Breaking The Ice [bxb]

Chapter Twenty-One [Liam]

WARNING: this chapter may contain more mature content

*this chapter also contains multimedia relevant to the plot*

I tap on the left side of my screen to go back to the story I just watched.

Once again, a burly, blonde hockey player pops a bottle of champagne open while Trey Coleman films with the frontal camera of his phone, his shiny-eyed beaming face half-visible on the side. But I'm not focused on Coleman, nor his teammate. My eyes zero in farther into the background of the video, where Eli can be seen laughing with his friends.

I keep going through my Instagram stories. A lot of the most recent ones are from hockey players celebrating their final victory in the recreational center, which Trey Coleman's dad rented for the team tonight. 

Mack is also down there. She texted me to come and I said no. Then she texted the group chat. Nat said she had to study, Gus said he was busy re-watching Call Me By Your Name, but Chloe said yes. Mack then texted me, saying Chloe has officially overthrown me as her coolest friend. So I texted Chloe to congratulate her on the promotion and she replied with a single awfully rude emoji.

The truth is I really don't want to go to the hockey team's celebrations. Even if Mack and Chloe are going. 

Sure, one particular hockey player I am especially partial to would be there, but so would his whole team. And I learned rather quickly that the Eli Blake I like — the one that kisses the breath out of me between rows of lockers in the Ice Arenas' locker rooms — is not the the same guy who sits with the Brunson Grizzly Bears at lunch in the cafeteria. And he's probably not the Eli Blake I would find out and about tonight.

Still, I can't help myself. I pick up my phone and pull out the texting app. I type. Stop. Read it through. Hesitate. Then send.

I am surprised at how quickly the reply comes.

That brings a smile to my face. Because shit. That's not a sober text.