Page 28 of Anywhere with You
I nod my head in agreement, trying hard not to smile. It’s been a long damn time since anyone other than Gran or Aiden and his family has worried about me. I’m overcome with emotion and afraid if I try to speak Liam will see, and I’m not ready to go there with him just yet. So, I lean up on my tiptoes and kiss him long and hard.
“You look beautiful,” he says as he pulls away. “You ready to go?”
“Yes.” I grab my phone and my wristlet.
“Where’s your bag?”
“Oh, I’m just going to take this,” I say, showing him my wristlet. “It can carry everything I’ll need, including my phone.”
Liam looks at the floor. “I thought you were going to stay with me.”
“Oh.” I knew we’re shopping for a bed, but I didn’t realize that meant I was staying there tonight. “You want me to stay with you tonight?”
“Every night, beautiful girl, but I’ll take what I can get. It’s just …” Liam rubs his hand on the back of his neck. “I really just want to fall asleep with you in my arms and wake up the same way. I promise nothing else will happen, I just want that, with you. Last night, I laid awake in bed, knowing you were sleeping next to Aiden. I need you with me tonight.”
Wow.“Okay, let me pack a few things.” I rush around grabbing clean underwear, a pair of shorts, and a tank. I throw in my cell charger, as well as my bathroom necessities. When I’m ready to leave, Liam’s by my side, taking my tote out of my hands, throwing it over his shoulder. He locks the door to my dorm, laces his fingers through mine, and we’re on our way.
The day is amazing. Liam buys the first futon he sees at the furniture store and arranges for delivery today at four. He claims when he tells his parents it’s for Hailey they won’t blink at the credit card statement. He calls Aiden to make sure he’s going to be home to accept the delivery. We go to Walmart and buy a new futon cover along with extra blankets and pillows. Liam insisted I pick up my brand of shampoo and body wash to keep at his place, as well as my own loofa. We also pick up some groceries and a few items Aiden asked us to pick up. We grab Subway for lunch and eat it at the park.
Throughout the day, Liam’s constantly touching me. Holding my hand, his arm over my shoulder, hands on my hips when he’s standing behind me, hand on the small of my back, leading me through doorways. I’m on sensory overload.
When we arrive at his apartment, he calls Aiden to help carry in the loot. I, of course, am not allowed to help. I am, however, allowed to hold the door open and supervise.Ugh.He needs to realize I’ve been taking care of myself and Gran for a long time. When I tell him so he says that‘it’s his privilege to take care of me now.’I have no response to that.
“What the hell did you guys buy?” Aiden asks us as he and Liam set the last of the bags on the kitchen counter.
“Just some food and new blankets and pillows for the futon, and I had Allie pick up the shampoo and body wash she likes for when shestays here. This way she doesn’t have to pack it each time or rush home.” He winks in my direction.
“I see,” is all Aiden says in reply. It’s obvious he’s having a hard time adjusting to my relationship with Liam, unlike Hailey, she’s thrilled. “By the way, what’s with the futon purchase?” he asks, motioning to the living room where the recently delivered futon is set up in the corner.
Liam shrugs. “Hales and Blitzen spend the night a lot, and now Allie does too,” he says as he’s pressing his front to my back and wrapping his arms around my waist. “I wanted to make sure everyone has a comfortable place to sleep, preferably without my little sister being shacked up with you or Blitzen.”
I can tell Aiden is goading Liam by the look in his eyes “What’s wrong with how we’ve been doing things? Allison with me, Hales with you, and Blitzen on the couch?” I can see the effort it’s taking him not to laugh.
Liam growls. “Allison will be sleeping with me, in my bed from now on. There will be no exceptions. The futon is for Hales. Blitzen and whoever else can fight over the couch, but Allison will be with me.”
Aiden throws his head back and roars with laughter. It takes him a few minutes to get himself under control while Liam glares at him. I stand here with a smile on my face only Aiden can see. Liam grabs our personal supplies and pulls me into his bedroom and shuts the door. He drops my tote on the bed. “The top two drawers are yours. I cleaned them out this morning when I got back. If you need more space, let me know.” He places a kiss on my temple and carries the rest of our supplies to his adjacent bathroom. And here I stand with a silly grin on my face.
CHAPTER 20
Liam
When I come out of the bathroom, Allison is still standing in the same spot. “What’s wrong, babe?”
“You made room for my stuff in your dresser?” she asks me, like it’s the craziest thing she’s ever heard.
Everyone seems to be really shocked with me the last few weeks. I’ve never wanted a girlfriend before Allison. It wasn’t necessarily because I was against it, no girl had ever held my attention long enough to want to try, until Allison. All I could see was football. It’s only been less than twenty-four hours since she agreed to be with me and instead of the panic I was afraid would set in, it’s excitement. I rushed home after dropping her off and immediately cleared out my top two dresser drawers for her. I then cleaned out a drawer in the bathroom, as well as a shelf in the bathroom closet. The thought of her spending that much time here with me brings a smile to my face. The only other thing that’s ever done that is football.
“Yeah, I also have a drawer and a shelf for you in the bathroom,that’s where I put all of your toiletry stuff.” By this time, I’m standing beside her, and I lift her chin with my forefinger, so she’s looking me in the eye. “I want you, I want you here. This is all new to me, these feelings and this need I have for you. Just knowing your stuff is mixed with mine makes me happy. I’m going to give this everything I have, Allison.” I kiss her nose and walk away because if I don’t I’ll have her under me on my bed in no time flat.
“So, what do you want to do tonight?” I ask as I sit down on the bed. Before Allison can respond, there’s a knock on my bedroom door and Aiden pops his head in.
“Dude, what the fuck? What if Allison would have been changing or something? You can’t just walk in without permission anymore, man,” I growl at him.
Aiden just chuckles. “Chill out, I’ll wait for an invitation in the future.”
“Damn right, you will.”
“Anyway,” he rolls his eyes, “I just wanted to let you guys know Blitzen and a few of the guys are coming over later to play cards and watch movies.”
