The Party
1307 Words
Music pulsed through the hockey house long before Sophie reached the front door.
Bass vibrated beneath her sneakers as she stood on the sidewalk, staring at the two-storey house overflowing with students. Laughter spilled from the open windows, lights flashed behind drawn curtains, and jerseys from rival teams mixed together in a sea of blue and silver.
She had already decided not to come.
Twice.
Emma had ignored both decisions.
"You've changed outfits three times," Emma teased as they climbed the front steps. "You're fooling absolutely no one."
"I changed because you said the first one looked like I was going to church."
"It did."
"The second?"
"You looked like you were attending a business meeting."
Sophie laughed.
"And this one?"
Emma smiled approvingly. "This one says, 'I didn't dress for anyone, but if Liam Carter notices me, I won't complain.'"
Heat rushed to Sophie's cheeks.
"I hate you."
"No, you don't."
Emma nudged her shoulder as they walked inside.
The house was packed.
Music thundered through the walls while students danced in the living room. Others crowded around the kitchen island, shouting over one another. Hockey trophies lined the shelves, and framed championship photographs covered the hallway.
Sophie's eyes wandered over them until they stopped on one particular picture.
A younger Liam stood beside a smiling Ethan.
Both wearing the same jersey.
Both holding the same championship trophy.
Both laughing.
They looked...
Happy.
"You found it."
Sophie turned.
An older man in a Blackwood Hockey jacket stood beside her, balancing a paper plate in one hand.
"You know Coach Reynolds?" he asked.
Sophie shook her head politely.
"No."
"I'm Assistant Coach Mason."
He smiled kindly.
"That photo's from their freshman season."
Sophie's eyes drifted back to the frame.
"They really were friends."
"The best pair I'd ever coached."
He chuckled softly.
"They practically lived on the ice together."
Something tightened inside her chest.
"They don't exactly act like that now."
Coach Mason's smile faded.
"No."
He looked toward the hallway.
"Funny how one decision can change everything."
Before Sophie could ask another question, someone called his name from the kitchen.
He excused himself with an apologetic smile.
Leaving her alone with the photograph.
One decision.
Everyone kept saying that.
But nobody would tell her what it was.
───
"Sophie!"
Ethan's voice cut through the crowd.
He walked toward her wearing jeans and a Blackwood hoodie, his damp hair suggesting he'd showered at the arena before coming over.
"I didn't think you'd actually come."
"I almost didn't."
His eyes narrowed slightly.
"Emma convinced you?"
Emma raised her drink.
"Proudly."
Ethan laughed before wrapping an arm around Sophie's shoulders.
"There she is."
For a moment, it felt normal.
Like when they were kids.
Before secrets.
Before Liam.
Before everything became complicated.
"You staying long?" Ethan asked.
"I don't know."
"Good."
He smiled.
"Because I promised Mom I'd make sure nobody bothers you."
Sophie's smile faded.
"I'm twenty-one, Ethan."
"I know."
"I don't need a bodyguard."
His expression softened.
"I know."
But the way he looked around the room suggested otherwise.
───
Across the room...
Liam had just arrived.
He laughed at something one of his teammates said before his gaze wandered through the crowd.
Until it found her.
Everything else seemed to disappear.
His smile changed.
Smaller.
Real.
Sophie's heartbeat stumbled.
He looked like he wanted to come over.
Instead...
He stayed exactly where he was.
Giving her the choice.
She appreciated that more than he probably realised.
"He's looking."
Emma whispered beside her.
"I know."
"So...?"
"So nothing."
Emma laughed.
"You are impossible."
───
Ryan appeared carrying two cups.
"I got your favourite."
He handed one to Sophie without asking.
Vanilla cola.
Her favourite since high school.
"Thanks."
"I figured you'd forget to grab one."
He smiled warmly before following her gaze.
Straight to Liam.
His smile didn't disappear.
It just became tighter.
"I see he made it."
Sophie's stomach twisted.
"Ryan..."
"I'm just making conversation."
She nodded slowly.
But something felt...
Off.
───
Half an hour later, the house had grown louder.
Students danced in the lounge while others spilled onto the back deck overlooking the frozen practice lake behind campus.
Sophie stepped outside for fresh air.
The music faded behind the closed door.
Snowflakes drifted lazily through the night sky.
"You escaped too?"
She smiled before turning.
Liam stood a few feet away, hands tucked into the pockets of his jacket.
"I needed five minutes."
"So did I."
Silence settled between them.
Comfortable.
Easy.
They stood beside the wooden railing overlooking the dark water.
"It's beautiful."
Liam looked toward the lake.
"It freezes every winter."
"You skate on it?"
"When I need to think."
She smiled.
"I can't imagine you sitting still long enough to think."
He laughed.
"You'd be surprised."
Another comfortable silence followed.
Then he spoke quietly.
"You look happy tonight."
"I am."
"I'm glad."
His words were simple.
Honest.
No hidden meaning.
Just...
Glad.
Sophie's heart softened.
"You know," she said carefully, "you're completely different when you're not wearing hockey gear."
"Oh?"
"You're less intimidating."
He grinned.
"So I'm intimidating?"
"You've got the whole brooding captain thing going."
"I do not brood."
She laughed.
"You absolutely brood."
"I reflect."
"That's brooding with better marketing."
Liam shook his head, laughing.
"I've never met anyone who argues with me this much."
"You secretly enjoy it."
"I really do."
The admission hung in the cold air.
Neither of them looked away.
Sophie's breath caught.
She couldn't remember the last time talking to someone felt this effortless.
Liam took one slow step closer.
Not enough to invade her space.
Just enough that she could see tiny snowflakes caught in his dark hair.
"You know what scares me?"
His voice had changed.
It was quieter now.
She looked up.
"What?"
"This."
He gestured gently between them.
"You and me."
"Why?"
"Because I keep telling myself to stop."
"And?"
A sad smile touched his lips.
"I don't think I'm listening anymore."
Her heart pounded.
Neither of them moved.
The distance between them suddenly felt incredibly small.
Liam slowly lifted a hand.
Not to touch her.
Just...
Close enough that he could.
"If I crossed the line..."
His eyes searched hers.
"...would you stop me?"
Sophie's lips parted.
She didn't know the answer.
Because the truth was...
She wasn't sure she wanted to.
"LIAM!"
The shout echoed across the deck.
Both of them turned.
One of Liam's teammates leaned through the back door.
"Coach just called. We need everyone back at the arena. Now."
Liam frowned.
"Tonight?"
"It's serious."
He looked back at Sophie.
"I'm sorry."
"It's okay."
"No..."
His eyes lingered on hers.
"It's really not."
He stepped backward reluctantly.
"I'll text you."
She nodded.
"I'll be waiting."
His expression softened into a smile before he disappeared inside.
Sophie remained on the deck, her fingertips gripping the cold wooden railing.
She could still feel the electricity between them.
Even though he had never touched her.
"You really were going to kiss him."
Sophie's body stiffened.
Ryan.
He stood in the doorway, hands shoved into his pockets.
She hadn't heard him come outside.
"I wasn't—"
"You were."
His voice wasn't angry.
It was...
Disappointed.
He looked toward the door Liam had disappeared through.
Then back at Sophie.
"You should be careful."
"I don't need another warning."
"No."
Ryan's eyes darkened for the briefest moment.
"You need the truth."
Before Sophie could ask what he meant...
Ryan pulled an old, folded newspaper clipping from his jacket pocket.
Without another word, he handed it to her.
Across the front page was a photograph of Liam.
Beside him...
An ambulance.
And the headline made her blood run cold.
BLACKWOOD HOCKEY STAR INVOLVED IN NIGHT OF TRAGEDY
Ryan's voice was barely above a whisper.
"You wanted to know why your brother hates him."
He looked directly into her eyes.
"Start there."
- Writer
