from Aiden, so I call in reinforcements, Mom and Hailey. After swearing Hales to secrecy, I’m able to tell them my plan and what I’ll need from them to pull it off. It’s the week before the draft, and I’m running out of time. I’m a nervous wreck for a multitude of reasons. Mom and Hailey are, of course, on board and over the moon that I’m asking Allison to marry me. Neither one of them were surprised I already had the ring, they were, however, surprised that it’s been almost five months, and I still hadn’t found the right time to ask her. I explain about not wanting to ask her too soon after Gran, because she was mourning. I want her to remember this as a happy time in our lives. A day we can tell our kids about, when we are old and gray. I know, I know, totally losing the man card, but love does that to you.
It’s Wednesday, the day before we fly to New York for the NFL draft. Today’s also the day that will determine my future, even more so than the draft. With Allison’s schedule and mine, tonight is the only night I can get her in the apartment alone. Hailey’s job is to take her out shopping and keep her away until seven o’clock. Mom, who also brought Dad with her, Aiden, and I get to work on the apartment. We re-arrange the living room furniture, so all the furniture is pressed against the wall. We throw scarfs over the lamps to dim the lighting and place extra-large throw pillows, which Mom picked up, on the floor for Allison and me to sit on. The kitchen is transformed to resemble a romantic restaurant with table cloth, candles, and daisies. Everything is perfect, so I say goodbye to my family as I rush through a shower. I dress in a pair of well-worn jeans and a plain white t-shirt. This is me, and I want her to just see me tonight, just Liam, the one who’s madly in love with her.
My phone beeps, and I quickly read the text.
Hailey: We just pulled in, good luck, big bro.
Me: Thank you.
Game time and this is the biggest play yet. My nerves hit me hard, and I feel flutters in my stomach. Oh, shit! What if she says no? Just as I’m about to break out into full blown panic mode, I hear the handle on the door turn. I walk to the door to greet her, and as soon as I see her, my fears disappear. I love this girl, and I know she feels the same.
I lean in to kiss her lips. I’m afraid to get too close, afraid she’ll feel her ring in my pocket. “Hey, beautiful.” I take her bags and her purse and lay them down on the couch that’s pushed next to the wall.
“Hey, what’s all this?”
“This is me, having a romantic night with my girl. I’ve missed you. Things have been crazy, and with the draft starting tomorrow, I just need Allison time. You keep me calm.” That’s the truth, even though I’m leaving out the proposal. “Come on, I conned Mom into cooking for us. I wanted tonight to be special, so I didn’t even attempt to do it on my own.” At that, she laughs.
I lead her into the kitchen, and she gasps. “Liam, this is beautiful. I can’t believe you did all of this.”
Kissing her cheek, I pull out her chair. “You, my beautiful girl, deserve to be romanced.”
I serve us lasagna and a bowl of salad, placing the bread sticks on the table. I sit down in the chair right next to hers. While we eat she talks about her day with Hailey, I admit I asked Hales to keep her out of the apartment, so I could set all this up. We decide to wait on dessert, so I lead her into the living room, and we sit down on the pillows in the middle of the floor. This is it, I reach for my guitar.
She smiles brightly. “You’re going to play for me?”
I return her smile, even though my insides are shaking. “Yeah, I thought I would play something if that’s okay?”
She nods, so I strum a few chords on my guitar before I begin to play “I Live My Life For You” by Firehouse. I belt out the lyrics, begging her to understand what she means to me. Once I finish