Scoring Wilder(91)

Coach Davis asked me to stay after practice and explained that she and the team were behind me. She said the college sent out their own press release clearing my name and condemning Tara as a “conniving bitch”. All right, maybe that’s not a direct quote, but still, Coach Davis was on my side and she wasn't going to give up on me yet.

I was eating room service with my mom on Monday night when my phone rang. Liam's dimpled smile lit up the screen and I felt my heart flutter.

"Hey babe," I answered with a tired voice.

"Hey, are you at the hotel?" he asked while street sounds drifted into the background.

"Yeah, my mom and I just ordered room service."

"Okay good, I'll be up in a second."

I glanced down at my robe and realized I still had wet hair from my shower.

"Oh... yeah ...okay, see you in a second," I said, hanging up and glancing over to my mom.

"Liam's coming up. I think he might be here already, actually," I admitted with a sheepish smile.

My mom's eyebrows shot up. "I get to meet the infamous Liam Wilder. How exciting," she winked, and then took another bite of her meal.

A few minutes later, a soft knock sounded at our door and I hopped up to go let him in.

As soon as I turned the handle I inhaled his signature scent. He’d just come from practice so his body wash mingled with his sweat and musk. It was oddly seductive and I almost jumped him in the hallway, especially after I pulled the door open and saw his appearance. His light brown hair was unruly and sexy, his soccer shorts showed off his tan, toned legs, and his workout shirt clung to his hard chest.

I unraveled a smile and jumped up to throw my arms around his neck.

The security guard stationed outside of our door cleared his throat and I started to laugh. I'd forgotten he was even there. Mostly because normal people don’t have security guards.

"Well hello to you, too." Liam smiled and dipped down to give me a kiss. As soon as he pulled away, his eyes scanned over my shoulder to find my mother who’d stood up to greet him. I unwrapped my hands from around his neck and stepped back to eye her. I knew he was comparing how similar we looked in that moment. She had the same dark brown hair that I did, but hers was cropped into a short pixie cut. We had the same build, although I had a bit more muscle, whereas she was a little taller and more lithe.

I beamed watching her take Liam in. "I can't believe I finally get to meet you," she smiled, reaching out. "I'm Lydia."

He shook her hand and I thought I saw a little blush across his tan cheeks. "Hello Mrs. Bryant."

"My daughter has talked my ear off about you for the past few weeks now," she admitted, and then I was the one with flushed cheeks.

Liam's cool gaze slid toward me.

"She's exaggerating, I hardly mention you at all," I winked.

Liam glanced back to my mom wearing a cheeky half smile. "That’s not surprising to hear. Your daughter is definitely in love with me, Mrs. Bryant. She hasn't told me yet, but she will soon."

My mouth fell open. No, it fell onto the ground and just sat there as I stared at Liam. My mom laughed and glanced over toward me with a knowing smile. I couldn't believe he'd just said that so... bluntly. And damnit, could the jerk read me that easily?

"Wow. You seem pretty confident about that, Liam," my mother joked, waving us over toward the table so we could finish eating.

Liam shrugged and I could feel his penetrating gaze on me. "I read that Mark Twain said all you need to succeed in life is ignorance and confidence. Kinsley can attest to my having both of them."

I laughed. “You can read?”

He shot me a playful wink before my mom mentioned, "You know that's exactly how it was when I met Kinsley's father. I think we dated for a month before he asked me to marry him. But we were young and reckless, only nineteen at the time."

I coughed and tried to ignore the fact that Liam was still watching me. I'd forgotten about the fact that my mom had married at my age. I couldn't imagine. How would anyone find the time? I was trying to go to the Olympics, not plan out matching bridesmaid dresses.

"Well rest assured Mom, you will not have a teen bride on your hands." I finally found my voice and smiled up at her.

Liam shrugged. "You just turned nineteen. We have about 300 days left to change that."

My mouth dropped again and I turned to face him. "You can't be serious right now."

He smiled and shook his head. "Nah, but I was serious about the love thing."

I shot him a pointed stare and then picked up my plate of leftover fries and handed it to him.

"Are you sure you're done?" he asked, pinching my waist playfully.

I swatted his hand away, but if my mom weren't watching us I would have pushed him back onto the bed and kissed him senseless. "Yup. Eat up. Did you just get done with practice?"

"Yeah. I'm exhausted. I won't stay long, just wanted to make sure you were okay."

"And he wanted to meet me," my mom interjected with a smile that looked exactly like mine. The apple definitely didn't fall far from the tree.

Liam laughed. "Of course. Mostly I came to meet your mom. You were an afterthought." He winked and I shot him an angry scowl.

He swallowed up the last of my fries and put the plate back on the table. "I better get home or I'll fall asleep right here."