Chapter 3
Chapter Three
There’s an incessant beat in my chest, thundering like it may explode at any second, as I pull open the door to Perk Up a couple days later.
Work has been insane—that winter storm hit intensely, rain coming down in sideways sheets that didn’t let up for several long, dreary days.
Coffee with Liam, after getting to know each other better over text, is a welcome distraction.
Stepping inside, the warmth from the shop drifts around me like an embrace as my eyes scan around, looking for the man I’m supposed to meet.
I was hoping I’d be early so I wouldn’t have to be the one to seek him out, but it seems like my punctuality is no match for his. As I look across the room, I easily find Liam Waggoner, team doctor for the freaking Bears, already sitting at a table with two steaming to-go-mugs in front of him.
I read no less than eight articles about him and the team, and I’m a little ashamed to admit it makes me even more nervous. It feels like I’m about to go on a date with a celebrity.
As though he can sense me, he looks up, eyes immediately finding mine, and a bright grin appears across his face. Like a gentleman, he stands as I approach the table.
“Hi,” he greets, his eyes roving my body unabashedly. “Wow, Noelle. You’re even more beautiful in person.”
Not wanting to continue the ruse of a fake name throughout our whole date, I shake my head. “Actually, my real name is Genesis. Gen, for short.”
“Ah.” He nods slowly, still smiling wide. “I figured it was either a fake name, or your parents were just super into Christmas.”
“Well, the latter isn’t too far off, but I’m afraid my real name isn’t as festive.”
He rounds the table, pulling out my chair for me. “Well, Genesis is a beautiful name. I hope you don’t mind” –he raises his to-go mug– “I grabbed your hot chocolate already.”
There’s a flicker of concern in my gut as I take my seat, looking down at the drink he easily could have spiked. I don’t know him, and my instincts tell me to refuse the drink, but my manners tell me—
“Oh, shit. I wasn’t thinking.” Liam picks the drink up, never making it back to his chair. “Let me order you another so you can see them make it.”
My eyes snap to his in surprise. “Oh, that’s—”
“No,” he cuts me off again. “I have a sister, and I would never want her to accept a drink from someone without seeing it made. It doesn’t matter if it’s alcohol or hot chocolate.”
Wow. “Thank you.”
Liam squeezes my shoulder. “No problem.”
Walking over to the counter, he tosses the hot cocoa into the trash as he passes it by. I’m still stunned, but grateful, because I would have sat awkwardly with it in front of me otherwise. The gesture speaks volumes to his character, and I relax into my seat further, shrugging off my jacket.
The ugly Christmas sweater I put on is sweltering, but I know once we start caroling I’ll be cold, which is why I wore the extra layer. There’s always a chill in my bones, which does nothing to combat my blanket buying addiction.
From over my shoulder, I watch as Liam reorders my drink, then turns back to give me a small smile. He waits patiently for the barista to remake it, then saunters over to me once it’s in his hands.
“Here you go.” He places it in front of me, then rounds the table back to his seat. “So, caroling, huh?” Leaning back, he crosses his arms casually over his chest.
“It was either invite you or decline your offer, and I’m sorry to say I was far too intrigued by your profession to say no.”
“That’s fair. Most people are enamored by the job title.” Liam’s face falls slightly, his eyebrows knitting together.
A nerve was struck, and as fascinated as I am by what he does, his occupation isn’t what makes him him. “Well, it’s pretty cool. But you can tell me about it later, if you want. Tell me about you.”
Instantly, his spirit seems to lift.
Guilt laces with curiosity—do most women only care about his social status? Do they use him to get to the Bears players, or something? A crack fractures my heart thinking about it.
“Where’d you grow up?” I ask, starting with something basic.
“Well, my father was in the military, so all over the world, really. But California is where we stayed the longest, and where I eventually made my home.”
For the next hour, Liam and I sip on our hot cocoas and get to know each other better, and while I’m not sure I feel a rush of endorphins in his presence, I sense he’s one of the good ones.
He has to be. He agreed to go caroling on our first date.
Speaking of which, it’s almost time…
By the time Liam and I leave Perk Up to head to the neighborhood we’re meeting everyone at to carol, the temperature outside becomes frigid, and by frigid I mean California cold which is around forty-eight degrees.
Pulling up along a residential curb, I cut my engine, turning off my headlights. Liam’s headlights blind me through my mirror as he pulls behind my car. They go dark, then we both exit our cars at the same time. He greets me with a warm smile and steps closer, waiting as I engage the lock.
“It got chilly,” he comments, shoving his hands in his pockets.
Up ahead, I see Zee, Miller, Lincoln, and his date waiting for us by a large camphor tree. My car door’s slam echoes through the quiet street.
“Yeah, it did.” I rub my hands over my jacket-clad arms, smiling at my friends. Zee sees me and waves excitedly.
Liam tips his head in the direction of where everyone stands. “Is that the caroling crew?”
Nodding, I loop my arm through his, and we start walking their way. “Sure is! Zee—the girl in the red jacket—and Miller, her boyfriend, are great, you’ll love them.”
“What about the other couple?”
My heart sinks at the word couple. “That’s Lincoln, Miller's cousin, and his date. I haven’t met her yet.”
The words die on my tongue as we take our final steps and are face to face with the group.
“You made it!” Zee squeals, tossing her arms around my neck. She squeezes tightly, and whispers, “He’s freaking cute!”
As I laugh, she pulls away and extends her hand in Liam's direction, shaking it with enthusiasm. “Hi, I’m Zee. This is Miller”—she gestures to each person as she introduces them—“Lincoln, and Ashlee.”
Miller gives me a side hug. “Good to see you.” Turning to Liam, he shakes his hand too. “Nice to meet you, man.”
“Likewise.” Liam grins, then says to the whole group, “You know, I’m really not much of a singer, so this is a first for me, but I’m looking forward to it.”
“Don’t worry, we’ll just hide behind the women and let them do their thing,” Miller reassures him.
I watch their exchange, relaxing a little, but from across the group, I feel a heavy stare on me. A rush of nerves filters through, and as I lift my gaze, it collides with Lincoln’s.
The impenetrable look reflected back steals the air from my lungs, my heart suddenly pounding.
I’m the first to break our stare, and I immediately wish I hadn’t as my line of sight falls to where Lincoln holds his date—Ashlee’s—hand, their fingers laced together.
Blowing out a shaky breath, I return my attention back to Liam, looping my arm back through his. He smiles down at me briefly as he continues his conversation with Miller.
We carol through the neighborhood for the next forty-five minutes, and despite this being one of my favorite holiday activities, my mind is elsewhere.
I can’t concentrate on enjoying the feeling, and instead, I’m nervous—hyperaware of the men as they stand behind us, adding their baritone sporadically through the songs as they remember the lyrics.
We visited every house on both sides of the street, only skipping a few who weren’t home.
When the last lyric is delivered at the last house, we all head back to our cars with smiles, frozen noses, and the promise to do this again next year.
After we part ways, Liam walks me back to my car, opening my driver’s side door like a gentleman.
“I had a great time tonight, Gen. Thank you for inviting me.” His hand reaches up, brushing a piece of my curly hair that’s fallen out of place. “Do you have any interest in coming back to my hotel for a nightcap? Alcoholic, or non—your choice.”
Glittering with hope, Liam’s hand lingers on the top of the door, holding the metal as I stand between the car and the door.
There’s a split second of hesitancy on my part, but ultimately, I shake my head. “Thank you for such a lovely evening tonight, but I better head home.”
“That’s okay.” Holding his arms open, I step closer to him and wrap mine around his middle. “I’m in town for a couple more days. If there’s any downtime, I’d love to see you if you’re free too.”
“That sounds perfect,” I agree, pulling from his embrace and dipping down to get into my car. “Thank you again, Liam. It was so great to meet you.”
Engaging my seatbelt, I smile up at him before turning on my car.
“Merry Christmas, Gen.” He knocks his fist against my roof twice before shutting my door for me. The windshield begins to defrost as he tucks his hands into his jacket pockets and heads back to his car.
Part of me wants to stop him—invite him to my place.
But I bite my tongue. Watching him through the side mirror, he turns his headlights on and lets his car idle, the silhouette of him not moving until I realize he’s being a gentleman, waiting for me to leave first. There’s another moment of hesitancy, wondering if maybe I should step outside of my comfort zone and pursue this man further, before I put my car into drive and speed off in the direction of home.