Saturday morning went just as planned. I got some much needed sleep; I actually slept in until 10! I managed to stay in my pajamas all day long, did some laundry and cleaned up the entire house. I felt like the day was actually quite a productive day, although I had said I wasn’t going to do a damn thing.
Liam had to run into the office for a little bit, but he was home by lunch. Bearing sandwiches from a tiny deli. We sat in the backyard and enjoyed the beautiful weather and the delicious grub. We talked about our upcoming trip, the planned bachelor/bachelorette parties and the going out to Haze. All the while we managed to flirt like we had when we were dating.
After lunch, we carried all of the trash and plates into the house. While I loaded up the dishwasher, Liam then made his way towards the backyard again to mow the lawn and contribute to the housework; however it was more like the getting out of it by offering up the lawn. I could then see him chatting up with some of the other neighborhood guys.
We weren’t antisocial, per se, but we didn’t have game night like some of the other families and the only time we really got to know everyone was during the summers. I was a social person, but some of these couples always made me feel like we weren’t part of the ‘group’ cause we didn’t have kids yet.
Suddenly, I saw Liam pat a guy on the back and jog over to the house. I was just being nosy through our front window.
“So some of the neighbors are having a mini barbeque this evening and would like to know if we wanted to join in?” Liam poked his head through the screen door. “Oh, yeah. We can. We have some beers in the fridge; I can make a quick dessert? Did they have any requests from us on what to bring?” I started to look over myself thinking that I would need to take a quick shower.
“Nope, they said bring some beer or liquor if we got any and then if we wanted to bring anything else. They said they are gonna start in about an hour, so go grab a shower and I will meet you out here.” He leaned in and gave me a quick kiss. Liam had always loved when the neighbors did some bonding time, especially over barbeques. He would light up like a tree.
I watched him head back to some of the guys that were starting to toss a football around. I ran upstairs to get ready. After smelling like house cleaning supplies, it was really nice to have some fresh soap and shampoo run their scents around me. I stood in the shower a little extra longer; I was really starting to get nervous about tomorrow. I was actually glad that this gathering was going on; it would be nice to get some other ladies around me to keep my nerves from being rattled and spending time in the house thinking tomorrow all night.
I applied my lotion and picked out a cute pink sundress. This way I could look a little dressed up but throw on some flip-flops to keep it casual. I blow dried my hair really fast and put on a little bit of makeup.
I decided to check my phone before heading out, I planned on leaving everything inside. I had a text message.
Hey. Sorry for yesterday, I had no right to be a jerk to you. You don’t deserve that. I’ll see you tomorrow. It was from Caleb. Did he have timing or what? I, for once in the last week, was not upset. The text actually brought a smile to my face. I thought that it was really sweet of him to apologize for being so cold to me. I still was nervous about seeing him tomorrow.
I set my phone down, grabbed the beer out the fridge along with a bottle of rum that was in the freezer and grabbed one of the 2 liter bottles of Diet Coke. I managed to work everything so I could carry it all in one trip. I had to set the soda down to open the front door, but as soon I stepped out Liam came to the rescue.
I could smell the aroma of the steaks from our driveway and my stomach instantly began to rumble. I headed over to the table where the rest of the drinks were and set everything down and went to mingle with some of the other ladies. They all were very welcoming and I immediately felt comfortable and thought this was going to be fun.
By the end of the barbeque, I had learned a few of our neighbors were either expecting their second or third kids and how they loved to see us have a few. I just smiled as they talked about their son was doing this, or their daughter was into that. However, tonight all of the kids were with either sitters or at the grandparents’ house and the parents were so excited to get rid of them. That part had cracked me up. Tell me to have kids so I can send them off.
After we all had finished off all the beer and the rum and we all did a shot of someone’s Patron; we decided to call it an evening. My poor liver was going to be in shock at the end of next weekend, I was glad that I had a couple drinks to get it prepped.
“Did you have fun?” Liam asked as he grabbed my ass. He was obviously a little buzzed; I think that he was the one that mostly drank the rum.
“I did. They are all very nice. I am still laughing about telling us to have kids and then send them to grandmas.” I chuckled about it. “Yeah, but they were right about one thing.” He turned me to face him. “Ryleigh, I really want to start a family soon. I think that you’d be an incredible mother and I hope to be a great dad. Now, I know that I screwed up and you have to work on your trust with me, but I do love you and I think that we would have some amazing kids.”
I didn’t know if it was the liquor or just the rush of blood from my head. I wasn’t really expecting that tonight.
“Liam.” I said hesitantly. “We don’t have really talk about it tonight, but I want to get it out there.” He quickly responded. “I know you do, as do I. I just don’t think that we are ready for kids right now. I think that right now we enjoy being able to plan trips at a drop of a hat, being able to go to last minute neighborhood gatherings without having to think about who is going to babysit. I love you, I do, but…”
“Do you WANT kids Ryleigh? Liam asked sternly.
“Yes! Of course I do. I just, well…” I paused again.
“When?” He pressed.
“Well. Can we wait until we get back from Vegas to talk about it?” I asked with a smile. I didn’t know what I getting myself into, but I think I just agreed to start trying for kids after next weekend! “Really?” He lit up like a Christmas tree at that moment and picked me up into a hug and squeezed me really tight and began to kiss me hard. “Ryleigh, this news has made me the happiest man ever! I love you so much! I can’t wait until we have little babies running around! I can’t wait to tell your mom! She’s going to be so happy!”
“Liam, we just are going to start talking about kids when we get back; I would rather you not say anything to my mom right now. Please?” My stomach was in knots. “Alright, lips are sealed! Now, I’d say let’s go practice, but I am finding that I am kind of drunk and I don’t want to be at a dinner party with a hangover. I say we go upstairs and hit the hay, what do you say?” He began to actually giggle, “I did a rhyme.” Yep he was drunk.
“I’m so proud. Yep, let’s go upstairs.” I said pushing him towards the stairs. Things were so crazy now, I can’t really imagine adding a poor kid to the mix. I love kids, I think that they will be great and especially if they are my own. I just wasn’t sure that I was really ready. Or was it that I wasn’t sure of my marriage and that was putting kids off? We had never talked about kids until Courtney told us she was pregnant, so why all the sudden to push it? I could feel the buzz of the alcohol really getting to me by thetime we reached our room. I couldn’t think anymore and was happy about that moment.
Tomorrow was going to suck. I woke up with the worst hangover that I have had in a very long time. Liam was still passed out next to me. I looked over at the time; it was only 8:42 but now was as good a time as ever to get in the shower. I headed into the bathroom and closed the door. The water definitely did make me feel a little better. I heard the bathroom door open as I stood there for an extra minute.
“Hey why you up so early?” Liam grumbled. “I don’t know, honestly. I just woke up and after the pain that was throbbing in my head, I figured the shower would help. Could you possibly get me some orange juice and some Advil, please?” I asked and really put some whi
ne into the ‘please’.
“Sure. I will also brew some coffee. What time are we supposed to be at your mom’s?”
“I believe six. So we have all day to recover.” I tried to giggle but my head was started to throb more. I should have known better than to do tequila.
“Alright. I’ll go make some coffee, but I’ll put your OJ and Advil will be on the counter when you get out.” He said as he shut the door. I soaked in the shower for a little longer and then began to wash up. I really did not want to go to dinner tonight, but I haven’t seen my mom in a little while and I figured this would be a nice evening to see her. I was really hoping that everything went smoothly.
I came out to find that Liam left me not only my orange juice and Advil, but a flower that we both noticed that was starting to grow in the backyard. My heart kind of melted. I quickly chugged the juice and popped the pills. I dried off and quickly put on another sundress, I was going to skip the primping but remembering that Caleb was going to be there; I wanted to look a little more beautiful.
I finished up blow drying my hair and put on my makeup and found Liam watching me. I smiled at him in the mirror.
“Why are you getting all glammed up? Not that I don’t love it, but we are just going to your mom’s for dinner and that is not for another, what, nine hours?” Liam asked. “Well, I was going to go browse the mall.” I lied. “Also, some old friends of my mom and mine are going to be there tonight as well. I don’t want to look like I was hit by a tequila truck, so I thought putting a little extra work would help a little.”
Liam smiled and shook his head.
“We were just talking about Courtney and her primping and here you are.” He chuckled.
“Oh shut up. So we like to make ourselves beautiful. SOME of us can’t roll out of bed looking amazing.” I shot him a dirty eye. “Don’t hate me cause I am beautiful!” He joked andheaded into the shower. “So you are going to the mall?”
“Yeah, I’m going to maybe find something to wear for our night out in Vegas and then I want to stop and get my mom some flowers and Avery some good wine.”
“You know the man has a wine cellar, right? Why would you buy him some more wine?” Liam asked as he pulled the curtain back.
“I know, but I feel it’s a kind gesture. Like ‘thanks for cooking for us, here is more wine to add to your collection’.”
“Okay. Well, I’m going to finish in here and then probably be lazy down in my chair. So I will see you in a couple hours?”
“Yeah. I shouldn’t be too long. I love you!”
“Love you too. Have fun.” I headed downstairs, grabbed my purse and my phoneoff the counter and headed to my car. I noticed that I had a little message envelope but it didn’t say that I had a new text message. Did Liam check my phone? My heart began to race and even dropped a little. I tried to play it off and think that it was my phone, but then I noticed that the message was from Caleb, but it was from last night.
Hey beautiful. Out drinking right now and can’t stop thinking about you. I miss you. I am glad I get to see you tomorrow night.
Shit. I really hope that Liam didn’t see that. I could just play it off as he was drinking and it was supposed to be funny. SHIT! SHIT! SHIT! Tonight is going to be a disaster if he did see that. “Just act normal, Ryleigh! Everything is going to be fine. Our parents are going to be there and it is not going to be a problem!” I said aloud to myself as I drove towards the mall.
Shopping was truly the best therapy. I managed to find a few more outfits to take with me to Vegas. I was going to look hot next weekend. I even managed to find a new bikini for the pool. I made my way back to my car, stopped at the liquor store and got Avery a really nice bottle of wine. I was going to hit the flower shop, but the store across from the liquor store had some beautiful arrangement of flowers out on the sidewalk.
I headed home and realized my couple hours shopping trip turned into an all day excursion. I saw that it was already 3:30! I pulled up in the driveway and bolted into the house.
Just as he said, Liam was in his chair flipping though the channels on the TV.
“Hey, I was starting to worry about you. I sure hope you didn’t put a second on the house!” He said setting down the remote.
“Sorry, I was having some really good luck finding some outfits. I lost track of all time.” I set down my bags and climbed into the chair with him. “Do you wanna see what I got?” I asked really sweetly.
“Of course.” He said with a smile.
I quickly jumped up and gathered my bags and began to pull out my outfits.
“A black, sequined tube top.” I held it up to me. “With black ankle pants. I have the perfect shoes to go with these. I figured I would wear this on Friday night.”
“Wait, what is Friday night?” He interrupted. “Oh, shit, sorry. Courtney and I are going to go out and Jason and you are heading out for the respectable bachelor/bachelorette parties. Courtney told me the other night when I called her and I completely spaced it. Are you okay with that?” I asked biting my lip.
“Yeah, I just was thinking that we were going to go out on Saturday night, but yeah this will be a lot of fun!” He said smiling.
“Okay, now back to me!” I laughed and pulled out a strapless, hot pink dress that had a lace cover. “What do you think of this for Saturday night?”
“Wow!” He sat up in his seat. “I actually like that. A lot. I can’t wait to see you in it. Or it on the floor of the suite.” “I thought so.” I winked at him. “I also got a newbathing suit and some shorts and tops. Needless to say, I found some good deals out there today.” I said as I began to put the items back in the bags to take upstairs.
“I am going to take a snooze down here, are you doing anything else today?” He began to holler at me as I headed into the kitchen to put the flowers in some water and the wine in the fridge to cool. “I was thinking of taking a couple minutes in bed. I’m going to set my alarm. I figure we can leave here about 5:30?” I suggested.
“Alright, just wake me up when you get up.” He said as he leaned back into his recliner. I headed upstairs to lay down. My head still wasn’t fully better and the fact that I hadn’t eaten anything all day was not the best idea. I turned on the TV and laid down for a minute and then my stomach wouldn’t let me lay there for any longer.
I jumped up and headed downstairs for a light snack. I saw Liam sleeping in the chair; he really must have been tired. I walked into the kitchen and grabbed some carrots and poured a tiny side ranch. I filled a cup of water and headed back to the room.
I felt exhausted but I couldn’t seem to fall asleep. I think that my mind was just too busy to let me sleep and it was going to be a long evening. After watching a few shows on TV I realized that it was approaching five.
I hopped off the bed and headed back towards the bathroom so I could touch up my makeup and decided to throw my hair up in a ponytail.
I grabbed my plate and cup to take back to the kitchen and saw Liam on his phone. He was typing something.
“Hey, I thought you were gonna still be asleep.” I said as I set my dishes in the dishwasher. “I just woke up actually. Just checking my emails and I found that I was dying of thirst so I came in for some water. Should we be a little early and maybe I can help Avery with the grilling?” He said as he put his phone back in his pocket.
“Yeah, let me just grab the wine and the flowers and we can head out.” I smiled and gave him a quick kiss.
Chapter Sixteen
We really didn’t have much to say on the way to my mom’s house. We just played the radio and occasionally made comments about how overplayed that a certain song is or how this group was going on tour and we should think about try getting tickets.
“Speaking of tickets, while you were out today; I got us a reserved table at Haze and bottle service. I let them know that it was in celebration of a wedding, so they threw in an extra bottle for us.” Liam said as he grabbed my hand.
“Oh great! Thank
s for doing that! I’m sure we will have an amazing time!” I said excitedly.
“I guess we weren’t the only ones that wanted to be early tonight.” Liam said pointing to a truck in my mom’s driveway.
It was Caleb’s. Shit. Breathe Ryleigh.
We made our way into the house and I could feel my heart about to explode out of my chest.
“Mom? Anybody home?” I called out.
My mom came running in from their backyard. She quickly pulled me into a hug.
“Ryleigh. How are you sweetheart? Hi, Liam!” She pulled him into a hug as well.
“Good, thanks mom! Why are you so huggy today?” I joked with her. “I am just so glad that we had a chance to get all of us together and do a dinner. Ryleigh, Caleb is in the back helping Avery with some of the steaks. His parents are on their way, they just called.” My mom sounded like she was going 90mph. “Liam, dear, you can head out with boys. There is beer in the fridge, so grab one on your way out. I am going to put Ryleigh to work in here.” She pretty much pushed Liam towards the fridge and out the door.
“Thanks, Lynda.” Liam said as he headed out to the backyard. I could see him shake hands with Avery and then shake hands with Caleb. Things looked okay so far.
“Ryleigh, you okay? You look like you just saw a ghost!” My mom said as she started to get all the salad fixings out of the fridge.
“Yeah, just not sure how Liam and Caleb would get along.” I said coming over to the counter to help her cut up some sort of vegetable. “Why wouldn’t they get along?” She stopped what shewas doing to look at me. “Oh, I don’t know.” Liar. “Just because I told him about Caleb being an old friend and I don’t want him to get this wrong idea about any sort of Caleb and I in the past.”
My mom went back to chopping up some onions and I began to cut the tomatoes. Avery came in from the back and I greeted him with a smile.
“Hello Ryleigh.” He said shortly. Avery always made me feel like my mom was perfect for him but I never fit into the mix.
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