Auntie chuckles. “Well, maybe,” she says, as we continue to eat and chat.
When we’re finished, the server sets the bill on the table. I reach for it, but Liam swipes it up before I can.
“Liam, let me pay. You let us sit with you.”
He shakes his head, even before I finish what I’m saying. He hands his credit card to the server and looks at me. “I always pay for brunch. It’s a rule I have.”
I roll my eyes, but I’m smiling.
Auntie nods at me. “It’s a good rule.”
He smiles at her. “Thank you, Christina. I think so too.”
We thank him. After he signs the bill, we stand up and head out of the restaurant. Just like he did before, he walks in front of us so he can make a clear path for my auntie.
Once outside, we walk to the side of the restaurant so we’re not in the way. Liam takes the receipt from brunch and walks over to a nearby trash bin to toss it. Some guy with his phone out runs up to him. At first, I think he’s a hockey fan and is going to ask for a selfie, but he just stands in front of Liam, aiming his phone at him.
“Liam Scott, my man! Looking cool and casual in the off-season,” the guy says.
“Thanks.” Liam’s tone is curt, and he barely looks at the guy.
“Wanna say something to your fans? This is gonna end up on all the sports news sites, so make it good.”
Liam purses his lips and looks at the guy. “Nope.”
That’s when I realize that this guy must be paparazzi. I remember Liam complaining to Aidan a couple times about getting filmed around the city and how irritating it is.
I glare at the guy as he lowers his phone and catches eyes with me. His smile drops and he walks off.
Liam walks back over to us. “Sorry about that,” he says softly. “Annoying side of playing pro sports. You get hounded by sports paparazzi from time to time.”
Auntie shakes her head. “Goodness, what a low life that man is.”
Liam smiles. “Low life. I like that.”
“Sorry you have to deal with that stuff,” I tell him.
He flashes a soft smile. “It’s alright. It doesn’t happen all the time. They don’t hound me like they would if I were Tom Cruise or JLo.”
Auntie beams up at him. “Liam, that was so kind of you to let us join you for brunch. You’re such a sweet young man.”
He flashes that handsome smile. “It was my pleasure. And thank you. It was fun chatting with you.” He turns to me. “Where are you parked?”
I nod toward the car. “Just at the end of the block.”
He walks with us to my car. I lock it, turn on the ignition, and blast the AC since it’s already so hot and humid out. Liam opens the front passenger door for me while I help my aunt into the seat. I collapse her wheelchair and open the back to load it in. When I turn around, he’s holding the chair.
“I got it.” He carefully places it inside and shuts the door. For a second, I look at him, heartened at how he’s helping me.
I tell Auntie that I’ll just be a minute. Then I step onto the curb and look up at Liam.
“Thank you for everything,” I say in a soft voice. “You didn’t need to do all that.”
His soft blue gaze pins me. “I wanted to.”
His voice is low and rough but also gentle. A hard swallow moves through my throat as I look at him.
He blinks and his eyebrows furrow. “About last night. You were right. I should have tried harder to explain to Aidan and Micah that you were responsible for the engagement party. I was a jerk to stand there and take the credit like I did.” He huffs out a breath. “I explained everything to them after the party.”
