Page 19 of Forbidden Puck
“Youliedto me, Lance!”
He played dumb. “What do you mean?”
“You only invited me out here to decorate your place! You know you could've justaskedme to, right? I would've done it! I would've been happy to do it! Butno,all because . . .”
I watched, wide-eyed, as Ella berated her brother and jammed an angry finger into his sternum again and again. The tops of her breasts swayed from side to side in her tank-top. No—I still wasn't looking, and I wasn't ever going to. But it'd be impossible not to notice that they were there.
In fact, after our close call, I vowedneverto look at Ella like that or be alone with her again.Shit,we'd come so close to making such a hugemistake. If I'd actually gone ahead and kissed that girl? If Lance walked in on us kissing? It could very well be the end of my hockey career.
I couldn't believe how close I'd come to betraying not only Lance, but also myself. Was that really all it took? A couple drinks, a few laughs, a little closeness? I'd throw my whole life away that easily?
The hell's wrong with me?
Meanwhile, the brother and sister feud continued. Lance pleaded his case, but he didn't sound very convincing.
“That's not theonlyreason I invited you. You're my sister! And uh, I love you! I told you, it's been way too long since we've hung out!”
“Oh, bullshit, Lance. You lied about this just like you lie about everything else.”
“I didn't lie about anything!”
“Yes you did. Lying by omission isstilla lie,” Ella griped at her brother, her voice like a honeyed growl. She might have been his little sister, but there certainly wasn't anything fragile about her.
“Oh, come on! Now you're expanding the definition of a lie to include things Ihaven'tsaid?” Lance complained.
“What if I had to cancel plans with friends to come out here?”
“Friends?You?Yeah, right!”
I smacked my forehead.Yeah, that's not how you defuse this situation, bud.
“Asshole!” Ella slugged Lance on the shoulder with a hard right.
“Ow!” Lance yelped, rubbing his shoulder. “Besides, I thought you'd be happy to do it. You're always telling me how much you love your job, right? And to be honest with you, I think youoweme this. I put you through school, after all—and a pretty pricey one at that! Not that I ever get any thanks for it …”
“I have too thanked you! I thanked you every time you paid my tuition! I wrote a huge letter when I graduated about how thankful I was! You want me to thank you again?Thank you, Lance! Thank you!Now how about you thank me for all the sacrificesIhad to make for your hockey career?”
“Youmade sacrifices forme? Oh, do tell, Honey Badger! Please, enlighten me about the life-crushing burdens you've taken on for my career!”
“Oh, I don't know, having to move every couple years to make sure you got to play for the best teams, maybe? Which meant changing schools and always leaving my friends behind? Or the fact that we were always on the road for your travel games? Or the fact that my life, my needs, always came in second place behind yours?”
Damn,I thought.Get me the hell outta here. I can't be in the middle of this.
I started to slink away, thankful that they hadn't noticed me. They could sit there and fight all day for all I cared, but I needed out now.
Lance flailed his arms above his head in a big, sarcastic show. “Ohh, I'msosorry, Ella! I'm so sorry you had to move schools and now your brother is a multi-millionaire who generously paid your way through college. You've had itsotough in life.”
Ella rolled her eyes; no, she rolled herwholebodyaway from him.
And that's when she saw me trying to sneak out. She ran up and grabbed my arm and pulled me back into the room. I must've looked white as a ghost as she dragged me back.
“By the way, Lance, you should really thank Radar. He was awonderfulhost to me, while you didn't even care enough to be here to greet me when I arrived.”
Lance held up the shopping bag. “I wasn't here yet because I was out buying you a sleeping bag!”
Her jaw dropped. “After everything, you seriously expect me to sleep in asleeping bag?”
“Well … er … we still don't have a couch, and—”
