Page 32 of After All This Time (A Time For Love #2)

Cooper

" Y ou’re weird today.”

Nate’s voice snaps me out of my reverie.

Thankfully, just in time to stop the hot coffee I’m pouring from overflowing and giving myself second-degree burns.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I say casually.

Except I know exactly what he’s talking about.

I am a mess of emotions and thoughts.

I’ve been distracted ever since my date with Liam, my mind replaying every detail of our arcade time and his confession, before switching to everything we did afterwards.

My heart floods with warmth at the thought of him taking me to the same place he first realized the shift of his feelings for me.

And then later that night, the way he made my body sing.

God, I can’t stop picturing the hot slide of his cock in my mouth every time I’m near him. Or from remembering the delirious pleasure when he swallowed me whole and sucked the cum out of me in a way that made me lose my fucking mind.

The fact that we’ve both been busy as fuck since then with work stuff, falling to bed at night practically exhausted, has done nothing to make me forget.

Jesus, my dick is twitching right now just thinking about it.

Definitely not the best moment with Nate sitting mere inches away from me.

And looking at me suspiciously.

“Did you meet someone?”

I choke.

“What?”

Nate crosses his arms, pinning me with his scrutinizing gaze from his spot at the cafe’s counter.

“You heard me. You look like your mind is completely elsewhere, not to mention that you have that far-off look I get when I’m usually thinking about Mads.”

“So you’re finally admitting how gone you are for her?”

“I’ve never really hidden it. And don’t change the subject.”

“I’m not changing anything. There’s nothing to tell.”

“Cooper—”

The door to the cafe opens with its familiar chiming sound, stopping Nate mid-sentence.

Saved by the bell. Literally.

Only the joke’s on me because my mouth dries when I see Liam walking in.

And not alone.

Cameron Parker, the superstar hockey player, is flanking him. Both of them are laughing, joking around with each other, Liam’s eyes crinkling at the corners.

For some reason, I feel my face fall, which is weird considering how much I love it when Liam laughs.

My chest pinches when I realize it’s because that laugh is not directed at me.

Something ugly rears its head inside me at the sight of this tall and handsome guy laughing so easily with my…

My Liam.

Jealousy coats my insides with its bitterness, an emotion I’ve never felt before in my life.

But when Liam’s dark green eyes lock with mine, it’s impossible to hold on to that emotion.

Because the bitterness burns off leaving only powerful longing in its place.

“Hey, buddy,” Nate greets our friend, because apparently my motor skills are currently compromised.

Liam tears his gaze away from me, turning to smile at Nate, who thankfully seems oblivious to our private exchange.

“Hey, guys. This is Cameron,” he says nodding towards him, as if there would be a chance in hell we didn’t know him. “Cameron, these are Cooper and Nate.”

“Hey, nice to meet you,” Cameron says with a pleasant smile, offering to shake our hands.

“Good to meet you too, man. Though let’s cut the crap, we obviously know who you are. You’ve had a great season so far.”

Cameron chuckles. “Yeah, it’s been—”

His smile falls, his gaze zeroing in on something over my shoulder.

And it’s like watching a car crash happen.

I see it when Lily comes out from the small break room, her long, auburn hair loose down her back, held back by today’s bright yellow bandana with daisies, a matching floral dress swishing around her knees.

And I also see it when her eyes fall on us and she freezes.

“Flower?” Cameron says in a hoarse whisper, his gaze unwavering.

“Cam?” Lily’s eyes widen in a rare expression of vulnerability and what looks like hurt, before they shutter completely.

I watch as her face hardens and she turns on her heel, severing the connection and disappearing back into the break room.

Cameron makes an aborted move to go after her, before he stops himself, his jaw clenching.

“Okaaay,” I draw the word out. “I feel like I’m missing something here.” Torn between going after Lily to check if she’s alright and wanting to give her space, I remain planted at my spot, turning to Cameron instead. “Do you know each other?”

Cameron’s expression looks haunted when he lifts his eyes.

“Yes,” he says in a rough voice. “She’s my wife.”

Three sets of eyes, including mine, widen at his words.

And we’re all just kind of stuck in the awkwardness of whatever this situation is, not knowing how to move on from it.

That is, until Nate takes care of it.

He clears his throat.

“So, Cooper is seeing someone.”

My head snaps towards him so fast, I think I sprain my neck.

“What?!”

“What?” Nate shrugs. “It seemed like a safe topic.”

I’m staring at him, opening and closing my mouth like a fish.

God, my face feels flaming hot.

I sneak a glance at Liam and I’m completely unprepared for the look of raw heat and pure satisfaction I see pasted there.

“Oh really?” he smirks.

“Yep, most likely,” Nate quips and I want to throttle him. “He’s been staring into the void all day. A classic sign of infatuation.”

Yeah, my face is definitely on fire.

“Is that so?” Liam asks huskily, and am I the only one who actually notices that?

I swallow thickly, the look he’s giving me making me dangerously weak, and I absolutely have to change the subject.

“Anyway, what are you guys up to?” I ask in a cheery voice that sounds totally fake to my own ears, and judging by Liam’s filthy side-grin, he knows it, too.

Cameron still looks kind of off, glancing every so often towards the door behind me, but smiles as he answers.

“Well, Liam and I met up to talk shop about the new physio clinic. Though as I told him, he doesn’t need to worry about getting started.

Anyone who’s ever worked with him will recommend him sight unseen.

He’s a fucking miracle worker, whether he’s just giving you a massage or kicking your ass in rehabilitation. ”

Oh, and look at that. My eyes are once again drawn to Liam’s hands, which are in the pockets of his sweats right now, so it looks like I’m staring at his crotch.

Awesome.

And of course, he’s noticed the whole thing, seeing as he’s grinning like a gorgeous idiot.

God, where are some new orders when you need them?

Nope, everyone seems happy to sip on and munch on what’s already in front of them.

“So anyway,” Liam’s low voice draws my helpless gaze back to his. “We thought it would be nice to meet afterwards at the open court by the park to shoot some hoops if you’re game.”

He’s talking to both me and Nate, but his eyes never leave me, and I can’t deny the thrill that goes through me at the challenge I see reflected there.

Nate and I barely exchange a look, before we’re nodding.

“We’re in.”

***

We meet a couple of hours later.

I have just enough time to leave the cafe and go back home for a quick change of clothes.

When I get to the park, the guys are already there and I feel the adrenaline pumping through my veins with every step I take.

Fuck, it’s been too long since we’ve done something like this.

We used to play all the time when we were younger, the sun beating down on us until we were almost dead on our feet.

Liam notices me first and my heart flutters at the soft smile he aims my way.

“So how are we doing this?” I ask, slightly out of breath from the anticipation. “Nate and I against you two?”

Liam’s eyes twinkle in the afternoon sun. He knows it had always been more fun when we played against each other.

“Sure,” Nate snarks. “A great way of keeping things non-competitive.”

“Well, this time we have to play like this,” I pause, my lips tipping into a playful smirk, “’cause Liam and I have a standing bet going on.”

Fuck, I swear his grin turns savage at my words, his eyes becoming dark pools of forest green.

“Oh no. What kind of bet?” Nate asks in a tone that’s both curious and exasperated.

“You know, the usual,” I pause, never taking my gaze off Liam. “The loser has to do whatever the winner wants.”

Nate groans and turns away to take off his hoody, Cameron following right behind him chuckling and shaking his head.

Liam pulls his own off right where he is standing, exposing a sinful peek of skin to my greedy eyes.

You’re on, baby , he mouths at me, and I can’t fucking wait.

And boy, does this guy make me work for it.

I’ve always loved playing with Liam because he never lets me have it easy, just because his skills are far superior to mine.

The game is always fun but it also never fails to push me to do better. To prove that I can best him.

He moves effortlessly, the ball flowing like water every time he dribbles past me. But it’s not just his skill that makes me stupid even years since the last time he’s played.

No.

It’s the way his body ripples with every movement. The way his shirt sticks on him, the sweat making it mold almost obscenely on his chest and back.

Those are definitely things I didn’t notice back then, but sure as fuck I’m noticing now.

And the way he taunts me with teasing grins and knowing looks…

It’s a miracle I manage to keep up, and it’s mostly because we’ve been playing since we were kids.

Nate and Cameron are with us on the court, but to be honest, my attention never wavers from the man in front of me whenever we’re one-on-one.

As our game comes down to this last point, my eyes bore into his.

We’re locked in a stare-down, both of us breathing heavily.

I lick the sweat off my lips, and his gaze hones in on them like a fucking missile.

Good.

I have a bet to win and I never said I was going to play fair.

Getting this close to my mark puts me in a position of losing my advantage but I have to get closer to do what I’m thinking.

I shift slightly to protect the ball with my body and Liam gives me the perfect opportunity when he almost plasters his front to my back trying to steal it from me.

The contact momentarily distracts me.

Fuck, why does he feel so good when he’s all over me?

I catch a hint of his orange and lavender scent and I want to lick the sweat off his skin.

But all eyes are on us so I do the only thing I can.

I arch my back just enough so that my ass grazes his groin and he sucks in a breath that is like music to my ears.

“I know what you’re doing, sweetheart,” he whispers for my ears only.

“No, you don’t,” I breathe back to him. “’Cause if you did, you’d know this is nothing compared to what I’ve ordered just for you back home and that I can’t wait to show you.”

Liam curses and it’s the moment of distraction I need to shake him off me and shoot.

Nothing but net.

“Yes!” I exclaim, pumping my fist while the guys laugh.

“Nice move, man,” Nate claps my shoulder as he dries his own forehead with the bottom of his T-shirt, as Cameron nods and breathes hard.

“Yeah, great move, Coop,” Liam smiles darkly.

“You don’t seem too bummed out for losing your bet, Liam,” Cameron chuckles as he uses his towel to dry off.

Liam’s grin promises the filthiest of retributions, making me shiver.

Because Cameron is right, even though he doesn’t know it.

There are no losers when it comes to our bets.