Page 13 of Second Chance with the Enemy CEO (Second Chance Hockey Players #1)

Chapter ten

Liam

I sit in Coach’s office, my fingers drumming against the edge of the desk, trying to look anywhere but at him. His eyes are trained on me, and if looks could freeze fire, I would be encased in ice right now. His gaze sharpens, every muscle in his body stiff with a mix of concern and anger.

“Coach…,” he held up his hands, cutting me off.

His brows are furrowed, lips pinched in that damn serious line that always makes me want to shift uncomfortably. The silence between us is thick.

“You’re skating and acting like a damn fool out there, Callahan,” Coach says, his voice low but firm. “What is the matter with you? You are letting your personal shit bleed into your game.”

Coach continued, his voice sharp. “Listen, whatever happened with her…?" He cuts himself off, and for a second, there is a flicker of something in his eyes. “You got to keep your feelings off the ice.”

I swallow, nodding. “I hear you.”

Coach leans back, crossing his arms, his face unreadable. “Liam, you do not see what I see, and sometimes what you see isn’t what actually is. Things you try to leave behind have a way of catching up with you. You just need to go with the flow, and deal with it, Callahan.”

I force a tight smile. “I understand.”

“Keep it together, Callahan. I don't want to see this attitude again."

I stand up, my fingers running through my hair as I grab my gear bag from the floor. “I will work on it, Coach. Thanks.”

“Rest well, okay?”

“You too, old man,” I say teasingly. “Isn't it time to go home?”

“Get out of here, Callahan, and leave me be.”

Saluting, I leave with so many thoughts in my head, one of which is a replay of the conversation between me and Hazel.

****

It has not even been ten minutes since I walked in the door when the doorbell rings. I am barely halfway through peeling off my gear when I glance at the clock and mutter under my breath, “Who the hell’s at the door now?”

I was not expecting anyone, and definitely not someone who’s going to make this damn day harder. But when I open the door, I see Cara standing there with that mischievous glint in her eyes. Great.

“Seriously, Cara?” I groan, exhaling a long breath. “You have never come to see me twice in one month. What is going on?”

She crosses her arms, looking me up and down with a dramatic sigh. “Well, what can I say? I have missed you. Thought I would come and grace your sad little existence with my presence.”

I raise an eyebrow. “Yeah? Or are you just here to raid my fridge again?”

“Oh please.” She waves her hand dismissively, stepping inside without waiting for an invitation. “There’s nothing in your fridge worth raiding,” she says as she heads to the kitchen and opens the fridge, taking a can of soda.

“Huh-uh…”

Cara grins, arms crossed, clearly enjoying the confusion she has caused. “Relax, I didn’t come for you, big bro. I came to see Hazel. But because I am such a good sister, I figured I’d stop by and say hi to you first.”

I stare at her, incredulously. “Hazel? You came all the way over here to see her? Why?”

Cara shrugs, a glint of excitement in her eyes. “Yeah, what do you mean, why ? You were there when she said I could come to see her anytime, and this is the time. I am excited to catch up with her. I have missed her. Cannot blame me for wanting to reconnect, right? It has been forever.”

“Right,” I say, trying to distract myself from the lump in my throat.

She shoots me a playful look. “I actually want to know what she has been up to. She was a big part of my life growing up, too, you know.”

"Well, good luck with that," I say, not trying to hide the irritation in the tone of my voice. “Go have fun.”

She grabs my wrist, “Nope. Not so fast. You are coming with me.”

I give her a look. You have got to be kidding me . “And why in the world would I do that?”

She bats her lashes dramatically. “Because I’m shy about showing up alone.”

“Since when are you shy?”

“Since now!” She grins, her eyes sparkling with mischief. “C’mon, just this once. Please?”

I snort, pulling my hand free. “Yeah, no. Do you know what would solve that whole shy thing? Not turning up at all. Problem solved. So, take your ass back home.”

“Uh, no. That is not happening,” she says, planting her hands on her hips. “You are coming with me. End of story.”

“Cara.”

“Liam,” she shoots back in the same tone.

She follows it up with her best puppy dog eyes - an expression she has had perfected since she was five. “Come on, Liam, just to her door. That is all. I swear. Besides, you know you will still say yes, so just save the both of us this round-about journey.”

I glare at her, but she just gives me this smug little smirk, the kind that says she knows she has already won. I let out a long, exaggerated sigh. “The things I have to do because I have a little sister!”

Cara beams, entirely unbothered by my grumbling. “I love you too, bro!” She chirps, skipping toward the door.

****

The walk was not long, but I was already done with this whole mission. I stop a few feet from the porch and shove my hands into my pockets. “Okay, I have accompanied you here. Mission accomplished. Bye.”

Cara grabs the back of my hoodie, yanking me back.

“What now?”

“Hey, no. Come on, at least wait until she opens the door.”

I groan, letting my head drop back like the ceiling of the universe just caved in. “Why?”

“Courtesy,” she says sweetly. “Also, I’m nervous.”

“You literally just said you were excited,” I shot back.

“Yeah, and now I am nervously excited . It is a thing. Do not question me.” She flashes me a grin and pats my arm. “Pretty please?”

I roll my eyes so hard I see the inside of my skull. But I will stay.

We walk up to the door together, and she rings the bell. A few seconds later, we hear shuffling feet from inside.

The door swings open to reveal Hazel in…, cute bunny-ear bear hooded pajamas, complete with matching bunny fluffy slippers. Her eyes widened as they flick between Cara and me.

For a moment, I am too stunned to say anything. I blink, taking it all in. The hood. The floppy bunny ears. The ridiculous, oversized bear pocket on the front of the hoodie.

“Nice outfit,” I say, lips twitching before I can stop them.

Cara snorts next to me, trying and failing to hold in a laugh. She leans forward just a bit, her grin way too wide. “You look adorable, Hazel.”

Hazel's eyes narrowed into slits as she crossed her arms. “It’s comfortable,” she says defensively, tugging the edges of the hoodie closer around her face and lifting her chin like she is daring me to say something else.

“Huh-uh,” I reply, nodding slowly like I am in deep thought. “Sure, it is.”

“Why are you here?” She asks, crossing her arms and ignoring me completely as she focuses on Cara.

“I was around, so I thought I would come to see you! Hope now is not an inconvenient time?”

Hazel hesitates for a second, then shakes her head. “No, it is fine. Would you like to come in?”

“Yes, please.”

All right. The job was done and received with a cute bonus. Before I can make a smooth exit, Cara grabs my sleeve and stops me. “Liam’s coming too.”

“What?” Hazel and I say at the same time. I shoot her a what the hell look. “No, I’m not.”

“Oh, yes, you are,” Cara insists, dragging me forward with surprising strength for someone half my size. “It would be rude for you to just leave after coming all the way here.”

“I didn’t come here for her,” I mutter under my breath. Cara beams at Hazel, completely ignoring my protests.

“For me…, please? I do not want to be here without you.”

I pinch the bridge of my nose. “Fine. Five minutes.”

“Now, that’s more like it,” she says sweetly, skipping inside like she has won a gold medal.

I glance at Hazel. She is looking at me with an unreadable expression, which turns to amusement.

“She still gets her way with you, right?”

“Don’t start,” I warn as I step inside, closing the door behind me.

The house smells like vanilla and something warm, like fresh bread or cookies, and I hate that it reminds me of the old days.

I glance around, taking in the cozy space.

It is mostly the same as I remember, but there are new touches here and there - Hazel’s touches, no doubt.

A throw blanket draped over the back of the couch.

A half-empty mug of tea on the floor. A stack of books in the corner, her camera, laptop, and magazines on the center table.

“Make yourselves comfortable,” Hazel says, her voice a little stiff as she gestures toward the couch. “Do you want anything to drink?”

Cara plops down onto the couch immediately, grinning up at Hazel. “Nope, I am good. But thanks!”

I stay standing, leaning against the armrest and crossing my arms. “I won’t be staying long, so no,” I say.

Hazel glances at me, her expression unreadable. “Suit yourself.”

She disappears into the kitchen, and Cara immediately swivels to look at me, her eyes sparkling with mischief. “See? That wasn’t so bad, was it?”

I glare at her, my jaw tightening. “You owe me for this.”

She grins. “Oh, relax, big guy. You might actually enjoy yourself. Who knows?”

I highly doubt it.

Fifteen minutes later, I am still here, sitting on the couch, scrolling mindlessly through my phone, while Cara and Hazel sit cross-legged on the floor, chatting and laughing animatedly.

As for why I have not left yet? We have Cara to thank - or, more accurately, blame - for that.

Every time I made a move to leave, she produced some ridiculous reason to keep me here: Oh, just wait for a bit …

Hazel was just about to tell me a story!

… I can’t possibly leave Hazel now . Each excuse is more infuriating than the last.

Eventually, I gave up.

“Yikes, I forgot. I will be right back,” Hazel says suddenly, rising to her feet. She brushes off her pajama pants and heads toward the kitchen.

“I’ll come help!” Cara chirps, jumping up to follow. She throws a quick wink over her shoulder at me, and I narrow my eyes.