Chapter 15
Liam
“Wait, you’re serious?” I say to Kendall. “You actually want to start a book club with me?”
She beams. “Yeah. I think it would be fun. Think of all the books you’ve always wanted to read, that you didn’t get a chance to in college. We’ll read them together.”
For a moment, I stand there, surprised by her reaction.
A second later, relief wooshes through me. Then warmth.
I never planned on telling Kendall about how I coasted through my college classes. That was something I thought I’d take to the grave.
But I want to be honest with her, just like she’s been honest with me. It wouldn’t feel right if this whole time she thought that we put in the same amount of work in college. We didn’t. She worked way, way harder than me.
So even though it scared me to death to finally admit it to her, I did it. I thought for sure she’d be upset and tell me off. She has every right to. She studied her ass off in college, while I played hockey and partied and was given passing grades that I didn’t deserve.
But she didn’t get upset. She felt bad for me. She empathized with me. She even comforted me and told me how it wasn’t completely my fault.
And instead of laughing in my face when I told her I wanted to start a book club together, she said she’d be up for it.
That warmth burrows deeper inside the center of my chest; the tension in my shoulders starts to loosen. I never thought I’d open up to anyone in this way. But Kendall makes it easy. She makes me feel supported and understood in a way I’ve never felt before.
I know I don’t deserve this shot with Kendall. She’s better than me. Smarter than me. She deserves to spend her time with a guy who didn’t cheat his way through college.
But I’m not noble enough to deny myself the opportunity to spend time with her. Because I like Kendall. A lot. This is a chance to spend more time with her and do something I’ve always wanted to do. I’m taking it.
“We’re really doing this?” I say through a smile. “Kendall and Liam’s book club?”
She chuckles. “Yeah. We are. What book should we start out with?”
“I always wanted to read Pride & Prejudice.”
Her perfectly arched eyebrows lift the slightest bit. “Really?”
“Yeah. Is that weird?”
She shakes her head. “Not at all. I’m just surprised.” A teasing smile pulls at her lips. “I never thought you’d be into Jane Austen.”
“I was seeing this woman a while ago and her favorite movie was Pride & Prejudice. It was honestly really good. I didn’t know it was a book until she told me. I thought it could be fun to read.”
Kendall flashes the most beautiful smile. All the nerves inside of me instantly ease.
“Jane Austen is my hero,” she says. “I love Pride & Prejudice, but after that, we have to read Persuasion. I think it’s way better.”
I raise an eyebrow. “Really?”
She bites back a smile as she nods.
“I can’t wait to read that one too then.”
“I’m curious to see which one you prefer.”
I grin. “We’ll find out.”
My biceps and chest are on fire as I push the barbell up. I’m on the last rep of my last set on the bench press and the muscles in my torso are trembling.
I rack the bar and take a second to catch my breath. Normally I’d have rock music blasting in my ears to power me through my workout.
But today I’m listening to the audiobook of Pride & Prejudice.
I’m only a few chapters into the book, but I’m pretty into it already. The main characters, Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy, had a pretty unpleasant first meeting. It’ll be interesting to see how these two end up together.
When I sit up on the bench, I see my teammate Mack Mason walk across the gym over to me.
I pull out my earbud.
“Hey, can you spot me on the bench press?” he asks.
I tell him sure and walk over to the other bench press. We nod “hi” to our other teammate Wes Casey as he takes a breather between sets at the squat rack.
I help Mason load up the barbell. As he sets up on the bench, I stand over the bar.
As he pumps out rep after rep for his first set, I listen as Mr. Darcy insults Elizabeth’s looks and refuses to dance with her at some ball. Damn. That’s harsh.
I glance down at Mason gritting his teeth, his arms shaking as he struggles with his final rep. I grab it and help him rack it. He sits up and hunches over, catching his breath.
I glance around the gym. If my teammates knew that I was listening to a romance novel while working out, they’d give me so much shit.
I smile to myself. I wouldn’t care. This book is pretty good so far. And it’s something I get to do with Kendall.
Mack knocks out a couple more sets on the bench press before hitting the exercise bike. I take the one next to him. When we finish our cooldown, I head to the mat to stretch.
“Rocking out to Sabrina Carpenter again?” Wes says as he takes the other side of the mat to stretch.
“Nope. Audiobook.”
He brushes his sweaty dark hair out of his face. “Since when did you start listening to audiobooks?”
“Since today.”
He hinges forward slightly as he stretches out his quad. “Are you trying out audiobooks because you still haven’t learned to read?”
I throw my sweaty towel at his face. He groans and throws it back at me.
“What’s this about you learning how to read, Scott?” Mack says while walking by us to grab a fresh water bottle from the nearby mini fridge.
“He’s listening to an audiobook since he doesn’t know how to read,” Wes jokes.
“I know how to read, asshole,” I say. I hit the ground and do a cobra stretch. I groan softly when I feel the slight pull in my hips. “I’m giving audiobooks a try. I didn’t have time to sit down with a book today.”
“Audiobooks are awesome,” Mack says. “They’re the only way I can turn off my brain after a game.”
Mack is a sci-fi nerd. When he’s not playing or training, he’s constantly listening to sci-fi audiobooks.
“What are you listening to?” he asks.
“Pride and Prejudice.”
Mack quirks an eyebrow. “Really? Never thought you’d be into the classics.”
“A friend recommended it,” I say.
“My mom loves that movie,” Wes says. “She’s made me watch it with her like a million times. It’s pretty good.”
“Aww that’s cute, mama’s boy,” I tease. He flips me off.
Just then, the door to the gym opens. I look over and see Kendall standing at the entrance.