Chapter Twenty-Nine
Liam
I hated to rush off, leaving Alyssa looking so beautiful in nothing but my t-shirt. She agreed to stay until I returned, but of course, then I’d have Holly, and the offer of actual bed sex would be off the table.
“Hey, kiddo,” I greeted Holly as she got off the bus.
“Why don’t you pick me up at school?” she questioned.
I gave her a quick hug, put off by her seriousness.
“I’m not on the list,” I explained.
“You’re my dad,” she sighed.
“I know. We’ll get that fixed,” I promised, squeezing a smile out of her with my embrace.
“Can we show mom our carnival stuff today?” she asked, buckling up in the truck.
“We can show her now,” I smiled, pulling away from the curb.
“Ya know, I’m big enough to walk from the bus stop to your house, or even home,” she insisted.
“I know. Me and your mother just like making sure you’re safe,” I responded.
Her eyes rolled. Wow. I could see her as a teenager with that look. I couldn’t imagine being a father to a teenage girl, and that wasn’t that far off—just a couple years.
“You look just like your mother when you do that,” I laughed.
“Do what?” Holly asked.
“Roll your eyes at me,” I chuckled.
She smiled.
“I never thought I looked like mom,” she sighed.
“You do. You have her eyes, even though they are blue like mine, and her nose, her thick hair, and of course, her attitude,” I teased.
Holly giggled.
She jumped out of the truck once I parked in my driveway. Alyssa was sitting on the porch like she just got there.
“Mom, you’re not here to get me, are you?” Holly asked with disappointment in her voice.
“No, I just came by to hang out with you two; is that okay?” Alyssa hugged her daughter, who was close to being as tall as her.
“That would be great,” Holly exclaimed, rushing into the house.
We went inside, and of course, Holly wanted to give her mother the tour. She’d already seen the bedroom, the bathroom, kitchen, and living room, but one thing she hadn’t seen was Holly’s bedroom.
“It’s beautiful,” Alyssa gushed, turning to me with a wild look in her eye.
“Dad built all the shelves,” Holly boasted, pointing at the white ornate shelves that held her stuffed animals and trinkets.
“He’s pretty talented with his hands,” Alyssa said, winking in my direction.
I covered my chuckle with a cough.
“We have something else to show you,” Holly roared, pulling her mother by the hand.
I followed behind them as they made it to the garage. Holly stopped at the door.
“I know Dad already told you that we were working on this, but it’s time you get to see it,” Holly triumphed.
She pushed open the door, flipped on the light, and pulled her mother into the large garage.
Alyssa’s eyes widened, tears instantly flooding them, and then a smile tore across her face.
“This is amazing,” she gushed, walking slowly through the garage, looking at each of the booths.
Holly had her grandma bring the decorations they’d been working on over, so every game and every booth was complete.
“Maria and Holly did most of the decorations,” I admitted as Alyssa looked towards me with more emotion than I’d ever seen.
“Wow,” she gasped, covering her mouth with her hand.
Holly was beaming, her smile so wide it nearly left her face.
“Do you love it?” Holly asked eagerly.
“I do. I love it. I love you,” Alyssa mumbled, her eyes quickly moving from me to Holly.
Was that a confession, or a slip? Maybe it wasn’t meant towards me at all.
The three of us had dinner together, and I got to help Holly with her homework while Alyssa cleaned up. We felt like a family. I wanted it more than ever now. I wanted this.
Holly wrapped her arms around me, squeezing me tightly before she ran to Alyssa’s car. I stood on the porch, Alyssa lingering, and was unsure what to do. I finally couldn’t take it anymore and leaned in for my kiss. Her lips were soft, smooth, and even when Holly yelled out the window, teasing with a kissing noise, I couldn’t stop.
Alyssa finally pulled away, realizing that Holly wasn’t going to quit giggling and teasing in the background.
“I better go,” she said, rolling her eyes at Holly.
I laughed, pointed to Alyssa, and nodded towards Holly.
“See, just like your mother,” I teased.
“What does that mean?” Alyssa asked.
“Nothing,” I grinned.
As soon as they pulled away, I called Aiden.
“What’s up?” he answered casually.
“I’m in love,” I blurted.
“No shit,” he laughed.
“No, I mean, like I’m truly in love. I need to do something to prove to Alyssa I’m not going anywhere,” I gushed.
“You could always propose,” Aiden teased with a chuckle.
There was a silence over the phone. I took in what he just said. I knew he was joking, but maybe it wasn’t a joke. Maybe, just maybe, that was the best idea he’d ever had.
“I was just messin’ with ya,” he finally said.
It was too late. The thought was stuck in my mind and heart. I wanted us to be a family, and I wanted to prove to Alyssa I wasn’t going anywhere. What better way to get both?
“No, it’s a great idea,” I interrupted.
“It’s a little soon,” he chuckled nervously.
“I don’t think so. We have an eleven-year-old daughter. It’s been twelve years since we’ve seen one another, and we’re both still just as in love as the day I left,” I rambled.
“Yeah, but like you said, it’s been twelve years since you’ve seen one another,” he scolded.
“No, this is what I want,” I said sternly.
“You’re sure?” Aiden questioned.
“Yes. I want us to be a family,” I added.
“Okay. Then, you let me know what you want me to do, and I’ll help any way I can,” he offered.