Page 65 of Second Chance with the Enemy CEO
As she walks away, I look back at my friends and ask Landon and Brooke who they are driving with. Landon says he is taking his car, and Brooke is going with him. After bidding goodbye to my friends and reminding them for the umpteenth time to go to the charity event, I make my way to the bus.
As soon as I get on the bus, the team greets me with a mix of exhaustion and camaraderie.
“Hey, great game tonight,” I say with a smile, looking around at everyone sprawled in their seats. “Congratulations on the win!”
“Thanks, Hazel,” one of them says, raising a tired hand.
Another teammate grins. “You catch that winning goal on camera?”
“Every angle,” I reply with a wink.
Scanning the bus, I notice there’s only one obvious spot left - next to Liam. My stomach twists at the thought of sitting next to him for the ride.
I take a deep breath and start toward the back. When I see one of the guys with his bag sprawled across the seat, I stop beside him.
“Hey,” I say politely. “Do you mind moving your bag? I need a seat.”
He glances up and shrugs. “Can’t. Got something fragile in there.”
I blink, caught off guard. “Oh, okay… no problem.”
I move down to another row and try again. “Is this seat free?”
“Not really,” the guy says, nodding toward Liam. “There’s an empty spot right there.”
I bite the inside of my cheek, keeping my tone light. “Got it. Thanks.”
“Logan, can I sit with you?”
“No, can’t do. I need enough room to stretch my long stressed-out legs. There’s an empty seat next to Liam, it’s pretty glaring.”
I suppress a sigh. It seems like everyone is in on some kind of unspoken joke. With no other choice, I head toward the back of the bus. Liam is sitting with his head against the window, eyes closed, earbuds in. He does not acknowledge me as I slide into the seat beside him.
The bus starts moving, and the hum of the engine fills the air. The players chatter and laugh, the energy high after their victory. I let my camera rest on my lap for a moment before deciding to get to work. Standing carefully to avoid bumping into anyone, I start snapping pictures, then I zero in on James, slouched in his seat, his head lolling back, and - true to Katie’s prediction - his mouth wide open. I stifle a laugh as I get the perfect shot.
“Gotcha,” I mutter under my breath.
Suddenly, the bus jolts, and I lurch sideways. Before I can catch myself, an arm loops around my waist, steadying me.
“Careful,” Liam murmurs, his voice low. I glance up, my heart skipping a beat as I meet his sharp blue eyes.
Well, isn’t this just cliché?
I start to pull away, muttering a quick “Thanks,” but then he adds, “hate for you to take out half the team with your graceful moves.”
I straighten quickly, brushing his hand away and shooting him a glare. “Thanks, Liam. Your concern is overwhelming.”
“Just doing my civic duty,” he quips, leaning back against the window, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. “But maybe hold onto something next time. Although, if you wanted to get closer, you could have just asked.”
I roll my eyes so hard, and it is a miracle they don’t get stuck. “Don’t flatter yourself.”
A faint smirk tugs at the corner of his mouth. “Next time, I’ll let you fall.”
“Next time, I won’t be anywhere near you,” I shoot back, adjusting my seat belt and pretending to be entirely focused on my camera settings. “Also, don’t strain yourself trying to be nice.”
“I don’t think we’re there yet,” he fires back, closing his eyes and adjusting his earbuds like the conversation is already over.
Finally, we arrived at Lakeview Park, and as it was five years ago, it is now. Absolutely beautiful. The park is lit with twinkling string lights and scattered with food stalls, game booths, and donation stations, while a small stage hosts live music. The cool evening air is filled with laughter and the sweet aroma of caramel popcorn.
