Anywhere With You (23 page)

He’s grinning while watching my mom. “She is still the most beautiful woman I have ever seen.”

I nod. “I feel the same way about Allison, Dad. I love that girl with everything in me.”

“I know you do son, she loves you too. She blurted it out to your mom at the game today.”

I try to control my grin, but it so isn’t happening, not when it comes to Allison. “Any words of wisdom?” I finally ask him.

“Never let a day go by that you don’t tell her what she means to you. Don’t let money or fame or anything else come between you and the ones you love.”

I nod my head letting him know I understand. Nothing would ever be more important to me than her.

“I’m proud of you son, you got a great girl there. Cherish her.”

“Always.”

Instead of driving back to the apartment, we stay at my parent’s. Aiden is staying in the guest room, like he always does and Allison is trying to tell me that she’s going to sleep in Hailey’s room with her.
Umm No!

She’s concerned about disrespecting my parents. I hate to do it, but I finally have to bring mom into the conversation.

“Mom, please tell Allison that she can sleep with me.” I realize how it sounds as soon as I say it. Allison’s face goes red with embarrassment instantly. Aiden, Hailey, and my dad all bust up laughing.

Mom maintains her composure and smiles widely at us. “Allison, you and Liam are both adults and you love each other. We’re fine with you sharing a room,” Mom says it much better than I do.

Allison nods her head not wanting to discuss the matter any further. We all say goodnight and head off to bed. Once we are in my room, I lock the door to ensure that we have privacy. I tug Allison into my arms to kiss her, but she turns her head. “I’m sorry I embarrassed you, but there is no way that I was going to have you sleeping with Hales and me sleep alone just across the hall.”

Allison has yet to look at me; she’s staring at the floor. I gently lift her chin. “I love you so much it kills me to be away from you. You are the best beginning and end of my day, every damn day.” She is looking at me but not saying anything so I continue. “Falling asleep with you in my arms each night and waking up with you next to me each day …” I shake my head. “You are everything to me, my world revolves around you and there is no way I could have gotten any sleep without you in my arms, especially knowing you were across the damn hall with Hailey.” I rest my forehead against hers. “I’m sorry that I embarrassed you, but I’m not sorry that I fought for you. I will always fight for you, for us.” This time when I kiss her she kisses me back.

I lift her in my arms and gently sit her on my bed. Without saying a word she lifts her arms above her head and I gently remove her sweatshirt. The sight of her takes my breath away as always. “Damn, Allison, you are so beautiful.” She stands up and lifts my shirt over my head, and then she makes quick work of her jeans. I follow suit not wanting to miss a moment of what is yet to come. Allison scoots back on the bed and pats the spot beside her. I climb in lying beside her, my hands instantly travel to her hips so I can bring her closer. She rests her hand against my cheek.

“Liam …” she’s trying to fight the emotion that I can see in her eyes. I wrap my arms around her and wait patiently for her to collect her thoughts. “You have changed my life so much. Thank you for all that you have given me. For loving me.” A single tear drips from her beautiful eyes. I kiss it away. “I love you so much,” she murmurs.

I kiss her soft and slow, gently stroking her tongue with mine. I am close to tears myself so words are not really an option. If the guys thought I was whipped earlier, they should see me now. My man card would be revoked, no questions asked. I kiss her neck, her shoulders making my way towards her breast, giving both equal attention. I shift so that I am on top of her and her legs instantly fall open, inviting me in. I lace my fingers with hers and place our arms above her head as I gently enter her.
Home
. I continue to slowly slide in and out making love to her. I watch Allison closely as she lies beneath me, eyes closed mouth open. I watch as she arches her back and I can feel her tighten around me, I know that she’s close. “Open your eyes, beautiful girl.” I wait for her to meet my gaze. “I want to watch you fall apart, I want you to see me lose myself inside of you.” I continue my slow deep thrusts until I know we are right on the brink. “Come for me, beautiful.” She tugs on my hand and places it over her mouth, it is then that she falls apart and I am right there with her. I can feel her tighten around me, I can see the love for me in her eyes and that is my undoing. I release myself into her.
Mine
.

I gently remove myself from her and roll onto my side, placing her back tight against my chest. I kiss her shoulder. “I love you, Allison Shay Hagan. I can’t wait to spend forever with you.” I then fall asleep holding my future.

The next few weeks leading up to Christmas are crazy busy. Aiden and I have three away games in a row, which means time away from Allison. This makes me cranky as fuck and my teammates and best friend make a point to tell me frequently. Allison takes the opportunity to spend more time with her Gran, she would drive up and spend the night and they would watch the game on TV. I can tell that she is enjoying her time with Gran so that eases my temper a little knowing that she is safe and happy.

Allison and Hailey work it out so that we will spend Christmas Eve with Gran and Aiden’s parents and Christmas Day with mom and dad. I don’t care either was as long as I get some Allison time. I am missing my girl.

We arrived at Grans on the 21
st
and I am dreading not being able to sleep next to Allison. I’m not sure how Gran will feel about it, so I’ve been building myself up to accept that fact that I am going to have to fall asleep without her. This I am not looking forward to. Hales came with us so I’m sure that she will be sharing a room with Allison.

Aiden needs to finish his shopping so he and I venture out to the mall, leaving the girls behind to hang with Gran. They plan on baking; just the thought of that makes my stomach growl.
I am done with my shopping. Hales and I went in together and got mom a dad a weekend away at a bed and breakfast, Aiden got a gift card to have his car detailed inside and out,
trust me it needs it
, Hales got a gift card to the mall, the way she loves to shop I know that this will make her happy. Allison and I bought Aiden’s parents a gift card for a local steak house. For Gran, well I convinced Allison that we should get her a new flat screen TV. She doesn’t leave the house so I figure this would be a good gift. Hailey agreed. As for Allison, well let’s just say that I did my best to spoil her. I bought her a coach purse that I heard her and Hales talking about, Hales of course helped me get the right one. I bought her a diamond heart necklace, because well the girl is my heart. I bought her new boots, a couple of outfits and a day at the spa. Aiden also got this for Hales, so they can go together.

We end up in a jewelry store so Aiden can pick up his mom’s gift from his dad. He had ordered it a few weeks ago and just got the call today that it was in. His dad found out we were coming here and asked us to pick it up for him. I am browsing around while we wait and end up at the case filled with engagement rings. I had looked at them when I bought Allison’s necklace, but none of them were the right fit for my girl. I make my way to the end of the case and that’s when I see it, the perfect ring for Allison. It is a one carat princess cut diamond with baguettes interlaced down each side in the infinity symbol, tightly woven. I ask the sales lady who has been hovering over me if I can see it. I examine it in my hands, it’s perfect. I feel Aiden come up beside me and he whistles.

“Holy shit, are you going to propose?” he asks shocked.

I shrug my shoulders. “Well, yeah. I love her.” I hand the ring back to the sales lady. “I’ll take it in a size six, please.” I turn back to Aiden. I have my trust money that Hales and I got when Granddad passed, I have never touched it until now,” I smile at him “Do you think she’s going to like it?”

“Yeah, man. I do. It looks like Allison,” he agrees.

I pay for Allison’s ring, Aiden finishes up his shopping and we start home. We pull into his driveway and I hand him the bag from the jewelry store. “Keep this for me, man. I can’t hide it in our luggage.” He smiles and shakes his head.

The next few days flew by. This is mainly due to the fact that Allison allowed me to sleep with her in her room. Hales slept over at Aiden’s in the guest room. I made sure she was okay with it and she just smiled and told me to enjoy my girl. My sister knows what Allison means to me, she also knows how cranky I get when I don’t get to sleep with her in my arms.

Christmas Eve we have a huge brunch that Mrs. Emerson, along with Hailey and Allison, prepares. We eat way too much and open gifts. I brought half of Allie’s gifts for her to open here. She got three outfits and her boots. She got me the new call of duty for the Xbox and an iTunes gift card. Aiden and Hales are exchanging gifts tomorrow.

After brunch and presents, Allison wants to go visit her parent’s grave. I beg her to let me go with her, but she says that she needs to go alone. She does agree to let Hales drive her. I am relieved that at least she won’t be driving upset. Aiden went to hang out with his parents and I stay with Gran. We sit talking for a while and I suddenly have the urge to show her the ring. I text Aiden and ask him if he could bring it over. Before I know it he walking in the room with a grin on his face.

I take a seat in the chair beside Gran. “I want you to know that I love Allison with everything in me. I would like to have your permission to marry her.” I open the ring box and lay it in her hands.

“Oh Liam, it’s beautiful.” Gran takes the ring out of the box and examines it. “This is perfect for Allison, you know her so well.” She replaces the ring in the box and hands it back to me, grasping my hand. “Liam, I am honored that you asked for my permission. Allison loves you so much and you make her so happy. You have put life back into my girl. You have already promised me to always take care of her, so of course you have my blessing to marry her.”

I kiss her on the cheek. “Thank you, I promise she will always be loved and protected, you have my word.” I hand the ring back to Aiden and he shoves it into his pocket and takes it back to his house.

I agree to let Hailey drive me to the cemetery more for Liam’s piece of mind. I know that he really wants to be here with me, but I need to talk to my parents about him. I know that sounds odd, but losing them at such a young age, growing up without them and coming here and talking to them about life always seemed to help. Hailey eases into the cemetery lot and turns off Liam’s Pathfinder. “I’ll be right here if you need me,” she says as she squeezes my hand.

I squeeze hers back. “Thank you for being here, for doing this.”

“Anytime, but promise me that you won’t shut Liam out, he loves you and wants to be there for you.”

“I know and I love him too, so much. When I was little I would come here and talk to my parents about everything and well, I kind of want to tell them about Liam.” I slip my gloves onto my hands. “I know that you’re his sister, but you are also my best friend. Liam, he says he wants forever with me. I know we’re young and haven’t been together all that long, but I want that too.” I watch her closely studying her reaction.

Hailey grins. “So what you’re saying is that we are going to be sisters?”

I laugh, “Hopefully one day.”

“Allison, if Liam told you he wanted forever, he means it. You’re it for him.”

I reach over and give her a hug. “I won’t be long.” I get out of the truck and make my way to my parent’s grave. Sadly, this is a path that I have traveled many times the last ten years. I lay the fresh flowers that we stopped for on the way here at the base of their headstone. “Hey guys, I’ve missed you. College is good I have met some amazing people. Aiden is there and well, I have kinda fallen head over heels for his roommate. Funny thing is, my roommate Hailey is Aiden’s roommate’s sister. Small world, I know. His name is Liam and he is amazing. He is tall, dark, and handsome, mom. I know that you would approve. Dad, he’s the quarterback for the football team and rumor has it that he and Aiden both are going to be first round draft picks for the NFL. He’s so good to me, daddy. He treats me like I am the most precious gift in his life. Things are serious between us, he wanted to come with me today to meet you, but I wanted to be able to tell you about him first. I love him so much, he’s my future and well I just wanted you to know that I’m okay. That I am living life and missing you every day, but I am slowly painting my canvas as Gran would say. I need to get going, sorry I can’t stay long. Aiden and Liam are waiting for us at Gran’s. We are heading to Liam and Hailey’s parents for Christmas. His parents are wonderful and already treat me as if I am one of them. I love you both and miss you every single day. Merry Christmas.” I kiss my fingers and place them over their headstone, wipe the tears from my eyes, then turn and walk away.