Page 27 of Anywhere with You
Liam starts making a plate of bacon, eggs, and toast, then places it in front of me. Hailey sees he isn’t about to let me go and brings us both a cup of coffee and orange juice. I just stare at the plate, still in a daze from everything that has transpired since I woke up this morning. Liam notices I’m not eating. “You want me to make you something else?” he whispers in my ear, which causes goose bumps to cover my entire body.
I shake my head and pick up my fork and start to eat. It isn’t until I look up and see all three of them watching us that I realize Liam and I aren’t only eating off the same plate, we’re even feeding each other. He offers me bites, and I’m doing the same. He still has one arm wrapped tight around me with his fingers splayed over my belly. Needless to say, it’s hard to concentrate on eating. I think that’s why I started feeding him as well, I needed the distraction.
Liam following my gaze, looks up to see everyone watching us. “What?”
The only response we get is laughter, throw your head back, tearsstreaming laughter. Before long, Liam and I are laughing right along with them. After breakfast we all pitch in to help clean up.
Once we’re done, Liam drives Hales and me back to The Warehouse to get her car. “So, I’ll see you in an hour?” he asks me as he draws me in for a hug. I can’t help but notice we’re a perfect fit as I tuck my head under his chin.Liam gives the best hugs.
I look over at Hailey. “What are your plans for the day?”
“I’m meeting some friends from high school for lunch, and then after that I got nothing.”
“So, can I pick you up at the dorm in an hour? I want to go shopping for a futon, and I thought we could just hang out, spend the day together?” Liam asks me. I had forgotten he said he was buying a futon.
“What the hell do you need a futon for?” Hailey asks him.
Liam smiles down at me. “Well, my little sister tends to spend the night a lot and so does my buddy Blitzen. In the past this hasn’t been an issue. However, things have changed; my girlfriend will be placing a permanent reservation on sharing my bed with me whenever she would like, so I need to ensure my little sister has a comfortable place to sleep, which does not include being curled up with either of my male best friends.” He says the last part with tension in his voice, like he can picture Hailey curled up with Aiden or Blitzen.
Hailey grins. When I say grins, we’re talking face-splitting blind you kind of grin. “You fell hard, huh, big brother?” Then she turns to me. “Can’t wait for my spa day.”
Liam kisses my forehead. “And still falling.” His simple statement seems to make sense to Hailey as she nods her head.
“Alright, future sister-in-law, get your ass in the car, so my brother can go shopping for his futon.” Hailey winks at Liam.
Liam leans down and kisses me soft, sweet, and slow. “See you in an hour, beautiful girl.” Her statement doesn’t seem to bother him in the least.
As soon as we’re in the car and driving away from Liam, Hailey isall over me. “Holy fucking shit, what in the hell did you do to my brother?”
I turn in my seat and gape at her. “Umm, I’m not sure what you mean?”
“What I mean is I’ve never, in my entire existence, seen him act all sweet and loving with a girl. I’ve never seen him show any public displays of affection. Hell, he was cuddling, and you two were feeding each other at the damn breakfast table.”
“Oh, that. Well, I’m not sure, I don’t know how Liam was with other girls, so I can’t say. I know what you’ve told me, and what Aiden and Liam, himself, has told me.” I shrug, like it’s no big deal.
“Allow me to enlighten you, my friend. Liam does not do PDA. Ever. He picks a girl up at a party, the bar, what have you, they do their thing and it’s done. No affection whatsoever. Never has he claimed a girlfriend and never has he practically begged a girl to spend time with him, like he did back there. You, my friend, have tamed the beast.”
I can’t help it, I laugh out loud to that one. “Tamed the beast, really, Hales?”
She nods. “Yes, the beast. Just wait, if he continues this way, you’ll hear that a lot.”
I really can’t comment, because I have no idea why Liam chose me over all the other girls he has been with or could be with. I just hope he doesn’t break my heart because one thing is for sure; I’m falling hard for Liam MacCoy, and he has the power to crush me.
Once we arrive back at the dorm, I call Gran. I tell her I’ve met an amazing guy, who’s my roommate’s brother, and he asked me on a date tonight. She understands, of course, and wants to hear all about Liam. I refrain from telling her that he is ‘officially’ my boyfriend. I don’t know why, but I want to keep that just for me, for the time being.
After talking to Gran longer than time allowed, I rush through a shower. I throw on a green sun dress, which Hailey says makes my eyes pop, and a pair of matching flip-flops. I braid my hair off to theside, add some mascara and lip gloss, and I’m good to go. Just as I’m unplugging my phone from its charger, there’s a knock at the door.
“Come in!” I yell. I know it’s Liam. I’m not expecting anyone else.
Liam walks through the door with a frown on his face. Great, it’s only been an hour and he’s changed his mind. Stay calm, don’t let him see you cry.
“Hey, you.” I try to sound as cheerful as I can.
“Why wasn’t your door locked, and why did you just yell for me to come in? I could have been anyone.” He scowls.
I wrap my arms around his waist and rest my head, in what I like to think of as my spot, right below his chin. His arms immediately crush me to him. “I knew you were going to be here any minute, and Hales just left; she must have forgotten to lock it on her way out.”
Liam kisses my temple. “I don’t want anything to happen to you or my little sister. You guys need to make sure you keep this locked, even during the day, and always make sure you know who’s at the door.”
