Page 98 of Off The Ice
“Why would I want to do that?” Cassie asked teasingly. “You told me all hockey boys are sluts.”
I reared back.
“Her words.” Cassie held her hands up in defense. “Not mine!”
“I’m personally offended.” Brody held a hand to his heart and winced. “I can’t believe you would say that, Mags.”
My thoughts were still reeling, wondering why my sister was hellbent on ruining my fucking life by trying to set Cassie up with random men.
“Oh, you all know it’s true.” Maggie rolled her eyes. “But come on, we’re going to be late!”
She tugged on Brody’s arm with a familiarity I hadn’t seen her display with any other guy.
“I’ll drive?” Brody chirped over his shoulder, looking all too pleased to be led away by my sister.
“Yeah fucking right.” I snorted but still felt stiff and uncomfortable at the prospect of the night before us.
The last thing I needed was to be driven around to an event I didn’t want to go to, where every guy in attendance would be trying to steal Cassie away while my sister fucking helped.
Driving gave me a sense of control. It kept me focused and calm. And I knew I’d always have a way out if I felt the need to leave.
Besides, Brody was a shit driver.
We walked behind Maggie and Brody, Cassie by my side, but even that wasn’t enough to calm me. Not when she looked so beautiful, it hurt to think about it.
As always, she seemed to know exactly how I was feeling. It was like her own superpower.
“Don’t worry,” she said teasingly, her hand coming up to touch my arm lightly, and I swear to God that little touch was enough to ignite me completely.
“Worry?”
“About what Maggie said. You don’t have to worry about that.”
“I don’t?” I asked, shoulders loosening in relief.
“Of course not. I’m your girl for the night,” she said, winking before turning to climb into the passenger seat.
For the night.
It wasn’t enough.
Not at all.
Chapter Thirty-Three
Cassie
Iwas in way over my head.
I didn’t realize it until the cameras were flashing, and I was clutching onto Liam’s arm as if it were a life raft in the middle of the sea of panic I was currently treading.
Liam had warned me about the cameras. In fact, he’d seemed so concerned about them that I started to worry he didn’t want any permanent connection to me, like the kind that happened when photos went online. But I told him it was fine, and it was. The issue wasn’t me having to pretend to be into him, but the worry I had thathewouldn’t be able to pretend withme.
I kept my head down, noticing how Maggie and Brody had no such reservations as they pranced on ahead of us.
“Hey.” Liam’s head came down until he was level with my ear. “You’re doing great. It’ll be a lot calmer once we get inside.”
I stared up at him, grateful for the way he was leaning into me, keeping me calm as we walked into the Fairmont Hotel. And that was when a photographer leaped right in front of us, snapping a photo.
