Chapter 5
CHAPTER
FIVE
Liam
She’s nibbling on her bottom lip as she looks at the menu.
If New York feels like some sort of Christmas caricature art, Serendipity feels like stepping into a daydream.
It’s a mix of retro kitsch, whimsical fantasy, and vintage charm.
Pastel-pink walls, Tiffany-style lamps hanging low over every table, and a collage of quirky antiques and old-fashioned clocks.
It’s as cute and vibrant as the woman sitting across from me. But not nearly as sexy.
“So, you said this place is known for its frozen hot chocolate?” I ask her.
“Mmmhmm. It’s so yummy. You have to try it.” She sets her menu down and wiggles her eyebrows at me. “It’s practically orgasmic.”
“Orgasmic, you say?” I hold up my arm. “I’ll take two, please!”
She drops her mouth open, entertained by my nonsense.
“Do you want one too?” I tease, smirking.
She clears her throat. “Why, yes, I think I do.”
The waiter comes by to take our order since he probably saw my raised arm. “Are you both ready to order?”
“Yes, I’ll take the bacon mac and a frozen hot chocolate.” She hands him her menu. “Oh, and can I also get a glass of water?”
He nods, then looks at me. “And you, sir?”
“I’ll have a cheeseburger, hold the tomato, but can I get some extra pickles?” I look at him, and he nods. “Great, and I’ll have a frozen hot chocolate too.”
“I’ll get that right in for you.” He takes my menu and walks away.
“So … Vixen, tell me about you. I know you’re from New York and that you know my buddy Aaron. How do you know him?” I ask.
Her earmuffs are sitting in front of her on the table, and she takes them in her hands and starts to twist them back and forth. I can’t tell if she’s nervous or just needs something to do with her hands.
“I’m from New York City. I know Aaron because our families have been friends since we were babies.
Or before that really. Our dads went to college together and stayed in touch.
Then, when his family moved to New York, we spent a lot of time with them.
He’s like a brother to me.” She looks up at me from under her long, dark lashes.
“Do you have any siblings?” I want to know everything about her.
“I have an older sister, and we’re pretty close. She’s just finishing up her sports medicine residency, so she’ll be around more now.”
“Where did you go to college?” I reach out my hand and take one of hers in mine.
“I just graduated from Boston College in May, and I’m back here now full-time. I’m considering getting my master's, but I’m not really sure I want to.” She lifts a shoulder.
“Boston, huh? I haven’t been there either. Do you like it better there or here?”
She leans across the table to get closer to me. “Don’t tell anyone …” She puts her delicate finger on her lips. “I like Boston better.”
I gasp. “You do? Wait, why would that be a secret?” I laugh.
She tilts her head back and forth. “You know … the rivalry between the Red Sox and the Yankees. Tale as old as time, my friend.”
“Ahh … baseball. Gotcha.”
“New York will always be my home though.”
The waiter returns to the table with her water and two large bowls, each with what I assume is the frozen hot chocolate, topped with whipped cream. Definitely not on my food plan, but I’ll indulge anyway. It looks amazing.
“Thank you,” she says as he sets hers in front of her.
“Thanks, man.” I look up and smile at him.
“My pleasure. Your food should be out shortly.” He turns and walks to the table next to ours.
“What was your major in college?” I lift the straw from my drink, dragging the tip slowly across the whipped cream, and bring it to my mouth, letting a dollop cling to my lips. I glance up, and she’s watching me—mouth slightly parted, eyes tracing the motion like she’s memorizing it.
“Uh, what? What was the question?” She tucks a piece of hair behind her ear.
“Your major? What do you want to be when you grow up?” I chuckle.
“Excuse me, sir, but I’m very grown up.” She winks at me, flirting again.
“Oh, I’m well aware of that.” I laugh. “But what do you want to do with your degree?”
She takes a sip of her drink, sits back, and releases my hand. “Well, my degree is in business management. So managing … things.” She looks off to the side, not meeting my eyes.
“That’s cool. Do you have any jobs lined up yet, or are you already working?”
“I have a job, yes. I work in my family business, actually.” She looks back at me with a smile.
“That’s awesome. And lucky. What’s your family business?” I take a drink of the most delicious concoction I think I’ve ever tasted. I’m not sure I can ever drink regular hot chocolate again after this.
“My family is in the sports business.” She takes another sip of hers.
“You’re kidding?” I sit back in my seat and set my hands on the table.
“Nope. I mean, we have other businesses, too, but our parent company is sports-related.”
Makes sense. She’s in the sports business, she’s good friends with Aaron, and she was at the same wedding I attended.
I could pry more, learn more about her—her name, where she works—but I’m not going to.
Not tonight. This little game I’m playing—trying to figure out if she knows who I am—is too much fun to ruin with facts.
Part of me would be disappointed if she did know.
Ever since becoming a pro football player, I’ve been warned more than once to watch who I spend time with.
Mainly women. It’s a harsh reality that some people only want to get close to you because of your status.
That’s why I’ve stayed away from getting too close to any woman.
I hate that thought. Especially since I have friends who’ve found real, genuine relationships with amazing women.
As my agent reminds me of often, they met their girls in college when they were still mildly famous. Now, apparently, I’m a “somebody,” and I have to be careful.
But tonight, none of that matters. Tonight, not knowing who she really is—her name, her job, whether she even knows my name—is exactly what makes this dangerous little game addictive.
It’s just skating, just teasing, just laughter.
No expectations. And for once, I can enjoy it without thinking about what comes next.
Before she can say more, the waiter brings our food to the table.
He sets hers down in front of her first. Her mac and cheese is piled high with bacon chunks resting on top.
It’s bubbling over the sides, and it looks delicious.
Then he sets mine down in front of me. My burger sits on a big pink dish, with French fries taking over half the plate.
We both thank him, and he leaves the table.
“Enough about me. Tell me more about you, Blitzen. Where are you from?” she asks me.
I smile as I remove the tomato, since they forgot to keep it off, and the bottom part of the bun, setting them to the side on my plate. Then I put the lettuce on the top bun, and with my fork, I place the burger patty on top. When I look up at her to answer, she’s holding her fork but watching me.
“You a picky eater?” She smirks.
I laugh. “Ha. Not really. I just try to limit my carbs, and I want a few fries, so I’ll sacrifice half the bun.”
“Ah, okay. So, your hometown?”
“Right, yes. Well, you know I’m from Kansas, but I live in New Orleans now for work.
I have an older brother, and I was somewhat of a surprise to my parents, but I’m close with them.
I still call my mom every day.” I chuckle.
“I’m a Sagittarius. Umm … what else? Oh, I went to college at Walker University, then transferred to Michigan for my last year, which you probably figured out since I know Aaron. ” I lift my brows and look at her.
She nods as she chews her food, then swallows. “Yes, I … figured that it was college.”
“Yeah, it was my last year. If you don’t already know, which I suspect you do because of the company we were in, I play football.” I raise my brows, looking at her.
She nods and smiles. “Let’s just keep it at that, okay? Don’t tell me anything else about your career. I want to know the man under the helmet.” She winks.
“You do, huh?” I chuckle. “Okay, sure. What else do you want to know?”
She purses her lips and puts her finger on her chin. “So, you must have just had a birthday since you’re a Sagittarius. Happy belated birthday.” She lifts her water to me in cheers. “Um, were you happy or sad to leave Walker and go to Michigan?”
“Yes, it was on December 10, and thank you. As for my transfer, it was the hardest decision I’ve had to make so far, honestly.
My friends at Walker are like family to me.
” I pull in a deep breath. “Don’t get me wrong; I have some good buddies from Michigan.
I mean, I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t care about them, but it’s just different. ” I shrug.
“I get that. I don’t have a ton of close friends, but my sister and I are really close, and like I said, Aaron is like a brother. It was hard being away from them when I was at college.”
Even though she has said it twice now that they’re like family, I have to know if it’s ever been something more. “Have you and Aaron ever dated?”
Her head drops back, and she lets out a deep belly laugh. “Oh God, no. It’s never been like that between us.”
“Okay, good to know. I just want to make sure that me being here with you won’t cause any problems if y’all are close, close.”
“Ew, no. I mean, he’s a great guy, but I have never seen him as anything more than a friend.” She takes another bite of her food.
“But you don’t have a boyfriend, do you?”
“Blitzen, I wouldn’t be here with you if I did.” She gives me a flirty smile. “You don’t have a girlfriend, do you?”
I shake my head. “No, I don’t have a girlfriend.”
I’m not gonna close down an opportunity with this girl by explaining that my job is a priority right now because if I have a chance with her, even for one night, I’m not blowing it.
“Good. I’m glad to hear it.” We stare at each other, smiling.
“Are you ready to move on to our next adventure?”
“Vixen, I’ll go anywhere with you.”
I reach for her hand again, and she places hers in mine.