Read Online Off the Ice (The Penalty Kill Trilogy) (Volume 2) by Lindsay Paige, Mary Smith - Free Book Online

us. We were better off as friends. We have remained friends ever since.”
    “ Is that why you don’t care for parties?” I grit out. God, I’m so pissed about this! How much is he going to be around since he’s not studying abroad this semester? This is so fucked up.
    “ Well, that’s one of the reasons. Plus, I don’t feel in control at a party. People are everywhere, always acting crazy and drunk. I just don’t like it.”
    I stare at her for a moment and then decide I’m done talking about it. For now, at least. “Let’s just go find my dad, Presley.”
    “Levi,-”
    “ This conversation is over, Presley. I’m not going to keep arguing with you in the middle of a festival. I’m going to find my dad. Are you coming?” I dare her to say no.
    “ Yes, Levi, and I don’t want to argue either.”
    “ Then c’mon.” I take her hand, and we turn around to head to where we last left Pops. Sure enough, he’s still there. I don’t even want to be here anymore, but we can’t just leave, so I plaster on a smile.
    “ See anything fun?” Pops asks.
    “ It all looks fun,” I answer. “Ready to walk around some more?”
    My dad stands, nodding his head. The day pretty much turns into Presley and Pops hanging out while I pretend not to be angry. Dad wins her a little penguin on a ring toss game and pokes fun at her about it.
    “Levi,” my dad says exasperated when I don’t laugh at one of his jokes. “I don’t know who got your panties in a bunch, but untangle them. You’re sucking all the fun out of today.”
    “ Sorry, Pops. Want me to win you a penguin?” I grin.
    He laughs. “That’s better. But no, I’m fine. You can buy my supper, though.”
    “Mine too,” Presley adds with a smile.
    Some of the tension falls away with just her smile. I sling an arm around her shoulders and then another around my father’s. “Where to?”
    “Let’s just grab a quick bite on the way home. Winning that thing for the lovely girl wore me out.” Pops smiles, but he does look tired. It seems like he gets exhausted easily nowadays, and it doesn’t help with my worrying.
    “ Let’s go then,” I say before we head to my car.
     
    ~ ~ ~
     
    Pops goes to bed shortly after we arrive home and Presley and I soon follow. She’s in the bathroom changing, and I’m sitting on my bed, looking at the wall with the hockey sticks and all my accomplishments that my mom put together. It’s gotten easier to be home and see it, but with my current mood, it doesn’t help.
    I decide that I don’t want to think about it still and to make sure that Presley doesn’t try and make me, I’m going to lay down and ‘fall asleep’ before she comes back. My eyes stay closed as I hear her enter, crawl into bed behind me, and whisper my name. I don’t budge an inch. Smarty sighs, moves to get comfortable, and is out within thirty minutes. I, on the other hand, can’t sleep for shit.
    Throwing back my covers after a few hours, I go to the kitchen. Maybe a glass of water and a change of scenery will help. With the flip of a switch, I turn on the light and fix myself a drink.
    “ Son?”
    Whirling around, I see my dad wearing a robe over what is probably a shirt and underwear.
    “What are you doing up?” I ask.
    “ This is my house. I can be up whenever I want to. What are you doing up?”
    “ This is my house too,” I point out.
    “ Yeah, yeah,” he says, pulling out a chair at the table. “Answer my question, son.”
    After I take a seat at the table with him, I tell him. Mom was always my go-to parent, but Pops and I were just as close. Momma made sure we were, especially after we found out she was sick.
    “Presley and I just got into an argument is all.”
    “ That was obvious. Go ahead and spill, son. I’d like to go back to sleep at some point.” He tries and fails to hide his smirk. Crazy old man.
    “ Hey, I’m not stopping you.”
    “ Indirectly, yes you are.”
    “ Fine. We ran into Allie. You remember