Series Starter : Firsts in Series Collection

by Kaylee Ryan

  We all decide to share a pizza and bread sticks. Hailey decides we need a little get to know you session. She thinks it’s a good idea for everyone to learn more about each other. She smiles sweetly at me. I know she’s doing this to help me learn more about Allison. I’ve bugged the shit out of her this week. Conversation flows, and I actually learn a lot about Allison, and she about me, I’m sure. I learn her major is still undeclared and she struggled with going to college to begin with. Her favorite color is purple and her favorite flower is daisies. She loves all music from Nickelback to Taylor Swift. She enjoys scrapbooking, which she said is something she and her gran do together. The more I learn about her, the more I want her. I can’t explain it, and at this point, I’m not sure I want to. She’s real. She’s not putting on a show, or trying to be something she’s not to get my attention. She’s just Allison.

  Aiden and I go to the counter to pay. When we make it back to the booth, there are two punks in our seats. The punk beside Allison is leaning his shoulder into hers, obviously flirting with her. The other has his arm on the back of the booth behind Hales. I don’t know the fuckers, but I recognize them from around campus. I’m channelling all of my inner calm, so I don’t beat the shit out of these two. Aiden and I step up to the booth. Hailey’s worried eyes meet mine. She knows I’m about to lose my shit.

  “Hey, hun, are we all set?” Hailey asks Aiden. I’m not sure what she’s playing at until Allison speaks up.

  “Hey, babe, are you up for some ice cream?” she asks me with the sweetest smile on her face. I can see tension in her eyes. It’s obvious these guys said or did something to make them uncomfortable.

  The two douche bags actually look offended, like the girls were leading them on. They huff as they get up and make their way to the back of the restaurant. I clench my fists at my sides. I want to punch them, just once is all it would take with those two. I see Hailey grab Aiden’s arm and lead him toward the door. He’s having pretty much the same reaction as I am. I’m seething mad and turn to follow the two goons when I feel soft hands encircle my arm.

  “Liam.” That’s all it takes. Her saying my name, like I’m all that matters in her world, and instantly my anger evaporates just as fast as it came on. Her soft voice and soft hands instantly calming me. I cup her face with my free hand and kiss her, just a chaste kiss, but it has to happen. I rest my forehead on hers. “Let’s get that ice cream.” I pull away and lead her out to the car.

  We decide to go through the drive-thru at Dairy Queen for ice cream, and then drive to a nearby park to eat it. We all sit around the picnic tables laughing and talking. I’m having so much fun, I don’t want to drop the girls back off at their dorm. Allison, however, is driving home to see her gran tomorrow, so she wants to get an early start. I’m bummed, but I understand. I know how important her gran is to her. We walk the girls to their dorm and remind them to lock the door. I don’t get anymore kisses, but Aiden and I get hugs from both of them. At this point, I’ll take what I can get. I’m starting to wonder if any amount of Allison Hagan will ever be enough.

  When we get back to our apartment, I thank Aiden for getting the girls together with us and head to my room to shower. I’m lying on my bed staring at the ceiling, thinking about Allison, of course, when Aiden walks in. “Hey, man,” I greet him.

  “Hey, you turning in?” he asks me. Okay, something is up.

  “Trying,” I reply honestly. He knows this thing with Allison is tearing me up inside.

  “Listen, man, I watched you tonight, you’re different with her. Hell, all week you’ve been different, blowing girls off, not getting together with the guys. I can tell you’re really into her, and, well, I just want you to know if you’re serious, I’m good with it.” He pauses to gauge my reaction. Of course, I’m speechless. “She really is just like my little sister. She’s been through a lot, and I want to protect her,” he shakes his head, “but the way you look at her, I’ve only ever seen that look one other time in my life.”

  “Really, and when was that?” I know how I look at her, like she’s the most precious gift on the damn planet. I’ve tasted those lips and been subjected her hugs. No one compares to Allison.

  Aiden waits for me to look at him. “My parents. You look at Allison the same way that my parents look at each other. Their love is deep and genuine, I see that when you look at her. Protect her and don’t rush her, man. She deserves that and more.”

  I nod my head. “I would give her the world if I could.” There’s no need for me to elaborate. Aiden knows I’m struggling with my feelings for her. Even so, he just gave me his blessing. Now it’s up to me to decide what I’m going to do with it. I told him I was pursuing her, yet I’ve hesitated. My mind is all over the place.

  Aiden nods and turns, leaving me with my thoughts. I lie awake in bed for hours just thinking about life, football, and most of all, Allison. Can I fit a serious relationship in with all the other craziness of senior year, football, and the draft? Can I handle not having her in my life? I can feel the answer beating in my chest, but admitting it is a whole other feat. That’s the question running through my mind as I drift off to sleep.

  Chapter 13

  Allison

  The last two months have been a whirlwind. Hales and I have settled into a nice little routine with school and sharing space. We’ve spent a lot of time hanging out with Aiden and Liam, just as a group of friends. There’ve been no more kisses, but I do hug Liam hello and goodbye each time I see him, just like I do Aiden. It’s hard to see him so much and not be with him. At least, I don’t have to watch him date. Neither Aiden nor Liam have been on a date since the semester started, well, not as far as Hailey and I know of anyway. Hailey and I really haven’t dated either. She went out on a date with that Todd guy when school first started, but they haven’t gotten together since then due to their schedules. It could also be because Aiden and Liam always get to us first. I can’t help but wonder if Aiden doesn’t have a little crush on Hales, I know she has a crush him. I need to keep an eye on those two.

  It’s Friday night and Hales and I are staying in. Aiden and Liam are at an away game. Hailey and I never miss a home game, but the away games all depend on where they are. So tonight, we’re having a girls’ night. Just hanging out in our dorm, listening to music and consuming lots of junk food.

  “So, Todd just texted me and wants to go out tomorrow night. I was thinking maybe you could come with me and double with his friend Jason?” Hailey asks me.

  “I can’t. I’m going home this weekend to spend some time with Gran.”

  “Please, Allie, you can leave early Sunday morning to go see Gran. Please, pretty please?”

  “Fine,” I say with a sigh. “What is this Jason guy like, anyway?” I ask her.

  “He’s hot, that’s what he is.” She laughs.

  “Okay, so he’s hot, does he go to Duke with Todd?”

  “Yeah, he does.” She pauses to collect her thoughts. “They both used to play football in high school. They played for our rival school. Liam really doesn’t like either one of them. I don’t really know why, he never said.”

  “Great,” I groan. I don’t want to piss Liam off. I want him to want me. Of course, I’m not going to admit that out loud. The last couple months we’ve flirted endlessly, and the four of us are now a package deal, but we’re all just friends, siblings hanging out. There have been no more kisses.

  “It’ll be fun, trust me. Just four people hanging out, having a good time. I’ll text Todd and let him know. I think we’re going to go to The Warehouse, you cool with that?” she asks as her fingers fly across the screen of her phone.

  “Um, do you know if Liam and Aiden will be there?” I question.

  “Definitely not, or else I wouldn’t go. I don’t enjoy my brother when he’s pissed off.”

  “Okay then, The Warehouse it is. I just hope Liam and Aiden don’t show up. “

  “I talked to Liam earlier; they’re going to a party at Blitzen�
�s. I’ll text him, just to make sure.”

  Chapter 14

  Liam

  This week has been crazy. This is my last year of college, football season is in full swing, and I haven’t been able to stop thinking about Allison. I haven’t so much as looked at another girl these past two months. The memory of her pressed tight against me and the taste of her lips on mine is on constant replay in my mind. This moment is a perfect example, I should be focusing on the mound of homework sitting in front of me, but I can’t concentrate. All I see is Allison. My phone vibrates alerting me I have a new message.

  Hailey: Hey, big bro! How are your classes?

  Me: Good, buried in a mound of homework. Yours?

  Hailey: Good. Diff from high school.

  Me: Yea. Also, a hell of a lot more fun.

  Hailey: True. What are you guys up to this weekend?

  Me: Blitzen is having a party. You?

  I am curious as to what she and Allison have planned for this weekend. However, I’m not sure that tidbit of knowledge is going to help my obsession. What am I now, a fucking stalker?

  Hailey: Not sure. Need to check with roomie.

  Me: You can come with us Saturday.

  Why the fuck did I just do that? I need to stay away from Allison to get her out of my head. We’ve all been spending so much time together it’s like my brain is set on the Allison show and it’s a twenty-four hour, seven days a week marathon. I’m still struggling with this attraction I have for her. I thought maybe being around her would lessen the appeal, but it’s had the opposite effect. I only want her more. I need to hook-up with someone. Yes, that would get me back on track. The only problem with that is, all I see is Allison. I haven’t got laid since several weeks before I met her, not for the lack of available women. It seems everywhere I go there are beautiful women flirting with me or passing me their numbers, even when we are out with Hales and Allison. Hell, for all they know we’re two couples, but that doesn’t stop them. The only problem is I find myself comparing each and every damn one of them to Allison.

  They don’t measure up.

  Hailey: Thanks, but I want to go dancing.

  Me: You both be safe call if you need me. Don’t go home with any losers.

  Hailey: LOL! You guys too. Love you!

  Me: Love you too.

  Aiden walks in. “Hey, man, Blitzen just called and said the pipes burst in his apartment. The party tomorrow night is off. I told him he could crash here for a few days, you okay with that?”

  “Damn, that sucks for him. Yeah, that’s cool; the couch is his.”

  “So, any ideas for tomorrow night?” he asks me

  “No, but I need to go out.”

  Aiden raises his eyebrow at me in question. “Any particular reason?” He plops down beside me on the couch.

  I point to the stack of books on my lap and the coffee table. I don’t need to tell him Allison is also embedded in my brain, and I need to focus on someone else to stop it. He knows how wound up she has me.

  Aiden laughs. “No shit, I feel your pain.” Choosing to ignore the fact we both know Allison is the real reason.

  “Let’s just go to The Warehouse,” I suggest.

  Aiden nods. “Old faithful. Sounds like a plan.”

  As soon as I walk into The Warehouse the next night, thoughts of that first night here with Allison and holding her close are front and center within my mind. I try to fight them off, but I’m losing the battle, slowly, painfully, as I relive every moment of that night. We push through the crowd to the bar and order a beer. Aiden spots Blitzen, so we head toward the two tables he and several of our teammates have pushed together. Aiden and I sit at the end of the table and easily slip into the conversation about Friday’s practice. We’re all chatting, drinking and having a good time when Mike, a defensive lineman, speaks up.

  “Fuck, Mac, who is that hot ass chick with your sister?” he says as he tilts his head toward the dance floor.

  I glance at Aiden as we both whip our heads around to see who he is looking at, even though we both know who the ‘hot ass chick’ is. My eyes instantly lock onto Allison and right beside her is my sister. I also notice that both of them are dancing very provocatively with two guys I can’t stand. My temper flares as I stand up, and Aiden quickly follows. We don’t even speak. We know what we need to do to protect the girls. We’re both fiercely protective of both of them. Aiden knows I hate Todd and Jason. I’d told him the story freshman year after we played them. We won, of course.

  We approach the girls, and Hailey immediately sees us. She stops dancing and flashes a worried glance toward Todd, the dickwad she’s dancing with. Allison stops dancing as soon as her eyes find mine.

  I’m so angry I want to smash both of their faces in. Todd and Jason went to my rival high school and are total assholes. They’re notorious for getting girls drunk out of their mind, using them, and then leaving them alone wherever they happened to be. Rumor has it they raped a girl after their final game senior year, but the girl was so scared, she refused to press charges. Needless to say, they’re scum in my book, and now I have to watch my baby sister, who knows how I feel about them, and my girl grinding up on them. Furious isn’t a strong enough word to describe the rage running through my veins.

  Allison steps away from Jason toward me, and I quickly grab her around the waist and pull her close. Hailey steps forward, like she’s going to stop me, and Aiden grabs her and pins her to his side. She’s pissed, I can tell, but she has nothing on me. Jason, fuckstick that he is, reaches for Allison, grabbing her arm and pulling.

  “What the fuck, MacCoy? Get your hands off my date!” he yells as he tugs on Allison’s arm.

  “Date?” I look down at Allison with a questioning gaze as she stares wide eyed at Jason and then looks at her arm. I feel her tremble next to me.

  “Get your fucking hands off of her, you’re hurting her!” I yell at him.

  Hailey speaks up, “What the hell, Liam? Why are you going all caveman?”

  I grab Jason’s wrist and squeeze as tight as I can, so he’ll release Allison. Once he drops her hand, I bring it to my chest and cover it with my own to comfort her. I then turn to Hailey. “What are you doing here with them?”

  Hailey squares her shoulders and looks me straight in the eye. “Todd and I have been out on a couple of dates.”

  I pull Allison closer, feeling her start to relax. “What do you mean dates? You’re better than this loser.”

  “Really, Hales?” Aiden asks, his jaw is tense. You can hear the anger in his voice.

  Todd has been pretty quiet up to this point; he goes to grab Hailey, but Aiden produces a noise that could only be described as a growl and tucks her in tighter.

  “Touch her and die, asshole,” Aiden seethes.

  “What is wrong with the two of you? We were just dancing!” Hailey shouts.

  “Hales, you’re dating him?” Aiden asks her, barely able to control his rage.

  “No, yes. No. We’ve been on two dates, this being the second one. GAH!”

  “Well, sorry to tell you this one is ending early,” I growl.

  “Liam! You aren’t my ruler. I can date whomever I damn well please,” Hailey hisses.

  I feel Allison grow tense. I lean down and whisper in her ear, “What about you, sweetheart? Do you want to finish your date?”

  Allison meets my gaze, but she doesn’t speak, just bites her lip as she turns to look at Jason. “You’re coming with me,” Jason growls as he reaches for her again. This time he grabs her arm and jerks her toward him.

  Allison yells out in pain, or maybe it’s fear. Blitzen and the rest of our teammates are at our sides now. I hand Allison off to him. “Watch her!” With that I turn toward Jason and begin to unleash a fury I’ve never known. I’m faintly aware of Aiden doing the same thing with Todd. I can hear Hailey and Allison yelling for us to stop. I feel a tug on my shoulder, and I look up to see Mike pulling me back. I glance over at Aiden and Scott has his arms beh
ind his back, holding him, as well. I glance down to see Todd and Jason both out cold on the floor. Serves them right for touching my sister and my girl.

  “I’m good, man,” I say, flexing my fist. I can feel my knuckles already starting to swell. Mike releases me, and I make quick work of getting to Allison and wrapping her in my arms. Scott has also released Aiden. Hailey’s currently tucked tight against his chest, and he’s rubbing her back soothingly. They’re both safe.

  Chapter 15

  Allison

  My heart is racing, Liam and Aiden are throwing blow after blow. Hailey and I are screaming for them to stop. I struggle against Blitzen, yelling at him to let me go. He doesn’t, instead he tightens his hold. I look over at one of their teammates, whom I’ve yet to meet. “Stop them, please!” I cry.

  The guy jumps into action and begins pulling on Liam’s shoulders. I glance over and there’s another one holding Aiden with his arms pinned behind his back. Hailey’s standing right beside Aiden, crying and yelling just as hard and loud as I am. The only difference is they don’t have her restrained.

  Liam stands up and looks at Aiden, who’s being released from his hold. Hailey instantly throws her arms around his waist and hugs him tight. Aiden wraps his arms around her, rubbing soothing strokes down her back. Liam moves toward me. He bends his knees to meet my eyes as he lifts my chin with his thumb and forefinger. “You okay, sweetheart?”