Chapter 47 Falling For Her
Liam's POV
I jogged across the field, cleats digging into the grass, but my mind was nowhere near practice.
"Move, Alcaraz!" the coach barked, and I blinked, barely dodging the football that zipped past my head.
My teammates chuckled, nudging each other and shouting something I could not hear, not that it mattered. Because all I could think about was Mia and that kiss.
I had kissed girls before, plenty actually. Parties. Dares. Quick pecks in the back of cars, all noise and teeth and shallow breaths.
But none of them compared. None of them even came close to what I felt when I kissed Mia Villaruiz.
It was not just about the kiss. It was her. The way she looked up at me, unsure but glowing. The way her lips trembled right before they met mine. The way her entire body stilled like she could not believe I wanted her, and how I knew, without a doubt, I did.
When our lips touched, something inside me shifted.
She did not kiss like a girl trying to impress anyone. She kissed like a girl who had been guarding her heart for a long time, and finally let someone in.
And I had been the one she chose to trust. It wrecked me, in the best possible way.
I grinned like a fool as I caught the ball mid pass, barely noticing the sting in my palms. My teammates noticed, of course. One of them elbowed me mid sprint and muttered, "Dude is in love," and another added, "Bet it was the kiss, huh."
I just laughed and kept running, because they were right.
I was in trouble. The best kind.
Then, out of the corner of my eye, I saw Daniel walking beside Mia.
The sight hit me harder than I expected.
Jealousy surged through me, sharp and sudden, stealing the air from my lungs. I had never felt this way before. Not like this. It crawled under my skin, loud and restless, refusing to be ignored. My grip loosened, my focus shattered, and the ball flew right past me.
"Alcaraz! Are you okay?" the coach shouted from across the field.
I nodded automatically, knowing I needed to focus. But how could I, when all I could think about was Daniel walking beside her? I knew their history. I knew what he once meant to her. No matter how hard I tried, I could not shut my mind off. The thoughts followed me through the rest of practice, haunting every drill, every pass, every whistle.
By the time practice ended, my head was spinning.
"Liam? You okay, bro?" Brody asked, tossing me a towel.
"Yeah. Of course," I replied, even though it sounded hollow to my own ears.
He frowned. "You were on fire at the start of practice. Then suddenly you just checked out. I do not get it. If this is about the teasing earlier, come on, man. We were just happy for you. We all are." He grinned. "Mia is one hell of a catch. Beautiful, smart, and the brightest student at Suncrest even before you arrived. I do not think I could survive if my girlfriend was also my academic rival."
I shook my head. "It was not the teasing."
Brody raised a brow. "Then what?"
"I saw Daniel walking her after class," I admitted, feeling ridiculous the moment the words left my mouth.
Brody chuckled and clapped a hand on my shoulder. "Well, the soccer captain would be your biggest rival. I mean, they were close before Mia's world fell apart. But I really do not think you have anything to worry about. They are just friends."
He paused, then added, "Besides, I saw how Mia looks at you, man. Do not sulk."
He headed toward the locker room, leaving me standing there, more confused than before.
Daniel was her close friend. I knew that.
But the idea of losing Mia to him made my chest tighten in a way I could not explain. No matter how hard I tried to push the image out of my head, I could not. So I did the only thing I could think of.
I drove to Daniel's house.
"Hey," Daniel said, surprise flickering across his face as he opened the door. "I did not expect to see you here."
"I am sorry," I said awkwardly. "I just needed to talk."
He smiled easily. "Come in. My mom is just finishing dinner."
I stayed.
"Thank you for the food, Mrs. Rodriguez," I said sincerely once we finished. "It was delicious."
She laughed warmly. "I am glad you liked it, Liam. I know you probably have chefs at home, but it makes me happy you enjoyed our simple cooking."
"Are you kidding?" I said quickly. "It was amazing. Thank you for welcoming me."
She smiled at me like I was one of her own, and it caught me off guard in the best way.
Later, Daniel and I stepped out into the backyard and sat on the garden bench.
"You want to talk about it?" he asked.
I hesitated.
He sighed. "Come on. I know why you are here. You want to talk about her."
I nodded slowly.
"You saw us this afternoon, and it bothered you," Daniel continued, amusement flickering in his eyes. "I never thought I would see the great Liam Alcaraz jealous of someone like me."
"I like her," I admitted quietly. "A lot. And I am scared of losing her."
Daniel's smile softened. "You are not losing her. I will be honest with you. I liked her too. More than you probably know. But I will never come between you and Mia. Not unless you hurt her."
"I would never hurt her," I said immediately.
"I hope not," he replied. "But you and I both know you come from different worlds. I do not know if your family will welcome her the way mine always did."
I exhaled slowly. "I know. But I will fight for her."
Daniel nodded. "Good. Just remember, if you hurt her, I will be your number one enemy."
I laughed lightly. "Fair enough. And I am sure you would not miss the chance to step in if I mess up."
He smiled. "You know me too well."
When I left the Rodriguez house, my heart felt lighter. Daniel had made his position clear, and somehow that gave me peace.
I drove to the restaurant and parked outside, but I did not get out right away.
Through the window, I watched Mia carrying a heavy tray, moving carefully between tables. Every instinct in me screamed to rush in and help her, to take the weight from her arms. But I knew her pride. I knew she would refuse.
Still, that did not stop me from thinking. If I could not help her directly, I would find another way. Because loving Mia meant respecting her strength, not taking it from her.
"Hi," I said the moment she stepped out.
Yes, call me a hopeless romantic, but I had been standing by the exit door long before her shift ended, pretending my heart was not racing every time the door opened. I told myself I was just early. That I happened to be there. But the truth was, I did not want her walking out alone.
When her eyes found mine, her steps slowed. Color bloomed across her cheeks, a soft blush that made my chest tighten in the best way. She tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear, clearly surprised, and I knew right then that every second of waiting had been worth it.
For a moment, neither of us spoke. The noise from inside the restaurant faded into the background, and all I could see was her. Tired from work, still in her uniform, yet somehow more beautiful than anyone else in the room.
"I wanted to drive you home," I said quietly, as if it were the most natural thing in the world. Her smile was small, hesitant, but real. The kind that felt like a secret meant only for me.
Standing there, watching her blush just because I showed up, I realized something I could no longer deny.
I was falling for the outcast girl.