"Well I'm definitely impressed," Brian told her.
"Thank you, I'll take that as a compliment," Liz smiled warmly back at him.
It was the first time that Liz felt comfortable with anyone. It was as if Brian omitted this presence that filled everyone around him with a sense of security. Liz had never felt that in her life, but it was something she longed to feel.
"So when did you learn all of this stuff about me?"
"You can only imagine what 20 bucks and a lot of spare time at an overcrowded airport can do," she laughed cautiously, afraid her would think she was lame.
Thankfully, he began to laugh with her. He leaned in close to her, his blue eyes shining brightly, "Tell me about it."
Liz was shocked, no one except Leslie, had taken such an interest in her before. Liz told him what had happened from the point where she had left him standing in the hallway. Throughout her whole story he listened intently, his concentration always on her. It was actually a little frightening. He seemed so genuinely concerned that Liz found herself becoming afraid of boring him with her story.
Brian was aware of every word she spoke and the way she moved when she spoke it. He saw the way her cheeks flushed when she mentioned the pictures of him. To him it seemed as if she craved the attention he was giving to her. He wandered at her life before he met her. What was it like? Was she happy? So many questions plagued his mind, questions that only she had the answer to.
He became aware that the night was dwindling away and Leslie had planned the whole evening for them. Liz had finished her story and the two were on their way back to the limo to see just what Leslie had in store for them. The two made endless chatter until the limo stopped at their next destination.
They were ushered into a large arena not unlike the one Brian and the rest of the guys would be playing in tomorrow. The temperature grew considerably colder as they moved toward the center of the large arena. Liz held Brian's hand tightly, afraid of what Leslie's mind could think up. Brian smiled as he felt Liz slip her hand in his. Her small hand fit perfectly in his slightly larger one. The two finally reached their stop--it was an ice rink. To the left of where they had stopped were two pairs of ice skates and a note from Leslie.
Brian and Liz,
I hope you 2 are enjoying your little "business" date, *cough, cough.* I thought you might enjoy some rink time to get the blood flowing. Don't forget you have 1 more stop after this and then it's time to come home. Brian, you have to get up early so don't over exert yourself. Liz, we have a lot to do tomorrow, so please keep it on the DL.
Laughing at Leslie's desperate attempts to hook them up, Brian and Liz laced up their skates and pushed off onto the ice. Hand in hand they skated faster and faster. The bleachers were becoming nothing but a larger blur. Still hand in hand they collapsed onto center ice, both breathing heavily.
"I've never had this much fun in one night," Liz remarked.
Brian saw the seriousness in her eyes and felt his heart reach out to her. "Well, we better see what Leslie has in store for us next," he said, changing the subject.
Brian watched as Liz skated over to the bleachers to remove her skates, Leslie didn't have to try anything else to get him to like Liz, he already did.
The next stop on their "business" date was an ice cream parlor. There the two sat in silence, yet again, as the night replayed over and over in their mind. They were both starting to have feelings for each other, but neither would let the other know. Brian was glad that he didn't argue when the guys had chose him for this, and Liz was glad she missed her flight back home. Their thoughts were interrupted by the driver telling them it was time to head home.
The limo had let them off 5 minutes ago and they were now lingering outside of Liz's hotel room, not wanting the night to end. "I had a really good time," Liz told Brian.
"So did I. We should do it again."
"That would be great, Brian. Well, goodnight."
"Goodnight Liz." With that Brian watched as she walked inside her room. There was no goodbye kiss, no hug goodnight, and no real promise to do this again. But somehow, Brian was okay with that.
