“Yes! I told you in secret, and then you went straight to him and told him!”
She laughs under her breath. “I swear, I didn’t. However he found out, it wasn’t me.”
“You’re the only one I told my secret!” I don’t believe her.
Sophia shifts on her feet, her narrow gaze smirking. “Why would I lie now? That was years ago? Last I heard, Casey Hart knocked up some girl, and their parents forced them to wed. Whoever shared your secret, trust me, you got lucky. You dodged a bullet with Hart. I heard he got arrested last year for domestic abuse.”
I wince, not having heard that little tidbit.
“Anyways, I swear it wasn’t me.” Sophia stares at me with insistence. “Maybe ask Liam.”
“What?” My mouth drops. “No, he wouldn’t have known.”
“Come on. In middle school, he told the guys that you let him get to third base. He was a jealous jerk who liked you.”
I shake my head. That’s not true. It can’t be true, at least the last bit. The first, he definitely did. Another reason I hated him. He was the reason that Travis Madden, a hockey player on the high school team, reached under my skirt.
“I remember that far differently, Sophia. Your brother’s little white lie ended up with me getting assaulted by one of the jocks on the hockey team.”
She exhales a breath and pulls me aside as several students step out of the elevator and walk by. “I’m sorry about that. Travis never should have laid a hand on you.”
I inhale sharply and pull out of her reach. “It’s fine.”
“It’s not, but I’m glad Liam gave him a black eye. He deserved it.”
My shoulders instantly relax. “Liam hit Travis with the puck?” I remember hearing rumors that someone had slammed a puck into his face. I thought it had been karma.
“Liam hit Travis, with his fist. He gave him a black eye. The puck to the face was an added bonus in practice.”
I laugh under my breath, leaning back against the wall. I tip my head up, staring at the ceiling. “All these years, I hated your brother and you.”
“Yeah, I know. I wasn’t entirely sure why you were avoiding me. I assumed it had to do with some shit my brother did. I’m sorry, I should have stood up for you, with Liam and with Travis.”
“He’s your brother.”
“Yeah, and now, you’re dating him? Are you sure you’re ready to deal with Liam Moretti?” The look she gives me sends a shiver down my spine.
“No.” I chuckle and push myself away from the wall. “But I like him. Do you want to grab dinner together?”
“I thought you’d never ask.” Sophia grabs my arm and drags me to the dining hall.
After dinner, Sophia invites me out with her friends to go bowling on campus. I follow her out of the dorms, and as I step outside, there are several flashes of cameras and people with video cameras and microphones lined up, everyone shoving their mic at my face, bombarding me with questions all at once.
“How do you feel about being the reason the Ice Dragons are moving to Montana?” one blonde female reporter asks.
“Do you have any insight into the Ice Dragons choosing to relocate?” another reporter asks.
“Can you tell us if you’re the sole reason your father is moving the team out of New York?” a male reporter asks.
“Is it true your health is deteriorating and your father would rather move the Ice Dragons than?—”
The reporters’ questions all slur together, the world spinning wildly on its axis.
“Shut the fuck up!” Sophia steps forward, blocking them. “Your questions should be directed at her father, not her. Leave her alone!”
I hurry back inside the dorms, my hands and body visibly shaking as I begin to hyperventilate.
Sophia wraps an arm around my waist, escorting me away from the glass doors and out of prying eyes. “Does that happen a lot?”
