Series Starter : Firsts in Series Collection

by Kaylee Ryan

  The music changes again back to a fast tempo, and I lift my head to chance a look into Liam’s baby blue eyes. He rests his forehead against mine. “Thank you for the dance, sweetheart,” he whispers. I’m worried he can hear the thunderous beat of my heart. He kisses my forehead, laces his fingers through mine, and directs me through the crowd back toward the booth. Hailey and Aiden are there now, sitting beside one another with fresh drinks for all of us. Liam lifts our entwined hands to his lips and kisses the back of my hand, then places his hand on the small of my back and guides me into the booth.

  The four of us continue to sit, laughing and talking. Aiden and Liam keep us supplied with drinks. Liam’s still sitting next to me with his arm draped over the back of the booth. He’s lazily making circles on my shoulder. He’s driving me insane. The attraction I feel for him is like nothing I’ve ever felt. It scares the shit out of me. Liam isn’t exactly what you would call a player, but Hailey has told me multiple times he doesn’t date and is never serious about anyone. Football is his life. As much as I want the college experience, I also want the love and connection. One-night stands and hookups aren’t my thing, and never will be. I want more. Dancing with Liam tonight confirmed that for me. I can never be a hookup for him, and he can never be committed to anyone. I know nothing will go beyond innocent flirting, no matter how sexy he is. I’ve just confirmed to myself, I’m an all or nothing girl, and I vow to stay true to that.

  “I need the ladies’ room,” Hailey announces. “Allison, come with me?”

  I nod my head as Liam and Aiden let us out of the booth. Aiden looks at both of us. “Be careful, if you aren’t back in ten minutes, I’m coming to look for you.” I try to focus on what he’s saying, I really do, but Liam has his hand on the small of my back again as we were waiting for Aiden to finish lecturing us on safety.

  Hailey winks at them and pulls me away to the ladies’ room. Once inside she smiles at me. “My brother’s into you.”

  I feel my face flush. “He’s just being friendly,” I manage to reply.

  Hailey giggles, we’re definitely feeling the drinks. “He’s different with you.”

  I shrug. “Let’s do our business and get out of here. I don’t want Aiden coming to hunt us down.”

  As we exit the ladies’ room, “Country Girl” by Luke Bryan comes blaring through the sound system, so that’s exactly what we do all the way back to the guys. Once we reach our booth, we continue doing what Luke asks us to, and continue our onset of shaking and grooving. I watch as Aiden and Liam stand up from the table. I’m excited thinking they’re going to join us on the dance floor. Before I realize what is happening, Aiden has me by the waist and is leading me to the exit. I look back to see Liam following with an angry expression, pulling Hailey with him.

  “Hey! We aren’t ready to leave,” Hailey slurs.

  “Too damn bad,” Liam growls and pulls her tight against him. “We need to get you two home, so that you can sober up.”

  Aiden helps me into the passenger seat of my car before turning to Liam. “I’ll meet you back at the house. I’m just going to bring Ash with me; I don’t want her being alone in case she gets sick.”

  “Hey, what I am shopped liver?” Hailey slurs.

  Aiden laughs. “That’s chopped liver, Hales, and no offense, but you’re in no shape to take care of anyone.”

  Aiden helps me into his apartment and leads me to the kitchen table. I plop down in the chair and put my head down. I’m starting to really feel the effects of the alcohol. The excitement of the bar kept me going, but now that things are quiet and calm, I can feel my head pounding.

  Aiden touches my shoulder. “Here, Ash, drink this and take these.” He hands me a bottle of water and two Advil.

  Hailey dumps herself into the chair beside me and groans.

  “Here, Hales, take these and drink up.” He hands her the same regimen. Apparently, Aiden is trying to prevent us from feeling like a dog’s ass the next day, or so I think I hear him say.

  “Ash, you need to drink all the water,” Aiden scolds me.

  “Too tired,” I mumble.

  Aiden chuckles. “Just drink it all, and then you can sleep, Ash.”

  I pull my head up from the table to scowl at him, but it hurts too badly to frown. I’m sure whatever expression I’m wearing is rather amusing, considering their smiles. Aiden and Liam are both leaning against the kitchen counter with their legs crossed, smirking at us. Assholes.

  I’m tired and just want to sleep, so I do as I’m told and finish off the water. I go to stand up and lose my balance. Aiden and Liam both reach for me, but I grab onto Aiden. “Now can I sleep, Ace?” I whisper.

  “Yes, you can sleep. Let’s get you to bed.”

  “Shhhh,” I whisper, “there’s no need to yell.”

  Aiden just laughs as he leads me down the hall and into his room. I plop down on the bed, and he hands me one of his old football jerseys to sleep in. “Get changed, I’ll be right back,” he tells me.

  Chapter 8

  Liam

  Drunk Allison is adorable. I stand in the kitchen beside Aiden, waiting for her and Hales to take the Advil and drink the bottle of water Aiden has given them. I glance at my sister. I’ve seen her in this state before. She usually stays over and either sleeps on the couch or with me, depending on what’s going on. Tonight, however, Blitzen is passed out on our couch. Apparently, his roommate is using their place. He texted earlier and asked if it was cool. I mentioned it to Aiden and he was okay with it. Blitzen knew where the spare key was, so he let himself in and crashed on the couch. However, when we agreed, we didn’t know that we would have the girls to deal with. Aiden insisted we bring them here, since they’re both three sheets to the wind and in no shape to care for themselves or each other. I agreed, but now that we’re here, it hits me, Is she going to sleep with him?

  I get my answer once Allison finishes her water; Aiden helps her out of her chair and starts guiding her down the hall to his room. What the fuck! I assist Hailey to my room and step out into the hall while she changes. She insisted on keeping clothes here just for this occasion when she moved on campus. There was no point in arguing with her. I figured she’d need them at some point. Aiden steps out into the hall at the same time. I scowl at him.

  “What’s up, man?” Aiden asks, confused.

  “Are you sleeping in the bed with her?” I growl at him.

  Aiden laughs out loud. “Dude, she’s like my sister, I’ve told you this.”

  I just stare at him. Deep down I know I’m being irrational, but the thought of her in another man’s bed pisses me the fuck off, even if it is her ‘brother’. “Maybe we should let the girls take my room and you and I can bunk together. I’ll take the floor.” I want Allison in my bed, even if it is Hailey she shares it with. I don’t want her curled up with Aiden, but I don’t want to think about that particular issue right now.

  “No, man, it’s cool. Ash and I have shared a bed before, just like you and Hales. She’s changing now, and then we’re just going to hit the sack.”

  Before I can reply, I hear Allison. “Ace, I’m done.”

  With that, Aiden walks back into his room and shuts the door. I stand here for several minutes before Hales steps out into the hall. “What are you doing?”

  “Nothing.” I stomp back into my room and slam the door.

  Hailey joins me a few minutes later and climbs into bed. “Liam, are you okay?” she whispers.

  I roll over and ignore her.

  “Liam.” She places her hand on my arm.

  She’s sitting up in bed when I look over my shoulder. I sigh and roll over. “What is it, Hales? I’m tired.”

  She studies me. “What happened to get you so pissed off all of a sudden?”

  I stare at her, debating on what I should say. Should I tell her I’m mad as hell Allison is sleeping in Aiden’s bed? Do I tell her Allison is all I can think about since meeting her yesterday? Do I tell her I feel like my world i
s spiralling out of control? No, I can’t tell her any of those things. I’m not so sure she’d believe me anyway. Hell, I’m having a hard time wrapping my head around it. I’m losing my fucking mind!

  “I’m fine, Hales, go to sleep.”

  “Liam, come on, I’m your sister. I know you better than that.”

  “Hailey,” I warn her.

  “I’m not ten anymore, Liam. You don’t intimidate me. What the hell happened between the kitchen and now?” she continues to question me.

  “Drop it, Hales, I mean it.”

  “No. Tell me what’s up with you. We were all having a great time, and now all of a sudden you’re Mr. Pissed-Off, and I want to know why,” she insists.

  “Fine, you want to know what’s wrong. Allison, that’s what’s wrong, okay? Now. Go. To. Sleep.”

  Hailey looks confused. “Allison? Why, what did she do to you? She’s the nicest person I know.”

  “Fuck,” I grumble. “She won’t get out of my head,” I admit as I pull my pillow over my head.

  There’s complete silence following my outburst, and I think that maybe I’m lucky and Hailey has decided to leave well enough alone and has fallen asleep. I pull the pillow from my face and look over at her. She is staring at me. “You like her, don’t you?”

  “No…yes...Fuck, Hales, I don’t know, okay?”

  Hailey’s grin spreads across her face. “Hot damn, I knew when you finally fell, it would be hard. I never dreamed I would have a front row seat in the action.”

  “What the hell are you talking about?”

  “You, dumbass. You refuse to get serious about anyone. All that matters to you is football. You hook-up. You get a reputation as a player and you keep at it, like it’s no big thing as long as you get yours and have football.” Hailey nudges my shoulder. “Until now, that is,” she adds, still grinning like the cat that ate the fucking canary.

  She isn’t done. “Not only do I get to witness this wondrous revelation take place, but since it just so happens to be with my roommate, I’ll get an up close and personal view of my big brother, the player, falling for a girl.”

  “What? That’s crazy. I’m not falling for her. I’m just extremely attracted to her, that’s all. It’s been a while since I’ve hooked up. I just need to remedy that and all will be back to normal. So, don’t go spouting off crazy shit like that. You don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  “Whatever you say, big brother, whatever you say.” Hailey smiles as she rolls over and falls asleep.

  I lie here, for what seems like hours, staring at the shadows on the ceiling. My mind keeps drifting back to Allison and her gorgeous dark brown hair, and those big, beautiful, emerald green eyes. I also think about her being wrapped up in Aiden’s arms and feel resentment sweep over me. It’s almost four in the morning the last time I look at the clock before falling asleep.

  A few hours later, my internal clock wakes me up. I’m used to getting up early to either run or hit the gym. I slip out of bed, careful not to wake Hailey. I’ll let her sleep a little longer, but we have to be at our parents’ house for lunch at one.

  I walk down the hall to the bathroom to relieve myself, before heading to the kitchen to make a pot of coffee. I glance over at the couch and discover Blitzen has already left. As I walk into the kitchen, I have to blink to make sure my eyes aren’t deceiving me. Allison is standing at the sink, looking out the window. She’s wearing nothing but Aiden’s football jersey. My feet are glued to the floor. My heart is pounding. Allison is the most beautiful girl I’ve ever seen. She must hear my racing heart because she turns around and offers me a shy smile.

  “Sorry, I hope I didn’t wake you up. I couldn’t sleep. Aiden’s a bed hog.” She smiles and holds up her cell phone. “I took the opportunity to call and check on Gran.”

  And just like that my lust turns to annoyance. This beautiful, wonderful girl was sleeping in my best friend’s bed, wearing his jersey. He says she’s like family, but let’s face it, they aren’t related. What if he tried to touch her, and she’s just blowing it off to protect him? Aiden would never do that, would he?

  “Did he hurt you?” I ask her, concern lacing my voice.

  Allison’s mouth drops open in shock. “What? No, of course not. Aiden would never hurt me. He just likes to hog the bed, that’s all.”

  I walk over to the sink and lean up against the counter facing her. Damn, this girl has a hold on me. I reach out and tuck a few loose strands of hair behind her ear. “It kills me to think of someone hurting you,” I whisper to her. What the fuck am I doing? I questioned the morals of my best friend. I know Aiden would never lay a hand on a woman. My mind is all over the damn place. I need to get my shit together.

  “H...He didn’t hurt me, Liam. He wouldn’t ever hurt me.” She looks into my eyes, and I’m lost in her again. “Why would you think that?”

  “I just—I feel like I need to protect you.” I cup her cheek with the palm of my hand. “Do you feel this, Allison? This pull I’m feeling?” I ask her softly. “Please, tell me that I’m not alone in this—this overwhelming need to be close to you,” I beg her.

  Allison leans her face against my hand. “I don’t really know what this feeling is, Liam. I-,” she stops as if to collect her thoughts.

  “Talk to me,” I plead.

  “I’m not as experienced as you. I’ve never been in a relationship, never been on a date.” She laughs softly. “Unless you count Aiden at his family functions. I don’t know what this is.” She brings her hand up to cover mine against her cheek. “I know I can’t be just a hookup. I know, even though I don’t have the experience, I want more than physical. You can’t give me that.” She closes her eyes. It almost seems like it pains her to say that to me.

  “Allison,” I breathe and rest my forehead against hers, “you deserve love and commitment, and nothing less.” I swallow the lump in my throat.

  “I want that. I want to love someone with all that I am. It would be nice to have those feelings returned,” she whispers to me. “I feel it too, Liam. I just don’t know how to explain it, or what to do with it. I can’t settle for meaningless.”

  “I know, baby, and I don’t want you to.” I kiss her forehead and back away. I immediately feel the loss. This girl is wreaking havoc on my senses and my emotions. No sooner than I pull away, Aiden walks into the kitchen. He walks straight to Allison and kisses her cheek.

  “Morning, Ash,” he mumbles as he makes himself a cup of coffee. “Mac, you headed out for a run?” he asks me.

  “Yeah, I’ll see you guys later.” I gulp down the rest of my coffee, burning my tongue, and head out the door. I’m turned on beyond belief. I’m pissed off he gets to be close to her, and I’m pissed off because I can’t have her for myself. I don’t have time for a relationship, and she deserves nothing less.

  Chapter 9

  Allison

  “Did I just interrupt something?” Aiden asks me after Liam leaves for his run.

  “No,” I say, shaking my head. “Why would you ask that?”

  “It just seemed, I don’t know, tense in here.”

  “Liam and I were just chatting. He’d only been up a few minutes, actually, before you came out.” I take a sip of my coffee. “I called Gran, she seems to be doing okay. I wanted to go home and see her today, but she says some ladies from church already planned to stop by and keep her company, so I guess I’ll just stick around the dorm and hang out.” I’m trying to change the subject. I’m not sure how I feel about what just happened with Liam. Something passed between us. I do feel this magnetic pull toward him, but I also meant what I said; I want it all, not just sex.

  “Ash, I’m sure that Gran is fine. I’ll call Mom and have her go over later and check on her, which I’m sure she already planned on doing anyway.”

  I nod and continue to drink my coffee.

  “Listen, about Liam. He’s my best friend, aside from you. He isn’t the relationship type. I know he’d never hurt you in
tentionally, but be careful, okay?”

  “I know he’s not the king of commitment, but there’s something about him.” I shake my head to clear my thoughts. “It’s like we’re drawn to each other. I can’t explain it.”

  Aiden walks over to where I’m standing and places his now empty cup in the sink. “I can see the sparks coming off the two of you. Just be careful, I would hate to see get you hurt.”

  “I will, and thank you for looking out for me,” I say as I lean up to kiss him on the cheek. “Now, I’m going to go wake Hailey so we can head back to the dorms.”

  After several attempts and the promise of caffeine and bagels, Hailey finally gets out of bed, and we make our way back to our dorm. We’re both still worn out from the alcohol and not sleeping in our own beds the night before. My mind keeps wandering back to my conversation with Liam. I was honest when I told him I feel it too. What exactly ‘it’ is, I’m not sure. I was also honest when I said I want it all or at least the intent for more. I need to learn how to control myself around him. How to not get lost in those blue eyes of his. Ugh!

  “Earth to Allison.” Hailey’s sitting on her bed, watching me.

  “Sorry, I spaced out. What’s up?”

  “I asked you if you wanted to come to my parents’ for lunch. I know you were going to go home and see Gran, but since your plans changed, I want you to meet my parents,” Hailey chirps as she bounces on her bed.