Page 25 of Anywhere with You
“Liam,” I call out to him.
He turns to look at me. “Yeah, baby?”
“What did you do with my clothes?”
He smiles his panty melting smile. “I put them in my room where they belong.” He winks, then turns and opens the door. “Keep your fucking hands off my girl, Emerson.” I hear him tell Aiden as he passes him in the hall.
Aiden enters the room shaking his head. “What was that about?” he asks me.
I smile. “He brought me a pair of sweats to sleep in,” I say, shrugging my shoulders.
Aiden picks up his shirt lying on the chair. “I see he found you a different shirt to sleep in as well.”
“Yes, he’s having a hard enough time with his girlfriend sleeping in another man’s bed, the clothes he could easily fix,” I say, like I hadn’t just announced news I was sure would affect all four of our lives in some aspect.
Aiden’s mouth drops open in shock, but he’s able to quickly recover. “Did you just call yourself Liam MacCoy’s girlfriend?” he questions me, like I’ve lost my ever lovin’ mind.
I smile again. I’m unable to prevent it. I’m happy. “I did,” confirming he heard me correctly.
“Would you mind elaborating on that subject for me?”
I sigh. “Liam and I have been tiptoeing around our attraction for one another since the day we met. He knew I wanted more, but he wasn’t sure he could give me what I wanted. Now he says he can. I’mtaking a chance on him.” I pause to gauge his reaction. “We’re taking a chance on each other.”
Aiden’s quiet for several minutes while he processes what I just said. “Is this what you want? Are you happy?”
“Yes, and yes I am. There’s this connection between us, Ace. I can’t explain it, but I want him, and I’m willing to risk a broken heart to have him.”
Aiden nods in understanding before I’m even finished speaking. “Liam’s a great guy, my best friend, aside from you. If anything, Liam is a man of his word. He would never lead you astray on purpose. Not to mention, he’s never had a girlfriend. I’ve watched him mope around here, since the day he met you. I’ve seen him turn other girls away, saying he would just be pretending they were you.” He smiles at me. “I’ve lectured and warned him off of you. Threatening if he starts anything, he’d better be serious. We’ve been thick as thieves, since freshman year, and I’ve never seen him act like this. He really is into you.”
Again with the smiling. My face is going to be sore tomorrow. “I want to see where this goes. I feel safe with him, wanted-” I don’t bother to elaborate; Aiden knows how I feel about being alone in the world. “Shit.”
“What is it, what’s wrong?” Aiden asks, concern lacing his voice.
“I’m Liam MacCoy’s girlfriend,” I whisper.
Aiden throws his head back and laughs.
“It’s not funny. I’m in your bed, sleeping next to you, while my very new, very sexy boyfriend is sleeping just down the hall.” I can see why Liam is so frustrated. I’m not so sure I could handle him sleeping with another girl, best friend and adopted sister or not. He really is practicing great restraint with this entire situation. I’ll need to make sure I make it up to him.
“It’s not your fault, and, besides, with you and Liam being an official couple this will not happen again. Liam will make sure of that.” Laughing, Aiden leans over and kisses my cheek. “Night, Ash.”
“Night, Ace.”
CHAPTER 18
Liam
It takes all the fucking willpower I have to walk away from Allison. She’s all snuggled up under the covers in fucking Aiden’s bed.Jackass.In reality, I know it has nothing to do with Aiden and it’s simply the bad luck of Blitzen being flooded out of his apartment, as well as me not wanting to make Hales sleep with Aiden. I’m hoping she’ll ask me to do just that. I won’t be able to tell her no. Unfortunately, that doesn’t happen.
I make it to my room, and Hales is sound asleep. I change into gym shorts and climb in beside her. I love my little sister, we’re close, but I don’t really like her all that much at the moment.I’m definitely getting a futon tomorrow.Little sis and I are going to have a long chat tomorrow about her choice of dates; Todd and Jason of all people to go on a date with.What the fuck was she thinking?Either one of them could have been hurt worse than Allison’s bruised hand. The thought of either one of them hurt in any way has me seeing red. After what seems like hours, I finally fall asleep.
I wake to the sound of footsteps in the hallway. I immediately open my eyes and hop out of bed. Today is a new day, and I’m going to spend every damn minute of it with my girlfriend. I stall, waiting for the panic to set in—nothing.
I make my way down the hall, following the noise, which leads me to the kitchen. I find Allison standing at the sink, opening the new bottle of Advil I bought last night. I stand here just watching her. She’s so sexy, even in my sweats that swallow her, and she’s all mine.Finally.She must sense me watching her because she looks up. “Good morning, beautiful,” I say as I make quick work of the space between us. I pull her back against my chest and nuzzle her neck. “Need some help?”
She exhales. “Yes, please.” She hands me the bottle, and I reluctantly let her go to open it for her. “I can never get these damn things open.”
“How are you feeling today?”
