an exit plan as he spoke.

“I have another home game coming up soon, and I was just going to ask if you wanted to come.”

His words froze me into silence, and my heart paused, stilling in my chest.

“You wanted to see if…” I trailed off, trying to figure out if I’d misunderstood him.

“I know you’re not into hockey,” he said, face contorting, “But I thought if you didn’t have anything else going on, you could bring Maggie and—” He cupped his neck absentmindedly. “It’s probably stupid to ask you. I knew you probably didn’t want to. I just figured I’d ask.”

His words went over my head as I jumped up and squealed.

“Yes!”

“Yes?” His face morphed into genuine shock.

“Of course I want to come!” I said, bouncing slightly on my feet. “I mean, I don’t really understand the games or the rules, but I’ve really been wanting to see you play! I’m so excited!”

Liam’s eyes flicked up to me, and I saw it.

The barely-there shift in his expression. The quiet, fleeting flicker of satisfaction. It was so small that if I hadn’t been looking, I might’ve missed it.

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