Page 21 of Second Chance with the Enemy CEO (Second Chance Hockey Players #1)

The guys start snickering. His jaw tightens as he stares me down, the tension crackling between us. For a second, I think he is going to ignore me completely. But then Mike pipes up, “Come on, Liam. Don’t be a buzzkill.”

“Yeah,” James adds. “What’s the harm?”

“Don’t tell me you’re scared of losing.”

Liam’s glare shifts to the others, but eventually, with a low growl, he steps forward. “Fine,” he mutters.

They all hold out their hands. “Ready? Rock, paper, scissors, shoot!”

Mike grins, holding up his paper against the rest of our rocks. “Boom. First pick.”

“Lucky,” Lucas mutters, shaking his head.

The game continues, the energy picking up as they go. James wins next with scissors, followed by Lucas, who beats Tomas with rock.

That leaves Liam and Tomas facing off for last. Tomas rolls his shoulders like he is psyching himself up for a championship match. Liam, on the other hand, just looks bored.

“Rock, paper, scissors, shoot!” Tomas’s paper finally beats Liam’s rock.

“Well, look at that,” Tomas says, grinning. “You’re up last, Callahan.”

Liam doesn’t respond; he just shakes his head and mutters something under his breath as he walks back to the car.

I can’t help but smirk. “See? That was not so hard, was it?”

Liam shoots me a look that could freeze fire, but I just smile sweetly.

The game settled, and we piled into James’s car and headed off, the tension in the air slowly giving way to laughter and chatter. Despite everything, I cannot help but feel a flicker of excitement for the day ahead.

Our first stop is Mike’s pick: the Rustic Roost. The drive to the Rustic Roost is filled with a mix of banter and the occasional burst of laughter from James and Tomas, who have decided to turn the car ride into an impromptu karaoke session.

And let me tell you, it is as terrible as it sounds.

Tomas sounds something like a screeching cat, and James is trying to harmonize, which only makes things worse.

I can’t help but laugh at the sheer absurdity.

We pull into the parking lot, and the sight of the bar makes me hesitate just for a moment. The place hasn’t changed much over the years - same faded sign, same old wooden front which has seen better days. The last time I was here, it wasn’t under the best circumstances.

Mike’s the first one out of the car, a grin plastered across his face. “Alright, y’all, welcome to the Rustic Roost!” He says, raising his arms like he has been granted the keys to the kingdom.

Tomas, however, is not impressed. “Of all the places to pick, Mike, you chose the bar? Really?”

Mike shrugs, unfazed. “It is my favorite place. Great vibes, good beer, old jams that take me back.” He gives a little wave toward the door, and we all file in after him. “Best vibes in town.”

“Yeah, sure,” Tomas mutters, but there is no real disdain in his voice.

As soon as we walk in, the faint smell of old wood and beer greets me, mixed with the sound of familiar tunes from the jukebox in the corner. The vibe hits me immediately - fun, calm, and nostalgic. There is something soothing about the place, even if the memories are bittersweet.

James and Tomas immediately head toward the back table with Liam and Lucas, and I pull out my camera.

As always, I begin snapping away, letting the moments happen naturally.

I do not ask them to pose; I just let them be.

Their expressions, their interactions, the little things that tell the real story.

As I am moving around the table, capturing the guys in their natural chaos, the videographer steps up to Mike, who’s just returned with a round of drinks.

“So, Mike,” the videographer starts, adjusting his camera, “what made you choose this place?”

Mike looks up from his drink and then over at the bar.

“It is the vibe. It is calming but still fun. The beer’s always cold, the music’s always good, and the people?

They are real. It is the kind of place where you can just be yourself.

No pretenses. Plus, I have been coming here for years. It feels like home.”

I click away, the sound of my camera shutter blending with the ambient noise of the bar, the clinking of glasses, and the low hum of conversation.

I take pictures of the low-lit booths, the vintage posters on the walls, and the patrons scattered around, sipping on drinks, and laughing in their own conversations.

After a while, I make my way to the bar. Ray, the big grizzly bear-looking owner and bartender, looks up, and his face brightens when he sees me.

“Well, well,” he says, his voice gruff but warm. “Been a while, my little daredevil. Heard you have been back in town for a while now. You didn’t even come to see your old man Ray.”

“Been busy,” I reply, shrugging. “I’m sorry, Ray.”

“It’s all good.” Ray raises an eyebrow. “Are you back for good?”

I shake my head, half-smiling. “Nah. Just visiting for now. Here for work, actually.”

He nods, his gaze flicking to Liam, who is sitting with the others at the table. He jerks his head in his direction. “You back with the lad, then?”

I almost choke on my drink. “No,” I say, my voice slightly too sharp. I catch myself and add, “It’s..., not like that anymore.”

He grins, nudging me playfully. “Shame, really.”

I just ask. “No shame there.”

Ray chuckles, “Are you seeing someone new?”

“Maybe, maybe not.”

We fall into a comfortable silence; then he leaves when Liam suddenly appears beside me, standing quietly for a moment before speaking.

“Hey,” he says, breaking the quiet.

“Hey,” I replied.

I glance around the bar again. “This place has not changed much over the past five years. Same vibe, same furniture. Same music. Same jukebox we broke... I can still see the crack in the casing.”

Liam chuckles lightly, shaking his head. “Yeah, we were kind of menaces back then, bugging the heck out of Ray.”

I smirk, shaking my head. “He secretly loved it.”

I snap a photo of the jukebox, lingering on the familiar crack in its exterior casing. Some things stay the same. Some things cannot be fixed, no matter how hard you try. Then I take a picture of Ray, who catches my eye and grins back.

Not long after, Lucas calls from the table. “Ready to go?”

I sigh, putting my camera down and waving Ray goodbye. As I walk behind the group, I hear Mike ask Liam, “What were you two talking about? You both were smiling.”

Liam doesn’t say anything; he just shakes his head.

The next stop is Overlook Ridge, James’s pick.

As the car winds up the narrow path, the breathtaking view begins to unfold.

The ridge stretches out to reveal a panorama of rolling hills blanketed in vibrant green, with patches of gold where the sun breaks through the clouds.

The horizon looks like it stretches forever, blending earth and sky in a perfect embrace.

James steps out of the car with a satisfied grin, spreading his arms wide as if he owns the view. “This,” he says, turning to the group, “is why I love this place. It is peaceful, open, and reminds me how small we are in the grand scheme of things.”

I cannot resist. My camera is up in a flash, capturing the vast expanse of the interplay of sunlight and shadows over the landscape. James stands near the edge, looking out, and I snap a shot, the perspective making him look like he is standing on the edge of the world.

“This place is amazing,” I admit, glancing at James. “Good pick. This just might be my favorite spot.”

He smirks. “Told you.”

The colors, the textures - they are all so vivid, and I can’t help but think that no photo will truly do it justice.

Liam stands nearby, staring out over the horizon. I lift my camera, catching the way his features soften against the backdrop of the valley.

Next, we head to Lucas’s pick - the waterfall.

The sound of rushing water reaches us before we even step out of the car.

When we do, it is like stepping into a hidden world.

The waterfall cascades down jagged rocks, its spray catching the light and forming tiny rainbows.

The air smells crisp and earthy, the kind of scent that makes you want to close your eyes and breathe deeply.

“Is it wrong to say this is my favorite?” I murmur as I snap a photo of the falls. The sound is soothing, almost hypnotic.

James, standing beside me, grins. “You just said that about the ridge.”

“Can’t I have two favorites?” I shoot back, grinning.

It was not long before Lucas and James entered a different dimension. They start arguing - about what, I am not even sure - and before long, they are both knee-deep in the pool, splashing water at each other like kids.

I laugh and take a few quick shots of their antics, their joy infectious despite the chill in the air.

Wandering away from the group, I let my feet lead me to the edges of the clearing.

My camera swings from its strap, forgotten for a moment, as my eyes catch something familiar. A tree near the water’s edge.

I step closer, my fingers brushing against the rough bark until I find it - the carving. Hazel + Liam. The names we etched so long ago have stood the test of time, even if we haven’t.

My fingers trace the letters as a whisper escapes my lips. “Once upon a time when I was happy.”

For a moment, I let myself feel it - the ache, the memories. But only for a moment. I step back, letting the past settle back into the tree, and return to the group.

Next is Tomas’s pick - Cove Marina. The place is alive with quiet energy - families strolling, fishermen cleaning their gear, and the occasional seagull calling out overhead.

I lift my camera once more, snapping shots of the boats, the rippling water, and the sun sinking lower in the sky. Tomas says he likes to fish and go on rides in boats whenever he is free.

“Behold the beauty of Autumn Cove,” I think to myself, snapping picture after picture. Boats, reflections, the silhouettes of the group against the fading sun - everything feels like it belongs in a magazine spread.

Maybe it is because I’m seeing these places for the first time in years, I muse internally. Maybe that is why they feel so breathtaking. Or maybe it is just that I’m allowing myself to really see them, to let them in without the distractions of the past.

On the way back to the car, James tosses a question into the air. “Alright, Mr. Mysterious, we have hit all the spots. What is this special place of yours?”

“The beach,” Liam says simply, his tone giving away nothing.

The drive is quieter than before. The golden light of sunset spills through the car windows, and I can’t help but let my mind wander.

By the time we pull up to the coastline, I already feel it - a deep pull in my chest. A wave of nostalgia crashes over me, stealing my breath for a moment; the sound of the waves crashing against the shore is so familiar it almost hurts.

I stop at the edge of the sand, my camera in hand. Memories swirl in my chest like the tide, tugging at the corners of my mind. I lift my camera and start snapping. The sky. The waves. The silhouettes of the guys scattered along the shoreline.

I watch from a distance as the videographer approaches Liam, the camera rolling. He stands near the edge of the water, his hands in his pockets, staring at the horizon like it holds every answer.

“Why’d you pick this place?” The videographer asks.

For a moment, he says nothing, arms crossed, and gazing out at the water.

“For a lot of reasons,” he says, his voice even but quiet.

“It is beautiful, calming - especially at night. It is also the first place I saw “my someone.” The place where I fell in love with that someone. And the place we became official.”

The words hit like a fist to my gut, and I held my breath.

The videographer hesitates. “Are you and this someone still together?”

Liam’s jaw tightens, and I see his shoulders stiffen. “No!” He says flatly. “Some things, some loves only lead to pain and hurt.”

I do not know how I manage to stay still, but somehow, I do.

After a while, I move closer to the water, letting the tide roll over my shoes. The cold stings, but it is still warm. I keep snapping pictures of the group, trying to focus on the beauty around me instead of the ache in my chest.

“Still chasing the perfect shot?”

Liam’s voice startles me. I jump, turning to glare at him. “Do you always have to sneak up on people?”

His lips twitch into a faint smirk. “Keeps life interesting.”

He stands next to me, his hands shoved into his pockets, looking out at the waves. “How are the pictures turning out?”

“They’re good,” I say, lowering the camera. “I got a lot of great ones. All I have to do now is edit them.”

The silence between us stretches, broken only by the waves.

“Did you see the tree at the waterfall?” He asks suddenly.

I blink at him, caught off guard. I glance at him, trying to read his expression, but it gives nothing away. “Yeah. I saw it.”

More silence. The waves fill the space, but the tension between us simmers, heavy and unspoken.

“Can I ask you something?” I finally say, turning to look at him. “Why do you believe I hurt you? Is it because I left? Because leaving was the best decision I could have made for myself back then.”

His jaw tightens, and for a second, I think he is going to walk away. But then he looks at me, his eyes dark and unreadable. “That is not it. It is one of the reasons, but not the main one.”

“Then what?” My voice rises, and I do not even try to hide the frustration bubbling up inside me. “What’s the main reason?”

He exhales sharply, his expression hardening. “You hurt me by cheating, Hazel. I gave you everything I had to give, and you threw it away for someone else.”

My chest tightens, disbelief washing over me like a wave. “Cheating?” I shake my head, my voice trembling. “You thought I cheated? Wow…, you really believed what you wanted to, didn’t you? I never cheated.”

“You don’t have to lie about it,” he says coldly, his tone cutting me like a knife. “It is in the past. Denying it now just makes you look pathetic.”

I take a shaky breath, fighting back the tears threatening to spill. Anger surges through me, hot and fierce. “If telling the truth makes me pathetic, then fine. So be it. But I did not cheat, Liam. I never did.”

He opens his mouth like he is about to say something, but then he stops. Shakes his head. Turns and walks away, leaving me standing there, fists clenched at my sides.

I watch him go, frustration and disbelief swirling inside me. I remember hearing him say something like this five years ago, and it was absurd then, just as it is now.

Standing there, with the ocean lapping at my feet, I make a silent vow. I am going to prove I didn’t cheat. Not for him, not for anyone else. For me. For my peace of mind.