Page 71 of Off The Ice

“Why would I?” Maggie’s eyes narrowed on her coworker, waiting for a valid answer to her question.

The woman’s laughter faded as if just realizing Maggie wasn’t prepared to entertain a back-and-forth with her, and then she excused herself from our presence.

“Come on,” Maggie said to me, irritation still lingering. “Let’s go talk somewhere private.”

I followed her down a hall filled with windows until she led me to a door with her name brandished on a plaque in front of it.

“Impressive,” I said, gesturing toward it.

“It’s not the NHL, but it matters to me.” She shrugged before going inside and leaning against her desk.

What the hell?

“So, why are you here, Liam?” she asked with crossed arms, apparently still pissed.

Cassie had made it sound like her anger had worn off a bit, but of course, Maggie wouldn’t have been aggressive towardher. Cassie softened people and made them forget why they were upset. Me? I just made them remember. Now it was clear whatever reunion Cassie had been hoping for was going to take a little work on my part.

“I wanted to talk about the other day,” I said, feeling stiff and awkward in Maggie’s space. The look in her eyes felt like arrows aimed at me.

“The day when you showed up at my apartment, told me I was an idiot for wanting a relationship with my father, and then left?” She stared at me unblinkingly. “Is that the day you’re referring to, Liam?”

I cleared my throat. “Yes?”

“Then talk,” she said with a resolute jut to her chin.

For fuck’s sake, the women in my life were the most stubborn ones alive.

“I handled it badly,” I admitted, the feeling of apologizing foreign in my throat. “I shouldn’t have gone off like that. It’s just… we haven’t mentioned him in years, Mags. It took me off guard. I had a knee-jerk reaction.”

“So, you’re excusing your behavior?”

“No,” I said, jaw clenching. “I’m just trying to explain why it happened.”

“And now?” she said, willing me to continue.

“Now, I wanted to tell you I’m sorry for how it happened. I didn’t mean to hurt you.”

She blinked, her hardened features smoothing away to something resembling disbelief.

“You’re… sorry?”

“Yeah. I am.”

We sat in silence, eyes locked on each other. A moment passed, then another, and then finally, Maggie let out a laugh.

“Maggie?” I asked, slightly unnerved by the reaction.

“I can’t believe it took you twenty-six years before you learned how to apologize for something,” she said, looking as if she was fighting back another giggle.

I stiffened.

“And, really, it wasn’t very good. Just so you know. But I appreciate the sentiment behind it.”

“So,” I said warily. “You’re not mad?”

“I mean.” She shrugged. “I’m a little mad, but you’re my brother. I’m not going to waste time holding a grudge against you.”

“Yeah.” I sighed in relief. I didn’t want to have any weird tension between me and Maggie, and I was suddenly relieved that Cassie had convinced me to do this.

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