Liam’s eyes shift down, looking at the table and then back up to me.
“Can I offer a genuine suggestion?”
“You can…” I hesitate in my response, but he’s probably going to offer it regardless.
He lightly laughs.
“The apartment next to mine is empty.”
I cough out a laugh, drawing a couple head turns in our direction. I wait for him to make a comment, something sarcastic or witty at my outburst, but nothing comes. Is he actually serious? He thinks I should move into his building? Be his neighbor? I pull my lips together to avoid another laugh.
“You’re…serious?”
“I said I had a genuine suggestion, yes.”
I don’t even know where he lives, but I already feel like it’s a bad idea.
“It’s downtown. Not far from the stadium. There’s a dog park, a gym, a doorman, and the floor I’m on has a private elevator. There are only four apartments on the floor, so not a lot of foot traffic. You’d be high up and safe.”
I don’t know why the mention of the word safe makes me feel so calm. It’s almost like Liam somehow knows the chaos and recklessness I’ve dealt with and how all I want in this next chapter of my life is to feel at peace.
“Well, I appreciate it. But I don’t know if I can swing living on the same private floor as the NFL’s hotshot quarterback”
“Think about it.” He shrugs, offering up one of his postcard smiles. “Is your coffee okay?”
I nod, thankful for the subject change as I take another sip. “It’s perfect, thank you.”
“I have a Demi-graphic memory.” He smiles with pride as he sits back in the chair.
I watch as people stare at him when they walk in and there are two men standing in line who look like they could freak out like twelve-year-old girls at any moment.
“A what?” I scoff with a laugh.
“Once I learn something about you, it’s here forever.” He taps his temple with two fingers before he finally notices the guys in line gawking at him.
He doesn’t get up, but he nods in their direction, and that seems to be enough for the men to be satisfied.
“So you have a photographic memory? Makes sense, you study plays and stuff like that all the time.”
“No.” He laughs. “I don’t have a photographic memory. My memory as a whole probably isn’t the best. But I’m good at remembering things I care about.” He pauses. “I’m good at remembering things about you.”
I stare at him blankly, my mouth slightly open as he takes another sip from his drink and smiles at me again. He’s so honest. And it’s easy to let his charms chip away at my defenses.
But it’s also hard to look at Liam and truly see beyond his flirtatious personality. If I ever gave in to his very obvious crush, would all the kindness fade out? Not that I ever plan to cross that line with him, but his charms would leave any girl guessing if it’s sincere or just a tactic.
“You look pretty today.”
Another compliment catches me off guard, and I quietly clear my throat.
“Is it the matted hair under a baseball hat? Or the oversized T-shirt and jeans that give that impression?” I chuckle.
I’m not used to all the compliments Liam slings my way, and while they’re very kind, I feel like I don’t know how to receive them and it makes me say stupid shit like that.
He shakes his head and leans forward—he’s practically halfway across the table at this point. Both elbows resting on the surface.
“It’s this,” he says in a smooth voice as he slowly reaches across the space between us and tucks a tiny piece of stray hair under my hat. “These too.” He points to the dimples on my cheeks, darting his tongue between his lips. “And I like those. A lot.” He emphasizes as he points to his eyes and then back to mine, and my stomach drops.
Liam lets out a low sound of amusement as he notices me inhaling.
