by Jae
“Sure.” He nods his head while grabbing the materials and then handing them to me.
I doodle on the paper until Liam and Drew walk into the front of the shop.
“Why don’t you have your shirt on?” Liam demands just before his eyes land on the black plastic bandage on my chest. “What did you do?”
“I got a tattoo!” I tell him with a smile.
“That’s awesome!” Drew exclaims, high-fiving me.
Liam walks up to me and peels the temporary bandage off without saying a word. The hard look on his face falls away and his eyes widen a little when he sees the black ink permanently on my skin.
“It’s you and me, always.” Liam says softly, reading the words he said to me the night of the wedding.
“Do you like it?”
“It’s perfect.”
Chapter Twenty-Four
A few days later I get a letter in the mail informing me that I made USC’s women’s basketball team. My Dad is absolutely over the moon and my Mom is supportive. I can’t stop staring at the letter, rereading the words over and over again. How did this happen? Is this even real? This has to be a joke.
“Liam!” I hear my Dad shout into his cellphone. “It’s Tony!”
I can hear a pause in my Dad’s conversation, but it’s like background noise to me.
“She made the team!”
There’s another pause.
“Yeah, she just got the letter!”
And another pause.
“Well, get your ass over here! We’re going out to celebrate!”
My Dad hangs up his phone.
“Daisy, this is so great!” My Dad exclaims as he grabs my shoulders, shaking me a little. “Go get ready! Liam is on his way over! We’re going out to dinner!”
I stay planted in my spot for a few more minutes before my Mom takes my hand and leads me up to my room.
“Are you okay, sweetheart?” She asks after setting me down on the big chair in my closet and kneeling down in front of me.
I finally look up from the letter and stare into her eyes; mine wide like a deer in headlights.
“I made it.” I say in disbelief.
“You did.” She gives me a small smile.
Wow, I can’t believe this. I slowly nod my head after a few more minutes and then stand up to start getting ready. I pick out a short sleeve periwinkle lace skater dress with a thin black belt around the waist and black peep toe wedge booties. I part my hair on the side, leaving it down in loose curls and apply a light smoky eye for my makeup.
“Little Miss Daisy!” I hear Liam shout as he comes bursting into my room as I walk out of my closet, setting the letter down on my dresser.
“Hey.” I say moving around my room to collect the things I need and shoving them in my purse.
“Are you still in shock?” Liam asks after a few moments of observing me. “You’re Mom said you were in shock.”
“I guess so.” I tell him after I’m done packing my purse and set it down on my bed.
I turn to look at him. He’s wearing a white dress shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows and a pair of all black high-top Chuck Taylor All Star Converse shoes that are both tucked into a nice pair of black jeans and his curly hair is swept messily across his forehead. I watch him reach over and grab the letter off of my dresser before carefully reading it.
“This is so great, Daisy!” Liam exclaims after setting it back down and pulling me into a hug, picking me up of my feet and swinging me around in the process.
Before I can respond, he sets me back down on the ground and presses his lips to mine.
“You really did it, baby.” Liam whispers, cradling my face in his hands and looking into my eyes. “I’m so proud of you.”
My Dad and Liam have been discussing my future basketball career since we got in the car. My Mom has tried to change the subject several times without success. I would help her out, but I’m still in too much shock. I honestly didn’t think I was going to make the team. By the time the tryout was over, I felt like a completely joke and thought I made a total fool out of myself. I was nearly positive that I did too horribly for them to even consider me.
“Daisy.” My Dad says, pulling me out of my thoughts.
“What?” I ask, slightly jumping when I feel Liam squeeze the top of my thigh.
“I said you must be pretty excited that you don’t even have to think about leaving anymore.” He tells me with an amused chuckle. “Let alone worry about all of the packing you would’ve had to do.”
“I – Umm… Yeah.” I stutter while forcing a small smile onto my face.
I pick up my fork and twist it around in my pasta. I look up at my Mom when I feel her hand reach across the table and grab onto mine, giving me a reassuring smile and an understanding nod. I force my food down and try my best to be a part of the conversation, but I’m having a hard time staying out of my own head. I know I should be absolutely thrilled right now. I should feel like jumping off of the walls and screaming to the world that I’ve been accepted to play on a college basketball team. Instead I feel like the exact opposite.
I look over at Liam when he squeezes my hand. He has my favorite smile on his face and his emerald green eyes are shining with so much love and pride. He’s so beautiful and perfect, despite his darker side. I can’t believe how madly in love I am with him. In this moment I can see my life with him forever. I can see myself being happy with our own little family and still ridiculously head over heels in love with him for the rest of my life.
“I love you.” Liam whispers in my ear when my parents are distracted by the waiter.
My heart swells and breaks at the same time.
“You made the team?” Ella asks me in disbelief.
“Oh my God.” Zoie and Taylor say at the same time.
I nod my head, not really sure what else to say as I walk to the front of the shop to unlock the doors.
“You’re Dad has to be freaking out!” Zoie exclaims.
“Liam too!” Taylor adds.
I nod my head again and open the door for the first two customers.
“How do you feel about all of this?” Ella asks me when I walk back behind the registers with her.
“You know, you’re the first person to actually ask me that.” I tell her while I watch Zoie and Taylor talk with the customers. “I feel like I’m going to puke and cry and scream and faint all at once.”
“Wow.” Ella says and I look over at her with a sigh.
“I don’t know what to do.”
“I thought you already made up your mind?”
“I thought I did too.”
“Party time!” Taylor yells when we walk into the frat house Liam belongs too.
It’s almost weird being here. It feels like I haven’t been to a party in ages. But I’m happy for it. Getting absolutely ‘white girl wasted’ right now is exactly what I need. I throw back shot after shot after shot, feeling the effects of the alcohol setting into my system quickly. Liam is standing directly behind me, talking to a group of his frat brothers who keep congratulating him on the huge game win tonight. It still puzzles me how big summer basketball is in college. In high school, people could care less.
“Try a few shots of water.” Liam whispers in my ear after I’ve downed my… sixth shot?
“I’m okay.” I tell him before I ask the guy who’s been feeding me shots for a beer.
After he hands me the cup, I take two big gulps before grabbing Ella’s hand and pulling her to the room where the makeshift dance floor always is. I realize she must’ve grabbed Zoie and Taylor too because they’re standing behind her when I turn around. We all stand in a tight line, grinding against each other and laughing our heads off for no reason.
“I need another one!” I shout to the girls a little while later, shaking my empty cup in the air.
They all nod their heads and keep dancing while I make my way out of the room and back to the kitchen.
“Another beer, please.” I tell the gu
y and hand him my cup. I closely watch him fill it up and smile my thanks when he hands it back to me. I walk over to Liam who is leaning against the windowsill he was leaning on the first night we met.
“Hey!” I smile as I stand between his legs and he rests his hands on my hips, pulling me as close as possible.
“Hello, Little Miss Daisy.” He chuckles.
“Did you know this is the exact spot you were in when I saw you for the very first time?” I ask him with a matter-of-fact tone in my voice.
“I did.” He smiles wide.
“I love when you smile like that.” I declare, poking the deep dimple in his left cheek. “It’s my favorite.”
“That’s good to know.”
“And I love when you walk around with your shirt off.” I tell him, nodding my head and sliding my hand under his shirt for a second. “You’re so sexy and beautiful, and to be honest, it’s kind of ridiculous.”
I take a drink from my cup before continuing.
“And the fact that you got a daisy tattooed right here,” I pull my hand out from under his shirt and poke the exact spot on his chest where the daisy is. “Makes me love you a thousand times more. Actually, you know what; I just really love you in general.”
“I appreciate all of your compliments and I love you too, but I think you’ve had one too many to drink.” Liam continues to chuckle while reaching for my cup.
“No way!” I protest as I swat his hand away and then chug the rest of my drink.
“Daisy.” He scolds.
“It’s a party, Liam.” I scold back. “Live a little.”
I don’t wait for a response as I push my lips to his. I quickly deepen the kiss by pulling his bottom lip between my teeth before sliding my tongue across it and then pushing it into his mouth, battling against his own. If I could stay in this moment for the rest of my life, just Liam and I not giving a care in the world, I would be happy forever.
“Oh my God.” I grumble as I roll over, immediately hitting a rock hard body. “Oh no, my head.”
I squint my eyes open to see Liam is the person I rolled into with an amused look on his face.
“You alright?” He asks with a chuckle.
I let out an incoherent grumble while I burry my head between his arm and side, just below his armpit. This only makes Liam chuckle more.
“I’ll go get you some medicine.” He tells me, moving to get up.
“No, don’t leave me.” I whine, wrapping my arm around his waist.
“But your head hurts and this is the only way to make it better.” Liam tells me in a voice you would use to talk to a child.
“You could give my head kisses.” I tell him.
“I guess I can do that too.” He agrees, shifting his body and rolling me onto my back.
I let out a content sigh when he starts to gently plant sweet kisses to my forehead.
“Better?”
“A little.”
“I’ll go get you some medicine.” He grins. “I promise I’ll be right back.”
“Fine.” I mumble before rolling onto my stomach again and then pull a pillow and the blankets over my head.
“Little Miss Daisy.” Liam says in a sing-song voice a few minutes later, sitting on the bed next to me. “Come on, babe, you need to take these.”
I slowly peel the blankets and pillow away from my face before taking the water and pills in Liam’s hands.
“Thank you.” I say after handing him back the glass of water.
“Come shower with me?” He asks as innocently as possible.
“Fine.” I roll my eyes while slowly climbing out of bed. “But only because I will probably fall back asleep if I’m left alone.”
Liam laughs while we walk into the bathroom. I patiently wait for him to hand me the toothpaste after he’s used it. I brush my teeth and then quickly rise when I get the sudden urge to pee.
“Oh my God!” I yell, sprinting to the other bathroom.
“What was that all about?” Liam asks after turning on the shower when I walk back into his bathroom.
“I had to pee.” I answer with a duh tone in my voice.
“You know there’s a toilet right here?” Liam asks me, mocking my duh tone while pointing to the toilet in front of him.
I just roll my eyes and pull my shirt, which I now realize is actually Liam’s shirt, over my head and drop it to the ground, letting my underwear join it. I am completely aware that Liam is watching my every move, but I ignore him as I pull back the shower curtain and get inside before closing it behind me. No more than a second later, Liam is stepping in behind me. I lean into his back while he wraps his arms around my waist.
“Will you wash my hair for me?” I ask, closing my eyes. “I like the way you do it.”
“Sure.” Liam chuckles while squeezing some of the shampoo I use into his hand and lathering it up before massaging it into my hair.
“That feels really good.” I sigh, leaning further into his chest.
“You know, I’m really proud of you.” Liam says after we get out of the shower and I get dressed in another one of his t-shirts and one of the many pairs of my underwear that always get washed but never manage to make their way back to my house.
“Why’s that?” I ask him after climbing back into his bed.
“Last night, you got so drunk you couldn’t even remember who I was and when we got back here I was trying to help you change and you pushed me away and said ‘Get away from me, Liam Jones is my boyfriend and will kick your ass if he sees you anywhere near me.’”
“I did not!” I exclaim with wide eyes.
“You really did!” Liam laughs, crawling into his bed and snuggling in next to me. “But I still managed to get you out of your clothes.”
“Obviously.” I respond, making us both laugh.
“Oh, and you’re even gigglier when your drunk than when you’re tired.” He adds.
“That’s good to know, I guess. Anything else?”
“You gave me a lot of ego-boosting compliments.”
“Oh, no.” I say with fake horror in my voice.
“Oh, stop.” Liam chuckles. “And you told me you love me.”
“I do love you.” I smile.
“Good.” Liam says as he kisses my head. “I’m glad it wasn’t just the booze talking on that one because I love you too.”
“You’re such a goofball.” I poke his side.
“Do you really want to start a tickling war right now?” He threatens.
“Not at all!” I respond while scooting away, but am instantly pulled right back against Liam’s body.
“You can’t leave me.” He says softly. “You’re warm and comfy.”
“What time is your practice today?” I ask after a few quiet minutes.
“At one o’clock.” Liam answers, glancing over at his alarm clock. “So, in about three hours.”
“Can I come?”
“If you’re up for it.”
“I just want to go and thank Coach for what he’s done for me.”
Liam nods his head before setting his alarm for twelve o’clock and then we easily fall back to sleep wrapped up in each other.
“Hey, Coach!” I smile when he walks into the gym. “Do you think, maybe, we could talk?”
“Yes, of course!” He nods his head. “My office sound okay?”
“That’s actually perfect.” I respond, following him out of the gym doors and down the hall to the boy’s locker room.
“First,” Coach says after we sit down in the safe confinements of his office. “I hear congratulations are in order.”
“Oh, yeah, thank you.”
Coach nods his head. “You don’t seem too thrilled.”
“No, I am!” I reassure him, my eyes slightly widening. “I guess I just wasn’t expecting it.”
“I don’t see why not.” Coach leans back in his chair with a chuckle. “You’re a very talented girl.”
“Thank you.” I say again, glancing for a moment at t
he motivational posters and plaques hanging on the walls. “I wanted to come and thank you for everything you’ve done for me these last couple of months. I really appreciate it.”
“It was my pleasure.” Coach smiles while leaning forward and tapping his hand on my arm that’s resting on the edge of his desk. “But something tells me that’s not all you wanted to talk about.”
“No, it’s not.” I admit.
“What’s on your mind, Daisy?” Coach asks as he leans back in his chair again.
“I’m not sure how much Liam has told you about me, but I got offered this amazing opportunity to study art and photography in Paris for the next two years. I really think it would be a life changing experience. But if I go, I have to leave Liam, everyone I care about, and basketball behind.
“I was really leaning towards it, a lot before and a little bit after the try out because I never thought I was going to make the team. Then I got this letter saying I did make it and for a second I felt like it was my birthday and Thanksgiving and Christmas all wrapped into one because, for a very long time, playing college basketball was all I ever wanted. I was just so shocked to see it there in writing.
“I guess I wouldn’t mind staying here to play basketball because I would still get to be with Liam and be able to study art and photography. Plus my friends and family are here. But if I stay, then I’m going to miss out on this once in a lifetime experience.”
Coach stays quiet for a few moments, watching me, before adding his input. “I think you need to ask yourself what your true passion is. Is it basketball or art and photography?”
“That’s the problem, I don’t really know. Basketball has always been my dream ever since I was a little kid. I always saw art and photography as just a hobby, you know, something to pass the time with. I never really put much thought into it until after I got hurt and my friend sent in some of my work to a bunch of different colleges and institutes.”
“When you were told you could get a tryout, did you still get the same feeling you did when you walked out on the court before you got hurt?”
“No, I didn’t…” I trail off, glancing at my hands for a moment. I’ve actually never thought about that until now. “Well, sort of.”