Page 7

Chapter 6

Shawn

“B ooks over here!”

“Smile this way, Books!”

“Welcome to Toronto, Books!”

“How do you like it here so far?”

I laugh and try to catch up with the questions and flashes of white around me. Making my way down the red carpet entry to the gala in my red suit and a dark black button down underneath. My permanent gold chains that have my sister and mom’s names on one and Luna and Blaze on the other, around my neck. I take in the organization of crimson velvet ropes lining the pathway for us to follow as I step up to the first journalist.

“Um, well, I’ve been here two days, but so far, this city has surprised me in the best way…It’s beautiful.”

“Glad you like it! We hope to have you here for as long as possible.”

“Absolutely! I appreciate your time.”

I shake the man’s hand and continue my way down the carpet.

As I near the entrance, the noise fades, replaced by soft jazz music. I turn to head inside and give myself a mental fist bump for avoiding most of the press prying into my life outside of basketball. As soon as I approach the doorman, I hear the roar of the crowd turn up to an obscene decibel. The noise fades into an encased rumble, and I can barely make out what everyone is saying as they rush to a black SUV that just pulled up.

I stand back, leaning against the wall closer to the entrance on the opposite end of the carpet, eager to see who they’re waiting for. I know Toronto has several sports teams, including the Canadian Football League, Futbol Club, Major League Baseball, National Hockey League, Pro Winter Sport Leagues, and so many more. But as far as new players, I’m pretty sure there isn’t a big name showing up tonight. Shoot, not even my name is that big…yet.

The door to the black SUV opens, and a girl with light brown skin and honey brown hair in a blue dress slowly emerges. Visibly taking a deep breath before straightening her dress, she locks eyes with someone inside the car, nodding as she turns around with a smile. Just as she steps forward, a tall, built man in a deep blue suit runs around the car and stands in front of her. He leans into her ear to speak to her before she smiles and nods. The black SUV takes off, and the couple spins around to make their way through the press.

SHUT THE SHIT UP RIGHT FUCKING NOW!

My eyes grow wide, and my back levitates off the wall I was leaning on. I squint my eyes to make sure I’m confident in what I’m seeing before taking off in a jog back down the carpet. I do a double take just to confirm what I thought.

Sure as shit, that’s Liam fucking Harris walking down the carpet. I knew he lived here and signed with the Blades hockey team. I was going to reach out later on in the season, but I didn’t think he would show up to a new player’s gala because, well, he isn’t a new player.

Slowing my jog to a quick walk, I come to a stop before I approach the couple. They’re talking to the journalist I spoke with earlier. I hang back behind them and listen.

“This is Amelia Powell. She has been a friend since I moved here as a kid, and I’m honored that she graced us with her presence this evening to be my date.” Liam says calmly.

The journalist follows up.

“Oh, okay! And is that how you got together as a couple, as kids?”

Amelia clearly turns red and moves to tuck her hair behind her ear. Liam smiles a little, but before either of them answers, the journalist sees me behind them again and asks.

“Oh, have you met Toronto’s newest basketball Superstar, Mr. Harris?”

He kicks back a nod towards where I’m standing, and I freeze.

Liam turns around, his eyes turning into saucers.

“Books? Are you kidding me? Is someone pranking me right now? For real, someone tell me before I pee my pants!”

He looks side to side as Amelia and the press all break out in laughs around him.

I quickly make my way over to them.

“How's it going, Harris? Long time no see, eh?”

I lean down and whisper in his ear. “Is that the right way to use, eh? I’m working on it.”

He chuckles, leaning in, dabbing me up, and slapping his other hand around my back.

“Damn man! It’s good to see you, and yeah, you nailed the eh, it’s like you were studying up on Canadian lingo or something.” He says.

Little did he know that the second I found out his family was moving here, I tried to learn bits and pieces of common Canadian phrases.

“It’s so freaking good to see you, I just got here a couple days ago, and I knew y’all moved up here as kids, so I was going to reach out. What are the odds that you showed up tonight?”

He looks over at Amelia, clearly enjoying listening to us catch up as her eyes ping from Liam back to me.

“Damn. It’s good to hear someone else say y’all besides me. I actually wasn’t going to come tonight until…”

Amelia giggles and leans over to talk softly to Liam.

“You’d think I’d be used to the southern drawl growing up with you all, but it still is so funny.”

“Yeah, okay. Have you heard your dad get heated talking about his mower? The Jamaican Patois comes out quick.” Liam adds.

“Touche, are you going to introduce me to your friend?” Millie clips back.

Liam throws his large arm around me.

“This is our neighbor and friend, Amelia, Millie, Mils, whatever you feel like calling her really…Millie, this is Shawn Books Salisu. He was our old neighbor and friend in Texas before we moved here. He and Ains were so tight! Oh, holy fucking shit balls, dude, you’re going to lose it!”

He pulls me in for another hug.

“Like Shawn, SHAWN?” Millie whispers to Liam.

He chuckles. “Yeah, THAT Shawn.”

I laugh, trying to figure out if THAT Shawn is a good or bad thing.

Millie clears her throat and says quietly, “Hi, Shawn. It’s great to meet you! So happy to have you up north. I think this Goof over here is referring to Lee inside. I’m sure she is going to be thrilled you are here. That’s why we are both here. She got tickets at work and wanted us all to come.”

My next breath vanishes as my heart freaking stops. I don’t blink for a good minute before Liam laughs and slaps my back. The noise of the press picking up around us.

“Yep, that’s what I figured. Let’s get you inside. I can't wait to see her face! Wait…I think she will be the one to piss her pants. She sucked at the whole potty-training thing as a kid. Wet the bed at night until Grade 8. I have so much to catch you up on.”

He laughs as Millie slaps the back of his head.

“Ouch! What was that for, Mils?”

Liam grumbles and rubs the back of his head. A group of laughter echoes around us.

“Don’t act like you didn’t sleep with the lights on until Grade 9. I saw your light on every night from my room across the way.” Millie says with a little more confidence in her voice.

I laugh at how this small, quiet girl just put Liam Harris in his place in under 10 seconds.

Impressive. Letting out a heavy breath, I relax my shoulders. Man, it’s good to find some people I know I can call friends. We turn around and notice the reporters all have their microphones pointed towards the three of us.

“Mr. Harris, I take it you might be familiar with Mr. Salisu?”

Liam speaks up. “Oh yeah, I taught this guy everything he knows about hockey. He was my neighbor back in Texas before we moved here. You should see him on skates. I’m sure he’s still got it.”

Everyone looks shocked. Shit, and I was so close to avoiding all these questions.

“Two Texas hockey boys in Toronto. What do you know? Mr. Salisu, what made you give up hockey and play basketball?”

Fuck.

I rub the back of my neck and look up at Liam. He already knows I don’t want to get into it from just the look in my eyes, so he quickly cuts in, “Ummm...have you seen his size? Then put him on skates? Shoot, I would turn the other direction and skate away. Wouldn’t stand a chance.”

Everyone laughs, including Millie, and I give the best ‘thanks for saving me’ smile to Liam.

Millie speaks up again so the press can hear, which is a clear assist to help us get out of more press questions.

“Liam, can we go inside now? I want to grab a drink and freshen up.”

Liam quickly moves along, placing his hand on her lower back and guiding her down the carpet.

“Absolutely Mils!” He turns to me and nods.

“Come on, Superstar, let’s get you inside.”

I follow them with a grin, my heart racing at the thought of seeing Ainsley again. This night just got a hell of a lot more interesting.