Page 59 of Jesse and the Ice Princess
As he kept the remote out of her reach, he repeated the mantra in his head.Friends. Friends. Friends.
The channel changed, and they both looked up to find Cassie crouching in front of the TV. Now on the screen were the Blue Jackets and Sharks.
Charlotte jumped off him to high five Cassie.
"She's right, bro." Cassie put her hands on her hips. "Putting on the Pens is a total party foul."
"All right, I give up."
The doorbell ringing sounded throughout the house. Knowing his sister wouldn't get it, Jesse stood. He pulled the door open to find Roman standing there in his Lightning jersey. "Hockey Saturday!" He pushed past Jesse. "I checked the schedule. There are like three games this afternoon." He stopped when he reached the living room. "Jackets/Sharks? Dude, I thought you'd make me watch the Pens because of your stupid hero worship." He stole Jesse's place in the beanbag. "Hello, ladies."
As soon as he entered the room, Cassie went still, her anxiety taking control. Jesse wished he knew how to help his sister, but she only rebuffed every attempt.
Charlotte leaned forward. "He tried to put them on but some of us have better taste."
"Heck yeah." Roman lifted a fist and Charlotte bumped hers against it. "Heard about your little date with Damien last night." He waggled his eyebrows. "Can't believe Coach said yes to that."
All the air deflated from Jesse's lungs. He'd tried his hardest to forget she'd agreed to Damien's date, and she hadn't brought it up.
Charlotte shrugged. "He's a nice guy."
"Nice is boring." Roman winked. "Admit it, you only said yes because you felt bad for the kid."
She swatted the back of Roman's head. "That's awful. What if I actually like him?" She shook her head. "Jesse, mind if I get a drink?"
"I'll help." Cassie's voice was small, unsure, so different from how it was only moments before Roman arrived.
The girls left and Jesse stared at his friend. "You're a jerk, Rome."
Roman held his hands up in surrender. "I met with Damien to lift weights this morning. He told me they had coffee. I was just giving her a hard time."
He huffed out a breath and turned on his heel to walk into the kitchen where Charlotte and Cassie were talking in hushed tones.
They stopped when he appeared.
"I'm going to my room." Cassie lifted her can of seltzer.
Charlotte tried to call her back. "Stay, hang out with us."
She only shook her head and left.
"It's because of Rome." Jesse rubbed the back of his neck. "She won't talk to people outside the family."
"She talks to me."
He shrugged, not understanding it either. What was it about Charlotte that put Cassie's anxieties at ease? He shook off those thoughts. "Why did you go out with Damien?" He needed to know.
"He's nice." She averted her eyes.
"Charlie." He stepped closer.
"I'm not proud of it."
"Proud of what."
She set her can on the counter and met his gaze. "My dad only gave him permission because he thought I'd say no. So, I said yes."
A smile spread across his face. "So, you don't like him?"
