Series Starter Firsts in Series Collection - Kaylee Ryan Page 0,395

and thanking them for the gift. “There’s no expiration date, and it’s paid in full, so you guys can go when you can get your schedules to mesh. Of course, you’ll have to call to schedule your date with the company.”

We’re only able to stay at Liam’s parents for two days due to Liam and Aiden needing to get back for football practice. They’re playing in a bowl game on New Year’s Day.

Liam unloads all of our gifts into our room while I unload all of the leftovers Mrs. Mac sent home with us. Once I am done, I walk back to the bedroom and find Liam sitting on the bed, propped up against the headboard, looking through his scrapbook in his lap. “Hey.”

“This really is incredible, Allison,” he says as he continues to flip through the pages. “You managed to capture my entire football career in this book. This means so much to me. This is the most personal gift I’ve ever been given, and to know you made it for me, makes it even better.”

“I wanted to do something special for you.” I hesitate. I am afraid to tell him what I am thinking. I decide to just go for it, he loves me. “I thought it would be something you could show your kids one day.” I shrug.

He leans over and kisses me softly on the lips. “I will definitely be showing this to our kids, so they can see how amazingly talented their mom is.”

Chapter 32

Liam

Waking up with Allison tangled in my arms is something I’ll never get tired of. She pretty much lives here now. Well, not technically, but most of her clothes are here, as well as all of her books and laptop. It’s been weeks since she’s stayed at her dorm. Hailey’s always here too, unless she has a date, which has been less often. The four of us have become a tight knit group. Allison thinks there might be something brewing with Aiden and Hailey, but I don’t see it. Of course, I rarely pay attention to anything else when Allison is around, I’m captivated by her.

Today is New Year’s Eve Eve, and since Aiden and I have a big game New Year’s Day and we fly out to Miami tomorrow, we decide to just have a quiet night at the apartment. Hailey decides to stay in with us, as well as Blitzen and his date, Jerrica. Blitzen very seldom has dates, he’s more of a hook-up kind of guy. I can’t judge him, because I used to be the same way before Allie. Maybe Jerrica will be the one to help him change his ways.

Hailey and Allison take care of all of the food preparation while Aiden and I set up the living room to accommodate everyone. We picked up a case of beer, but that’s all since we have practice and a flight tomorrow. Tonight, we’re just going to chill, not get our drink on. Hell, all I want to do is make love to Allison, but what else is new.

When Blitzen and Jerrica arrive, you can tell she feels out of place, being the only new person to the group. Allison must sense this, because she quickly introduces herself and drags Jerrica off to the kitchen with her and Hales.

“So, you ready for the big game?” Blitzen asks us.

“We got this,” Aiden replies as he holds a fist out to each of us to bump.

“I think our chances are good, our team is strong,” I respond. We continue to talk about the game until the girls get our attention by yelling that the food’s ready, didn’t have to tell us twice. They have really outdone themselves. We have meatballs, buffalo chicken dip, finger sandwiches, chips, cookies, and brownies.

I tug Allison to my chest and kiss her just below her ear. “Thank you for doing all this.”

She smiles as she turns to Jerrica, trying to include her. “Thanks again for helping us get all of this together,” she tells her.

“This is so good,” Aiden says as he shoves a meatball in his mouth. I watch while Hailey grabs a napkin and wipes his face for him. Interesting.

After we eat, we gather in the living room for a game of battle of the sexes. The girls kick our asses. So, of course, us being the manly men that we are, we refuse to play again and demand another game. We vote for Rock Band, so we take turns, guys and girls.