Page 10 of The Dating Coach
"Wife?" Mia perked up slightly. "Your cousin has a wife?"
"Married three years ago. I was a groomsman." I smiled at the memory. "Her parents didn't come, but the rest of us made sure it was the best fucking day ever. Sorry, language."
"You apologize for swearing a lot for a hockey player," Gemma observed, some of her defensive posture relaxing.
"Trying to break stereotypes," I said, earning almost a smile.
We sat in silence for a moment, the pool filter humming in the background. Finally, I made a decision that Frank would probably call impulsive and Henry would call stupid.
"Look, I know you don't trust me, and I get why," I said to Gemma. "But if you need help – a place for Mia to crash sometimes, someone to cover for her, whatever – I'm around. My roommates are cool, and we have space."
"Why?" Gemma asked again, but with less suspicion this time. "What's in it for you?"
"Nothing," I said honestly. "I just can't stand seeing people forced to hide who they are. Life's too short for that bullshit."
Mia looked between us, then said to her sister, "He seems nice, Gem."
"Seeming nice and being nice are different things," Gemma said, but she was looking at me with something like consideration.
"Fair point," I conceded. "But for what it's worth, I'm offering actual nice, not performance nice. No strings, no expectations, just help if you need it."
I stood to leave, pulling out my phone. "I'm going to delete my keycard access log for tonight. Facilities management doesn't need to know about any after-hours swimming."
"You can do that?" Mia asked, impressed.
"Benefits of being hockey royalty," I said with a self-deprecating shrug. "Might as well use the privilege for good."
As I headed for the door, Gemma called after me. "Liam?"
I turned back.
"Thanks," she said simply. "For... for being cool about this."
"Always," I said, meaning it more than she knew.
Walking back to my car, I thought about the trust they'd shown me. Gemma wasn't just the defensive girl with a chip on her shoulder anymore – she was a sister trying to protect family, carrying burdens that would break most people.
I wanted to help. More than that, I wanted to earn the trust she'd started to show tonight. I felt like I had a purpose beyond skating and following my father's predetermined path.
Chapter 7: Gemma
Standing on Liam's doorstep at 8 PM on a Wednesday night felt like admitting defeat. Three days had passed since our encounter at the pool, three days of Karen's boyfriend Kyle turning our apartment into his personal frat house, three days of Mia trying to make herself invisible while growing more anxious by the hour. My pride had finally lost the battle with necessity.
"This is temporary," I muttered, as much to myself as to Mia, who stood beside me clutching her duffel bag like a lifeline.
"I know," she said quietly. "I'm sorry, Gem. This is all my fault."
"Hey." I turned to face her, using my stern big-sister voice. "None of this is your fault. Not one single part. Understood?"
She nodded, but I could see the guilt eating at her. Before I could say more, the door swung open, revealing Liam in gray sweatpants and a Pinewood Hockey t-shirt that had seen better days. His hair was messy, like he'd been running his hands through it, and there was a pencil tucked behind one ear.
"Gemma," he said, surprise flickering across his features before warmth took over. "And Mia. Hey."
"Is your offer still open?" I asked without preamble. "About space for Mia? It's just for a few days, until Karen’s boyfriend, Kyle, leaves and—"
"Of course," he interrupted, stepping aside immediately. "Come in, both of you. It's freezing out there."
We entered the house I'd only seen from the outside at parties I'd never attended. The interior was exactly what I'dexpected from a hockey house – oversized leather furniture, a massive TV, sports equipment scattered in corners – but cleaner than anticipated.
