Page 80 of Secrets on Ice

"You actually did." Cassidy looks impressed.

He clears his throat and looks away first. “I’m gonna shower.”

Then he’s gone, disappearing down the hall, leaving a trail of that warm, masculine scent behind him.

I let out a slow breath I didn’t realize I was holding.

Get it together, Ember.

“He got pints of ice cream, mint chocolate chip for you. He remembered your favorite,” she says, handing me the tub. It is. “And bubblegum for me.” She squeals. Cassidy has always loved that flavor, and no amount of teasing could make her change her mind. “And a pint of boring vanilla for Connor.”

Sully’s always had vanilla. It had the least amount of calories compared to others, and it was the only way he could eat it while staying on the nutrition plan for hockey. I see that hasn’t changed. “I’ll go pop his in the freezer.”

“Grab us some spoons,” I call out to her.

She comes back and hands me one, and I dig in because I need the ice cream to cool me down. I don’t understand what is happening to me. I shouldn’t be looking at Sully like that. I’ve never been turned on by a man’s sweat before. I’ve seen Sully work out with my brother a million times, but I’ve never had a reaction to him like I did tonight. The divorce is making me lose my mind, it has to be.

Moments later, Sully wanders back out wearing gray sweats and a black T-shirt, his hair still damp from the shower. He drops onto the other end of the couch like he does every night, stealing the leftover spring rolls before Cassidy can stop him.

“What the hell are we watching?” he mumbles around his food. It’s some ridiculous dating reality show.

“Doesn’t matter, we’re not changing the channel. You’re outnumbered tonight,” Cassidy tells him.

“I’m outnumbered every night,” he argues, but decides it’s too hard to argue with his sister as he digs into his Thai.

Chill out, Ember, you are acting like a fricken teen whose crush is over. Just then, a memory hits me. I was sixteen the first time I really noticed Sully. The boys had just come back from summer hockey camp. They joined us in Cassidy’s basement like we always did, with pizza boxes everywhere, and someone insisting we watch a horror movie. I barely paid attention to the screen because I was too busy wondering where skinny Sully had disappeared to. His shoulders were broader, jaw sharper, the baby face he'd always had was disappearing, replaced by something older. Hotter.

"Earth to Ember." Cassidy had clicked her fingers in front of my face.

I'd jumped so hard and everyone laughed. But thankfully, no one understood why I was so distracted. Then I'd spent ages pretending I didn't have a crush on my brother's best friend. Eventually it faded when I met Kevin.

I’m distracted again just like I was all those years ago, but I throw in the occasional comment hoping that will cover me.

By the end of the episode, Cassidy yawns so wide. "I'm done." She stretches.

"You two clean up. I ordered," she declares and then walks off, leaving me by myself with Sully. Her bedroom door clicks shut, then there’s nothing but silence between us. The television keeps playing, and neither of us says anything nor dares move. I suddenly become very interested in whatever fake disaster is unfolding on screen.

Beside me, Sully shifts. "So ..." he says.

I keep my eyes on the TV, ignoring him.

Then he sighs. "Will you stop being awkward?" he says.

My head snaps around. "I'm not being awkward," I argue.

He raises an eyebrow. "You've barely looked at me since Maine."

"Um … yes, I have.”

He shakes his head. “Nope. You've looked through me."

"I have not."

"You have," he argues.

I fold my arms. "Maybe you're the awkward one."

A corner of his mouth twitches. "I'm not the one pretending nothing happened."