Liam

by Candice Blake

  “What is it?” he asked.

  “I wanted to invite you out to my game in a few days in New York City. I’ll get to spend a few days there afterward, and they put me up in a really nice hotel in Manhattan. If you want to come, I could get you courtside seats too.”

  “In a few days?” he asked. “That’s a bit short notice. I have Hayden, remember? Besides, there are a lot of things going on at work that need my attention right now.”

  “It’s not anything serious, is it?”

  “No, just some companies we’re working with have been taking advantage of us, so we have some meetings to let them know we’ve had enough.”

  I pictured Liam in a boardroom with Damon, and it made me smile.

  “Well, I’m flying out on Friday night, and returning Monday morning, so it wouldn’t really affect your work schedule.”

  “What am I going to do with Hayden though?” he asked. “And I’ll have to book a flight and figure out where I’m going to stay. I’m happy you’re inviting me, but I don’t think I can do it this time.”

  “Well, I have my private jet,” I said. “You can definitely bring Hayden along and like I said, I’ll have a really nice hotel suite in Manhattan. It’ll have more than enough room for Hayden, you, and me.”

  I could see Liam’s wheels spinning like he was seriously considering my offer.

  “Why do you want me to come?” he asked.

  “I think it’ll be fun to get away for a weekend. I had a really great time with you and Hayden at the apple farm the other day, and I want to see you at my game. When you and Damon were at one of my games the other night, I played better than I usually do for some reason.”

  “Does that mean you’re inviting Damon to New York too?”

  “I hadn’t thought about it,” I said. “I only invited you so far. But if you feel more comfortable having Damon there, he’s welcome to come. I’ll have enough seats on the private jet for all of us. It’ll kind of feel like we’re dormmates again when we stay at the hotel together, except you both have babies now.”

  Liam smiled. “It’ll be like we’re reliving a bit of our past.”

  I didn’t want to tell Liam that the reason why I only invited him was that I wanted to spend some alone time with him. I wanted to talk to him in an intimate setting and try to rebuild the bond we once had. But if inviting Damon meant he’d be more comfortable, then I was willing to do that too.

  The waitress returned with our appetizers, and she set them down in the middle of the table so Liam and I could share them.

  “What do you think?” I asked. “Do you want to come to NYC?”

  “If we’re just going during the weekend, I guess I can come,” he said. “I think it’d be a good trip to destress.”

  I smiled. “Great. So, should I invite Damon too?”

  Liam nodded. “It’ll be good if he’s there because it’s an extra set of hands to take care of Hayden, but he’ll probably want to invite Jesse and his daughter too.”

  I realized that was perfect. That way, Damon and Jesse could spend time with each other, while I would get to spend time with Liam.

  “Consider it a done deal,” I said. “I’ll give Damon a call tomorrow and ask him if he’s interested. I doubt he’d say no to such a fun weekend.”

  “I know he won’t,” Liam said. “Damon loves these weekend getaways. He was complaining the other day how he’s been having fewer of them since he has two kids to take care of.”

  I smiled. “It’s going to be different having three kids on the jet and in the hotel room. But I think it’ll be good for me. I’ll get to help you guys out and be a sort of surrogate father for them.”

  I looked down at the delicious food. “We should eat while the food is hot.”

  Liam and I enjoyed the crab cakes and charcuterie while sipping our drinks.

  Since we were seated at a small table, I felt his leg brush up against mine once in a while. I was sure it was purely by accident, but whenever it happened, I couldn’t help but feel warm inside.

  Throughout our dinner, I kept stealing glances at him.

  His blond hair was slicked back, and he was wearing a Rolex watch with a green dial that matched the color of his eyes.

  I noticed the small birthmark shaped like a seahorse was still on his arm. He held the fork with his left hand and I remembered how he was left-handed and the funny way he held the fork because of it.

  I studied the way he’d nervously shift in his seat whenever the pretty waitress came back to check up on us. I loved the way his cheeks got a bit rosy from the beer.

  The waitress came to give us our entrees, and we ordered another round of drinks.

  I hadn’t been so interested in someone in a really long time, and I couldn’t help but wonder what would’ve happened had we remained friends.

  Would he still have gotten married and had a baby?

  Would we have been more than just friends?

  I guessed life was kind of funny like that. Something like a fight had the power to change the course of the future in so many ways, like a butterfly effect.

  It was why I felt so much more nervous now when I hung out with Liam. I didn’t want to fuck it up again.

  Yet, I wasn’t sure if I wanted anything more than his friendship. I’d been single for most of my life, dating and fucking only casually. I enjoyed this bachelor lifestyle, and I didn’t know if I’d give it up for anyone.

  But I knew I couldn’t have it both ways.

  I knew there was a limit to how close I could get to Liam if I didn’t completely let myself be vulnerable.

  “What are you thinking about?” Liam asked.

  His question caught me off guard. I didn’t know how I’d tell him I was thinking about him.

  “Everything,” I said.

  He smiled. “I’m usually the one overthinking things.”

  “Well, I’ve been overthinking a lot now that I’m getting older. Like when I’m going to retire from playing ball.”

  “Are you thinking of doing it in the next few years?”

  “Well the oldest player to have played in the NBA was forty-five, and that’s my age now. So, if I play for one more season, it’s going to break that record. Though, I can feel my body catching up to me now. I don’t feel as strong on the court as when I was in my twenties, even thirties. It’s all been hitting me really hard. The other day when I finished practice, I’d never been in so much pain before. All my muscles ached and all I could do was lay down on the couch in my private locker room. I closed the door so people wouldn’t see me in that state. I don’t want my teammates to see me like that since I’m the captain of the team. I should be the strongest person, not the weakest.”

  “You’re far from weak,” Liam said. “But you’ve always pushed yourself to your absolute limit. I think your body is trying to tell you its new limit, and you should listen to it.”

  “I can’t. I refuse to believe I can’t do some of the things I used to be able to do in my sleep. I’ve always believed I can do anything and it’s gotten me this far.”

  “That’s a good way to injure yourself and never play again,” Liam said. “I remember you used to need a lot of rest after games when we were in college, and I’d have to massage you because you overworked your body. Maybe your body could tolerate that much stress when you were eighteen. But after twenty-something years, it’s reaching a point where it just can’t anymore.”

  I sighed. “What am I going to do if I’m not playing ball? It’s my life. It’s all I know and it’s what I’m known for. I’ll be in such a deep state of depression if I’m not on the court, making our city and my fans proud.”

  “You can coach,” Liam said. “You’d be a damn good coach.”

  He considered it for a moment. “That’s not a bad idea actually,” I said. “I just never thought of it because I always saw myself on the court.”

  “You’re still young. Maybe not as a basketball player, but in life. You’re handsome an
d you’re fit. Even if you don’t coach, you’ll have so many opportunities for a life outside of basketball.”

  “You’re right,” I said with a smile. “You remind me why I enjoy talking to you so much.”

  Liam blushed. “And why’s that?”

  “Because you’re a damn good listener who gives good advice.” I didn’t add the part where he was easy on the eyes.

  “I’m only like this when I’m with certain people. You somehow bring it out of me.”

  I had a lot to think about, but as Liam and I had dinner that night, I was more in the present moment than I usually was. At the end of dinner, the waitress brought over the bill, and Liam and I both took out our wallets to pay for it.

  “Let me get this one,” I said.

  Liam grabbed the bill off the tray. “No, it’s alright.”

  “Seriously, I’m the one who invited you. Let me get it.”

  Liam sighed. “Alright, you’re going to let me get the next one then.”

  I smiled, hoping he’d say that. “Deal.”

  I gave the waitress my card and gave her a generous tip for the great service. Liam and I got up and headed outside. I could already see a group of people forming at the front of the restaurant, phones and cameras out ready to take my picture.

  “Did you drive here?” I asked, before we stepped outside.

  “No, I took the subway.”

  “I can give you a ride home then,” I said.

  I opened the front door, and smiled at all the fans, trying to be as polite as I could. Liam and I walked quickly to my car and got inside. I breathed a sigh of relief as the cameras continued to flash all around the car.

  “I don’t know how you do this,” Liam said.

  “Sometimes, I don’t know either. I hope you’re prepared for it when we go to New York.”

  19

  Shawn

  Present Day

  When I arrived at the airport, Liam, Damon, Jesse, and their kids had already arrived.

  They were seated in the private lounge, each holding a baby.

  I smiled when I saw Liam who was dressed casually in a hoodie and sweatpants. I walked over to them.

  “Hey,” Liam said, standing up to greet me with a half-hug.

  “I hope you guys weren’t waiting here for too long,” I said.

  “Not at all. We arrived half an hour ago.”

  Damon and Jesse walked over to me and smiled. Damon’s baby, Brooklyn, had on the cutest Nike sneakers.

  “Is it going to be Brooklyn’s first time in New York?” I asked.

  “It is,” Damon said. “I always knew New York was going to be the first place out of the country I was going to take him. I just didn’t know it was going to be this soon.”

  “I’m guessing none of these babies have flown before,” I said.

  “It’s going to be the first time for all of them,” Liam said.

  “Well, it won’t be too bad on the private jet,” I said. “If they cry, there aren’t going to be strangers giving them dirty looks.”

  “Thank you for this by the way,” Damon said.

  “I should be the one thanking you guys for coming to support me,” I said.

  Damon opened his arms and gave me a hug.

  I looked out on the tarmac and could see the pilot getting my jet getting ready for takeoff.

  “We can get on whenever you guys are ready,” I said

  “We’re ready,” Jesse said.

  I helped Liam carry his bag since he was carrying Hayden. A security guard escorted us to the tarmac, and we climbed up the stairs into the jet. My pilot, Nathan, was standing by the door and he greeted us with handshakes.

  “It’s nice to see you again, Nathan,” I said.

  “It’s nice to see you too,” Nathan said. “You brought some cute friends today.”

  “You talking about the gentlemen or the kids?” I asked jokingly.

  Nathan laughed. “Kids? Oh, I didn’t even see the kids, I just noticed the good-looking men.”

  I knew Nathan was kidding because he was married to a wonderful woman who I’d met on a few occasions.

  I got on the plane and watched my friends’ reaction to seeing my jet for the first time. Liam’s eyes widened and he looked around the jet.

  “This is fucking incredible,” Liam said. “I can’t believe this is yours.”

  “It’s worth it, considering how often I travel. I feel bad sometimes that I don’t fly with my teammates. But after I got a taste of flying in a private jet, I just couldn’t go back.”

  Damon and Jesse sat down next to each other, and put their kids in their laps. Liam settled Hayden’s car seat in one of the seats and I decided to take the empty seat next to him.

  The flight attendant came by. “Would you gentlemen like any drinks before takeoff?”

  “Definitely,” Liam said. “Do you have any beer?”

  “We have Heineken and Coors Light.”

  “I’ll take a Heineken please,” Liam said.

  I noticed Liam’s hand trembling a bit and he tried to steady it on his lap.

  “Are you nervous?” I asked Liam quietly, when the flight attendant went to get his beer.

  He gulped and nodded. “Yeah, I don’t usually tell people, but I don’t really like flying.”

  “I remembered you mentioned it to me once when we were in college,” I said. “Are you going to be alright when we take off?”

  “Yeah, I should be. I think I’m especially nervous, because Hayden’s here with me right now, but I’m trying to stay calm for him.”

  “You’ll be fine,” I said. “Don’t you fly a lot for business though?”

  Liam shook his head. “I usually drive whenever I can. When I need to travel somewhere far away for business, Damon’s usually the one who goes for me.”

  “What scares you about flying?” I asked.

  “Just the whole idea of someone else being in complete control of something that’s thirty-thousand feet in the air. I don’t know how other people can relax on a plane, but I guess I’m a bit anxious that way.”

  “Well, I can tell you that my pilot is very trustworthy. He’s had over thirty years of flying experience.”

  “I know my fear is irrational, but at the same time, I don’t know how to not be afraid of it.”

  “Whenever I’m scared, I try to distract myself with something else. I think happy thoughts. Maybe try to think of how much fun we’ll have when we land in New York.”

  Liam took a deep breath. “Like getting street hot dogs?”

  I smiled. “We’ll get so many street hot dogs and pizza slices.”

  Liam smiled for a brief second before he tensed up again.

  The flight attendant came back to give Liam his beer, and his hand shook slightly as he reached for the can.

  I wanted to comfort him in some way, but I didn’t know how, because Jesse and Damon were sitting right in front of us. As far as I knew, they didn’t know about me and Liam yet.

  “We’ll be taking off in fifteen minutes,” the captain announced over the speaker.

  Liam chugged his beer. I could see him try to calm down by taking deep breaths and putting his hands between his thighs to stop them from shaking.

  “Is there anything I can do for you?” I asked.

  Liam shook his head. “How long is this flight again?”

  “It’ll be less than two hours. Why did you agree to come if you were so afraid of flying?”

  Liam shrugged. “I came to support you. When we were having dinner the other night, you told me that you did better when Damon and I were at your game, so I wanted to show up for you.”

  I had a feeling of fullness in my heart. “We’ll be in New York before you know it.”

  “Alright,” Liam said. “I’m going to close my eyes until we take off.”

  The pilot steered the jet onto the runway, and Liam trembled slightly. I reached over and grabbed his hand, our fingers interlocking together. No one could see us holding
hands and I was hoping that it would calm him down.

  Holding Liam’s hand made me think of the time we took a train together to my parents’ house that Thanksgiving.

  As the plane sped up on the runway, Liam gripped onto my hand harder. He started cutting off the circulation in my fingers because he was holding so tight, but I didn’t mind.

  Liam furrowed his brows and all the muscles in his body tensed up. The tension in his body was like he was about to have an orgasm. As the plane left the ground, I started to get a semi-hard-on from looking at Liam, and the cabin pressure.

  I smoothed my thumb on the back of Liam’s hand.

  “It’s alright,” I said quietly. “We’ll be okay.”

  Liam’s eyes remained closed and he nodded. I wondered if he was going to keep his eyes closed the entire flight to New York. I wondered also whether he was going to continue holding my hand so tightly, because I was going to have to let go eventually so I could feel my fingers again.

  As we reached altitude, the plane stabilized, and the seatbelt light turned off. Liam opened his eyes again and looked toward the window at the clouds.

  “I forgot how beautiful it is up here,” Liam said.

  Liam let go of my hand and I moved my fingers around so I could get the blood circulating again.

  “Being up in the sky is one of my favorite places to be,” I said. “It’s so peaceful up here and I love seeing the earth from a different perspective.”

  “I’ll stick to seeing the sky from the ground,” Liam said, which made me laugh.

  Liam checked up on Hayden to make sure he was okay. I was surprised by how he hadn’t cried yet, while Brooklyn and Ari were both crying in front of us.

  “If you’re brave enough, I want to show you something,” I said.

  “Does it require me having to get up from my seat?” Liam asked.

  I nodded. “It’ll require you to walk to the back of the plane.”

  Liam turned his head and looked behind him. “What’s behind that door?”

  “You’ll see,” I said.

  “You’re not going to tell me?”

  “I can’t tell you. I’d much rather show you so you can see it firsthand.”