“Anatomy. Really?” It’s hard to hide my facial expressions on a normal day, but I skip right over the last thing he said.
“Well…” I watch as his eyes scan my face. Butjustmy face. He doesn’t move to my chest or roam my body at all like most—all other men would have. “I likeGrey’s Anatomy,” he says.
A laugh rises from my chest at that. It’s such an unexpected response, such a quick, truly genuine reply that makes me laugh like I haven’t in months. Maybe aside from the weekend, when he was also using his witty charms in a very obvious effort to get me to laugh.
His eyes soften as he smiles at me with a lazy grin. I see why the girls love him. Honestly, he’s very charming and has the good looks to put him at the top of anyone’s most attractive athlete list. But if it’s not football, I really don’t think he takes anything seriously.
“Grey’s Anatomy,huh?” I cross my arms. I too have been known to binge some Grey’s in my spare time.
He nods. “When O’Malley died, I lost it.” I watch his hand pull at his jaw.
Noticing the sports watch on his wrist. The veins on his forearm. The gold ring on his pinky finger.
My teeth sink into the inside of my bottom lip as I look at him.
The clapper board slaps in between us. “Camera three, ready.”
My attention snaps to Greg, and I nod.
Talking with Liam in any interview I’ve done with him, it’s so clear he’s going to be one of those athletes who will be talked about years after he’s left the game. Other quarterbacks will be compared to him, he’ll end up as a first ballot hall of famer when the time comes, and kids will be watching his highlights and studying his plays for years.
It’s true what Ford mentioned about his switch flipping. Liam came in here high on sarcasm and wit, but the moment we begin talking football he speaks so carefully. So thoughtfully and with so much intelligence and passion. He’s still himself, but you can tell he wants to be taken seriously in the world of football.
“Liam, let’s jump back to last season for a second. You guys had some injuries that hit a few of your starters late in the season. Chase Hunt goes down right before the playoffs. I know that was really tough.”
Liam’s head shakes back and forth in a slow, steady motion as he exhales. “Yeah, that was hard, but things are going to happen that we just can’t really prepare for. So we adjust, and some guys need to step up when starters go down.”
“It seems like few things really affect you on the field. The way you handled that loss, the uncertainty of your offensive line when Graham took a nasty hit. But you seem to work reallywell under pressure.” I smile at him, really meaning that as a compliment. “I think I can count on one hand the times I’ve done an interview where the starting quarterback was the guy with the most rush yards in a playoff game. You just adapt, and it’s crazy, but you get things done.”
“Well, if I can’t get it done in the air, I need to find other ways. I’ve got guys who depend on me. So I’ll do anything to get things done, and it feels good to accomplish it for the team.”
“Ultimate teammate.” I lightly laugh as I move a piece of hair from my shoulder and I don’t miss how Liam follows my movement. “Training camp is underway. Lots of new faces, but still a lot of the same guys. How’s it been?”
“I love this time of the year. Everyone’s so hungry and ready to go. New guys, veterans, coaches, there’s really just something special and probably underrated about this time of the season. I’ve always thought that, and I’ve always really soaked up this time at camp, doesn’t matter if it’s year one or year ten. I need this time just as much as the next guy.”
With my shoulders back, I take a quick glance at the paper in front of me.
“Chasing greatness? I’d have to imagine some of your dad’s records are on your mind. You have the weapons this year on offense to really take a shot at that single season passing yards’ record.”
Liam is very tight-lipped whenever his father is mentioned in interviews. I’ve never known why. Typically, I figured it’s due to the constant comparison or possible shadow he’s always been in.
His throat clears. “He’s a legend.”
I stay silent for a moment, allowing space for him to elaborate, but there isn’t anything more he adds before he makes eye contact with me and smiles. It’s not his usual giant lights-up-a-room kind of smile. It’s close-lipped, not exactly forced, but hardly effortless.
It’s the first time I’ve seen this reaction from him, and I’ve interviewed Liam plenty of times. Sure, this is maybe the second time it’s been a formal sit-down interview—they’re usually sideline recaps after a big win or tough loss—but something in his reaction almost pains me. I’m finding myself wanting to know more. But I shake my head to clear the thought and move on.
There’s a few more minutes of discussion on the rookies before we end the interview and his shoulders relax. He glances at the brown bag on the barstool a few feet away and motions toward it.
“Don’t forget to eat,” he says for only me to hear as both of us stand.
All the energy in this room moves with Liam. When he walks toward the window, every eye follows him, every camera points in his direction and every person’s next breath is practically hanging onto his next word.
But he stands and stares over the city beyond the glass and pulls out his phone, snapping a picture of whatever he sees below from the floor we’re on. It’s a really small moment that in some ways reminds me he’s just a normal guy, taking pictures of things he finds beautiful.
I grab the brown bag to put it near my purse, but see my phone light up when I do.
It’s Alyssa letting me know that the landlord is giving her another two weeks in her apartment. Originally, me staying with her was supposed to be short-term—a couple weeks, maybe a month. But that somehow turned into multiple months.
