Page 78 of Off The Ice

“I’ve taken worse than that before.” I tried to joke, but the words came out breathy.

“Well, I hope I never have to see it. That was enough for me.”

I didn’t notice the way Brody and Maggie had put some distance between us while Cassie was talking. How could I notice anything when she was lighting up my peripheral? Now the pair of them were far enough away that I couldn’t overhear their conversation. Fine by me.

Cassie stared at them wistfully, both of us watching as Brody spoke to Maggie with a grin on his face. “He likes her, doesn’t he?”

“Yeah,” I admitted. “I think he does a lot.”

“That’s perfect.” Her eyes practically turned to hearts as she gushed. “Maggie deserves it. I think she likes him, too. Even though she wouldn’t admit it.”

I took the moment she was distracted, staring off at them, to fully take her in. Her cheeks were flushed from the cold, her hair was falling down in wisps around her face, and she looked so beautiful. More beautiful than any girl I’d ever seen, that was for sure.

I didn’t know how she could be both. So sweet, so kind, and absolutely stunning at the same time. It was enough to throw a man off-kilter. Maybe enough to make him even enjoy the disorientation.

Not good.That pesky voice said.Not good at all.

I cleared my throat.

“Hey, um, do you need a ride home tonight?” I asked, stupidly hoping she’d say yes.

Her eyes widened, turning to face me.

“Oh, no.” She shook her head. “It’s okay. Maggie said she’d bring me.”

Yeah, but last time she left somewhere with Maggie, it wasn’t my house she ended up back at.

How the hell was I annoyed with my sister for hogging her friend? It wasn’t as if Cassie actually wanted to spend any time with me. Of course she’d want to be with her actual friend. But still, I asked.

“Are you sure? If you stick around for a bit, I can try to wrap things up quickly back there.” I gestured my head toward the direction of the locker rooms I’d fled from.

I knew I’d have to be getting back soon. Coach would blow a gasket if he couldn’t find me, knowing all of the reporters would want to harass me about game interviews.

“Well, if you’re sure,” Cassie said, tugging at her sleeves. “It would be easier, so Maggie doesn’t have to go out of her way.”

I didn’t know why she got like that sometimes. At first, I thought it was just me because she didn’t know me. But even with Maggie, she was still always talking about herself as if she were a burden that needed to be endured. I didn’t understand it, and I didn’t like it at all.

“Maggie wouldn’t care,” I assured her, staring down at her intently. “But I do want to drive you home, so I hope you’ll wait for me.”

“You do?” Her eyes met mine warily.

My breath caught.

“Yeah, I do.”

“Okay,” she said, a faint smile tugging at her lips.

“That’s if you can fit in my car,” I teased, tugging the end of her scarf. “You look like one of us with all that padding on.”

With her pink puffer jacket over her thick sweater, her earmuffs, and fully mittened hands, she looked puffy enough to survive a few body checks on the ice.

A laugh bubbled out of her, and I wished I could bottle up the sound and keep it forever. It made me want to have a thousand funny lines at my disposal so I could summon the noise from her whenever I wanted.

“Well, if you find any hockey teams who use the color pink in their jerseys, send them my way. That’s definitely something I could get on board with.”

“No.” I shook my head playfully at her. “I don’t think I want to see you in any other team’s jersey.”

Hell, I didn’t want to see her in any ofmyteam’s jerseys unless it was my last name she was wearing.

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