Page 35 of Second Chance with the Enemy CEO
She follows it up with her best puppy dog eyes - an expression she has had perfected since she was five. “Come on, Liam, just to her door. That is all. I swear. Besides, you know you will still say yes, so just save the both of us this round-about journey.”
I glare at her, but she just gives me this smug little smirk, the kind that says she knows she has already won. I let out a long, exaggerated sigh. “The things I have to do because I have a little sister!”
Cara beams, entirely unbothered by my grumbling. “I love you too, bro!” She chirps, skipping toward the door.
****
The walk was not long, but I was already done with this whole mission. I stop a few feet from the porch and shove my hands into my pockets. “Okay, I have accompanied you here. Mission accomplished. Bye.”
Cara grabs the back of my hoodie, yanking me back.
“What now?”
“Hey, no. Come on, at least wait until she opens the door.”
I groan, letting my head drop back like the ceiling of the universe just caved in. “Why?”
“Courtesy,” she says sweetly. “Also, I’m nervous.”
“You literally just said you were excited,” I shot back.
“Yeah, and now I amnervously excited. It is a thing. Do not question me.” She flashes me a grin and pats my arm. “Pretty please?”
I roll my eyes so hard I see the inside of my skull. But I will stay.
We walk up to the door together, and she rings the bell. A few seconds later, we hear shuffling feet from inside.
The door swings open to reveal Hazel in…, cute bunny-ear bear hooded pajamas, complete with matching bunny fluffy slippers. Her eyes widened as they flick between Cara and me.
For a moment, I am too stunned to say anything. I blink, taking it all in. The hood. The floppy bunny ears. The ridiculous, oversized bear pocket on the front of the hoodie.
“Nice outfit,” I say, lips twitching before I can stop them.
Cara snorts next to me, trying and failing to hold in a laugh. She leans forward just a bit, her grin way too wide. “You look adorable, Hazel.”
Hazel's eyes narrowed into slits as she crossed her arms. “It’s comfortable,” she says defensively, tugging the edges of the hoodie closer around her face and lifting her chin like she is daring me to say something else.
“Huh-uh,” I reply, nodding slowly like I am in deep thought. “Sure, it is.”
“Why are you here?” She asks, crossing her arms and ignoring me completely as she focuses on Cara.
“I was around, so I thought I would come to see you! Hope now is not an inconvenient time?”
Hazel hesitates for a second, then shakes her head. “No, it is fine. Would you like to come in?”
“Yes, please.”
All right. The job was done and received with a cute bonus. Before I can make a smooth exit, Cara grabs my sleeve and stops me. “Liam’s coming too.”
“What?” Hazel and I say at the same time. I shoot her awhat the helllook. “No, I’m not.”
“Oh, yes, you are,” Cara insists, dragging me forward with surprising strength for someone half my size. “It would be rude for you to just leave after coming all the way here.”
“I didn’t come here for her,” I mutter under my breath. Cara beams at Hazel, completely ignoring my protests.
“For me…, please? I do not want to be here without you.”
I pinch the bridge of my nose. “Fine. Five minutes.”
