Immediately, confusing images take hold of me, and I tighten my grip on my notebook.
The way Liam glides across the ice, with the passion and energy he puts into every movement, is incredibly sexy. It's hard not to run to him and hug him. But our relationship is still a secret we want to keep, and I pull myself together.
Time flies and when the players leave the ice, I'm sure I'll have enough material to complete my article.
Liam takes advantage of the fact that his teammates are in the changing rooms to glide over to me, the sweat on his forehead glistening in the sunlight streaming through a window.
“Hey,” he says, smiling.
“Hey,” I reply with the same smile.
My heart races as he approaches.
“Did you like what you saw?” he asks with a mischievous grin.
My cheeks are getting hot.
“As always... But they were professional observations, you know.”
I shake my notebook, laughing, and his smile widens.
“Well... I can't wait to read your new article.”
The butterflies in my stomach take flight and swirl in all directions. It's so hard not to jump on him right away!
I wait for him to finish showering, and together we leave the rink for a bite to eat.
As we sit in a café close to campus and chat, I think to myself that time spent with Liam feels familiar and natural. I'm really enjoying it. My decision to accept the internship at the New York Post weighs all the more heavily.
Suddenly, a lump forms in my throat.
Liam notices my silence.
“Are you okay, Em?”
I force a smile to my lips.
“Yes, everything's fine!”
But his eyes pierce me. I sigh and finally let go.
“I'm afraid we won't find the time to see each other anymore and we'll drift apart when I start my internship.”
Liam puts his hand on mine and forces me to look at him.
“Hey, it's gonna be okay, all right? Don't you worry about a thing. We'll find a way to make it work. We're stronger than this. Besides, our dreams are important, too.”
His words calm me down a little, allowing me to look up and appreciate his beautiful smile. So much sex appeal in one person shouldn't be allowed. My knees soften as his hand caresses mine and my whole body begins to tingle.
His eyes. His lips...
My throat suddenly becomes dry and I feel as if I'm about to burst into a thousand pieces. When I can't stand the tension any longer, I pretend I need to go to the toilet for a change of air.
“Get a grip, Emily! Puberty's long over,” I say to myself, looking at myself in the mirror.
Suddenly the door opens behind me, and Liam enters.
“What are you...”