Page 6 of Landing Liam

Chapter Three

Liam

My muscles burn as I finish my workout, the kind of slow ache that tells me I’ve done something good for my body—at least, that’s what I tell myself. Today, it’s all about mobility: stretching, dumbbells, balancing drills. Sounds simple, but it takes everything out of me, mentally and physically. Pretending I’m the same Liam I’ve always been? That’s exhausting, too.

“You want to grab a bite to eat?” Zach, my trainer, nods toward the door.

I hesitate. All I want is to crash at home, but I’m not ready for the questions that would follow if I turn him down. No one knows I’m sick—well, besides my parents and Izzy. Until I figure out my next move, it has to stay that way. “Sure,” I say, nodding like it’s no big deal.

We head across town to Dee’s Clean Eats, the usual spot, where Zach insists on grilled chicken and veggies. I order a bowl and follow him to a table by the window, watching the stream of tourists along the cobblestone path. Ski season’s in full swing, which means crowds are everywhere. Sometimes that energy is comforting; today, it’s just noise, reminding me how out of sync I feel. Without snowboarding… who even am I?

“You ready for the competition this weekend?” Zach asks, breaking into my thoughts.

I shrug. “As ready as I’ll ever be.”

He grins, leaning back. “Does it ever get old?”

“What?” I look at him, trying to focus.

“Snowboarding,” he says, laughing.

I pause, feeling the weight of the question. “Sometimes,” I admit. But that’s a half-truth, like most things in my life lately.

He laughs. “Doesn’t seem to stop the women from flocking to you, though.”

I glance out the window, the easy response escaping my lips automatically. “Just one of the perks, I guess.” But even as I say it, the words feel hollow.

Our food arrives, and I breathe a sigh of relief. Small talk feels like climbing a mountain these days. I clear my throat, searching for a topic. “How’s your mom doing?”

Zach’s face softens. “Better. Her last scan showed the tumors are shrinking.”

“That’s good,” I say, nodding, though I’m not sure what else to say.

He fills the silence, oblivious to my discomfort. “Anyway, I think we should focus on cardio tomorrow. Lon mentioned your runs were slower than usual yesterday.”

Lon Schlonski, my coach since I was twelve. The guy knows my movements like his own heartbeat. Of course, he’s noticed my drop in performance; he’s known me nearly two decades. It’s a wonder he hasn’t pieced together that something’s wrong.

I shrug it off. “Just a bug. That cold going around, you know?” The lies come easier than I thought they would.

Zach’s gaze shifts suddenly. “Don’t look now, but you-know-who just walked in.”

I frown. “Who?”

His eyes widen. “Liam.” He gives me a knowing look. “You-know-who.”

Before I can process, a familiar voice cuts through the din, high and pointed. “Liam.”

I glance over to see Lyla, my ex, standing there in a tailored gray blazer and black slacks, looking every bit the high-powered exec. The woman who ended things because I wouldn’t put a ring on her finger. In hindsight, maybe I would’ve… if she hadn’t made it all feel so forced.

“Hey,” I manage, watching her flip her glossy black hair over her shoulder. “How have you been?”

“Good,” she says with a faint smile, ignoring Zach’s grimace. “I’ve been traveling for work, but I’m back now.”

I muster a polite nod. “How’s advertising?”

Taking that as an invitation, she slides right into the seat beside Zach. He inches away, shooting me a look of sympathy before busying himself with his phone.

“It’s great,” she replies, tapping her nails on the table, her gaze darting between us. I force myself to ask, “Where were you traveling?”