“Yeah. They seem great.” The smiling older couple had picked Josie up from school every day last week. They wereso friendly it was hard to imagine them being related to Chloe Taylor at all.
“They’re life savers.” Liam’s voice dripped with sincerity. “Plus, a good buddy of mine was traded to the team right before they relocated. We haven’t played together since college, so that’s been really cool.” He eyed me. “Actually, you met him. My friend Jason from the bar?” A scowl settled on his face. “Haven’t quite forgiven him for pulling you on his lap.”
I laughed. “That was a dare. He was just being a good sport.”
“Mmmhmm.” His eyes were sparkling with humor but there was a tension in his jaw that made me wonder if maybe he wasn’t entirely joking.
“Anyhow, Jay and I met at Minnesota freshman year and we’ve stayed good friends over the years. Josie is stoked to have him nearby—he spoils her rotten. And it’s pretty nice to have a familiar face in the locker room.”
“It must have been hard,” I mused. “When you got traded from New York. You didn’t just have to leave home, you had to leave all your friends on the team.”
He nodded, his eyes taking on a faraway look. “Honestly, I haven’t really let myself think about that. I mean, some of the guys on that team were like brothers to me. A few of them had been there with me since I was first called up from the minors. They were there when I got divorced, and all the shit I went through trying to find nannies and help for Josie…” He shook his head. “I don’t know. Maybe it will hit me one day, but for right now, it’s kind of just a day at a time, you know?”
“That’s all you can do,” I agreed.
“I feel like if I can just hang on, put one foot in front of the other over and over again, maybe I’ll wake up one day and it will all be back to normal.” He shot me a self-deprecating smile. “That probably sounds pretty immature, huh?”
“Not at all. When I first moved here, I was totally freaked out. I didn’t know anyone except for Andy, and he was working all the time. It was really lonely.” I grabbed a straw wrapper from the table, needing something to fiddle with. “I know it was nothing like what you and Josie are going through, but it was kind of a rough time for me. And I basically did what you just said—kept moving forward until the pieces started to come together.”
“I’m glad it worked out so well for you,” he said. Then he cleared his throat. “Were there any, um, romantic pieces that came together?”
I raised an eyebrow. “Is it just me or did that totally sound like sexual innuendo?”
He grinned. “It is if you want it to be.”
We both laughed. “If you’re asking if I’ve dated, the answer is yes. I might be a wallflower, Liam, but I’m notthattragic. I’ve been on dates.”
He frowned at me. “You’re not a wallflower. “
I burst out laughing, only realizing belatedly that he hadn’t joined in. He was still just frowning at me, as if he didn’t understand why I would find that amusing.
“I’m definitely a wallflower,” I said. “Or I used to be, maybe. Anyhow.” I cleared my throat. He was watching me way too carefully and I was starting to feel exposed. Vulnerable. I straightened my shoulders and attempted a breezy tone. “I’ve had a few boyfriends, but nothing major. The last guy I was dating turned out to be a real asshole, so that kind of soured me on the experience.”
“Hmm,” he murmured. “Maybe you need to date some non-assholes.”
“Good advice.” I made the mistake then of looking right into his eyes. He was staring at me so intently it made the old familiar butterflies take flight in my belly.
“So, what about you?” I asked, hearing how falsely bright my voice sounded. “Anyone special for you in New York?”
He snorted. “I had zero time for dating after Chloe left. I was basically a single parent. A single parent who happened to travel eighty days out of the year. It was exhausting.”
“I’m sorry,” I murmured. There was a dark, almost defeated sound in his voice that I didn’t like very much. What on earth had happened with Chloe? From what he said about Josie’s hard time, Chloe had stayed in New York after their divorce. Why had he needed to handle so much all on his own when they were in the same city?
“Don’t be sorry,” he said, nudging my shoulder with his. “I think things might have worked out just the way they were supposed to.”
I chanced another glance at him and found he was once again watching me. Dear Lord, the man had beautiful eyes. Just then, my phone vibrated on the table, and we both looked down as if by instinct.
Which meant Liam was able to read the message preview clearly displayed on the lock screen.
Peyton:R U making out with hockey hunk yet? Details plz. Bet those pecs were carved from granite.
My cheeks immediately burst into flames. Freaking Peyton. Why did she always have to open her big mouth? I looked at Liam out of the corner of my eye, hoping he had maybe averted his gaze. No such luck. He was looking right at me with a giant, shit-eating grin on his face. In spite of my mortification, I couldn’t help but laugh.
“Your ego did not need that encouragement.”
“Are you kidding?” he asked. “That’s exactly the kind of encouragement I need. I’d be happy to take even more of it if you’re feeling generous.” He leaned in closer, still smirking.“How about it? You have any compliments you want to send my way?”
I pushed his chest—which was indeed as hard as granite—laughing. “I have zero compliments for you, buddy.”
