OFF THE ICE he's my everything

Madison I sat and watched as my best friend Liam practiced tirelessly. He fired another puck into the top corner of the net, the sharp crack echoed through the rink, and sweat dripped from beneath his helmet. It's been hours, and he has refused to stop practicing. It's not even new to me anymore. I'm used to it by now because he only exhausts himself like this whenever he breaks up with his long-time girlfriend, Rinee. Honestly, I don't understand why he keeps going back to her every damn time. It's clear she doesn't love him and is only using him for his fame, but I don't know why my best friend cannot see that. This semester, they have broken up more than five times. Every time she cheats, they break up, and after every breakup, she immediately gets together with another man, only to come back the next day and beg Liam to take her back, knowing so damn well that he would because of his undying crush on her. And guess who is crazily in love with her best friend and has to watch him get heartbroken every time and can't do anything? Me. Also, guess who has to watch her best friend go back to the same woman who cheats on him? Me. Also, guess who has to soothe him, wipe his tears, and put him to bed when he gets cheated on for the hundredth time? Me. That's the crazy story of my life. I can't even cross the friendship zone because I know in his eyes I'll forever be his best friend, the one friend he would never look at the way he looked at others. f****d up, right? Yeah. So today again, I'm here, watching him pour out his frustration through practice while I hold a towel and a bottle of water, playing the best friend role, when I know so damn well that just one call from Rinee and he would disappear from me again, like the morning sun. Seeing him drop his hockey stick and walk towards me, I breathed a sigh of relief. Finally, he's done letting it out. I stood up immediately as I hurried towards him and took off his helmet. “Here.” I passed him the cold bottle of water. “Thanks.” He flashed me a smile as he unscrewed the cap and almost finished half the bottle. I used the towel to dab the sweat off his face and neck. “Mad?” “Hmm?” I hummed, so focused on cleaning the sweat off his neck. “Want to spend the night at my place today?” On hearing that, my body froze as I tried to process what I had just heard. Is he inviting me over to his place? Taking a step back, I retracted my hand from his neck and stared into his face. “You said something?” “Hmm, do you mind spending the night at my place? We can cook dinner together and watch your favorite show afterward.” Not like I've not been to his place in the past, but the last time I was there, which was two years ago when Liam started dating Rinee, she happened to visit one day. When she saw me at his place, it didn't end well. She got jealous, and I ended up deciding to stay away. Since then, I never visited again. “Come on, Mad. Rinee is not here anymore. Besides, you're my only best friend apart from my teammates, so I don't understand why you stopped visiting my place.” “Well, I was only trying to respect your relationship.” I shrugged as we began walking to the changing room to get his things. “Well, I'm not getting back with Rinee ever again.” “Oh, come on. You've said that over a million times and end up crawling back to her each time.” I rolled my eyes. “Well, this time is going to be different.” “I hope so.” Secretly, I was hoping he meant it this time, but something in me kept telling me that I might get disappointed again. It's crazy, but every time Liam gets heartbroken, I'm secretly happy. I know I sound sick, but I am, and anytime he goes back to his ex, I'm heartbroken. So complicated. We got to the changing room, and I waited outside for him while he got ready. I was so lost in my thoughts until I felt a presence beside me, and that was when I slowly turned my head to the side. “Oh my gosh...” I flinched, holding my chest while Liam burst out laughing. He'd been staring at me all this while, and I didn't even notice. “What were you thinking?” “Nothing you can help out with.” “Hey, wait.” He suddenly grabbed my hand. “Do you need more money? Is everything okay at home?” I smiled and nodded. “Everything is fine. Besides, you give me more than enough money, so of course I have so much in my bank account that I don't even know what to do with it.” “Then what is it that I can't solve?” “Matters of the heart, Liam... you can't solve everything.” “Wait.” He paused and stopped dead in his tracks. “Are you in love?” “If I am, what can you do to help?” “Meet the guy, of course. I need to make sure he's someone capable enough to take care of my best friend.” He wrapped his arm around my shoulder, pulling me closer. “Don't worry. I'm not in love yet.” “Does that mean it will be happening soon?” “Maybe.” “Then promise you'll let me meet the guy first before you start dating him.” “Hmm... I'll think about that later.” I laughed and ran off. “Mad...” he yelled in frustration, running after me. Liam and I have been friends since high school. He has always been the charming, popular student, while I'm the top student in school. I was able to get into the university of my choice because of my top scores, and Liam also fancied my university, especially because they had a popular hockey club. With pure talent and good family connections, Liam was able to get into one of the top hockey clubs in the country, Blackridge Ravens. With his unmatched skill, Liam climbed his way up, winning many awards, and through it all, we have always been together, inseparable. It was after his fame that Rinee came, and the rest was history. We made it back to Liam's penthouse, and I walked straight to the kitchen to check for groceries because Liam is always eating out and forgetting to stock up. But luckily, I found the fridge fully stocked. “Wow, this is unlike you.” “I already knew you'd be coming back home with me, so to avoid your nagging, I did grocery shopping.” He muttered and picked up a carrot, biting off a chunk of it. Giving him a side glare, I said, “Are you a wild animal, Liam?” “Yes, your one and only wild animal.” He winked. I rolled my eyes and continued sorting out the vegetables. He's unbelievable. “What are we making tonight?” “We?” My eyes widened in utter confusion because he was clearly doing nothing, just leaning on the counter and munching on a carrot. “Hmm. I'm present. That counts as 'we,' right?” “Then make yourself useful by chopping these vegetables for me.” “Sure, my lady.” He grabbed a knife. “Just tell me what to do, and I'll get on it immediately.” I smiled, just realizing it's been so long since we had this kind of get-together as best friends. “So this is what you'll do, you'll…” My words were suddenly cut short by the blaring sound of his phone. I watched as he grabbed it from the counter, but on seeing who the caller was…My Girl…I already knew what was coming. He ignored the call. “Let's continue,” he said to me. “Mm, so you'll chop the vegetables like…” The phone began to ring again. He declined the call. I was happy he wasn't taking it, but I could feel the resistance in his eyes dropping. I was hoping she would stop calling, but the girl wasn't giving up. The call came in again, and I watched as he grabbed his phone. My heart was beating so fast as I watched him, praying he would ignore it, but right before my eyes, he swiped the green icon. “Hello.” I knew this was going to happen, but why am I heartbroken again? I know what's coming next after the call. I know. It's the usual. I watched him end the call and quickly turn to leave. “Liam, where are you going?” “I need to meet up with Rinee. She's threatening to kill herself if I don't show up.” “But Liam, we promised to spend the day together. What about all this?” I pointed at the food we were making. “Wait for me. I promise to come back.” “But Li…” Before I could finish my words, he had already dashed out the door. Tears rolled down my cheeks as I slowly lowered myself to the ground, curled up, and hugged my knees. And yet again, he's back with his ex while I'm here, left heartbroken.