Chapter Thirty-Nine
Liam
My head was pounding, and it hurt to open my eyes. Alyssa was curled into my arms asleep. I looked around the room, realizing we were on the kitchen floor, with no idea how we’d gotten there. I lifted my hand, stroking her hair from her cheek. She opened her eyes, staring into mine with a strange concern.
How did she get here, and when? What happened?
“Why are we on the floor?” I asked softly.
“I couldn’t get you to bed,” she smiled.
“So, you were trying to take advantage of me while drunk?” I teased.
She laughed. Oh God, that laugh. It warmed my heart to see her smile, to hear her laughter.
“So, we’re okay?” I questioned carefully.
She nodded.
“I’m so sorry I acted the way I did. I was scared, and all I could think about was you leaving,” she mumbled.
“I’m not going anywhere. I promised, and I’m a man of my word,” I informed her.
It hurt to talk.
I had to get off this floor. I couldn’t imagine the pain Alyssa had to be in, sleeping on this hard floor so soon after surgery.
“Let’s get you up,” I said, sliding up from the floor.
I extended my hand, helping Alyssa to her feet, and pulled her into my arms. She looked so fragile, so worried.
“I love you,” I leaned in, kissing the tip of her nose.
Tears fell from her eyes as she melted into my arms.
“I love you, too,” she sobbed.
We stood there, holding each other in the kitchen for what felt like an eternity. I wouldn’t have had let her go, probably ever, if Aiden hadn’t walked through my front door. He had a wide smile, and his eyes moved to Alyssa with an approving gleam. Whatever happened last night, however Alyssa got here, I had a strong feeling I had Aiden to thank.
“We have to get you to the station,” Aiden informed.
Alyssa nodded, pulling from my arms. I quickly slid on a new shit, brushed my teeth, and followed them out my front door.
“I’ll meet you there. I have to go home and check on Holly,” Alyssa stated and then gave me a quick hug.
She leaned in, hugging Aiden, and whispering something in his ear that I couldn’t hear before she moved to her car.
“What happened last night?” I asked once I was alone with Aiden in his truck.
“She freaked out, something about you leaving, you being a soldier, and going back to the military,” he grumbled.
It was clear he’d been irritated with her. “She has a right to be scared,” I sighed, hoping to calm Aiden’s irritation.
“You still think it’s the right time to propose?” Aiden asked.
“I do, but my plans got derailed pretty good,” I groaned.
“The carnival is still going on tonight,” he smiled.
I nodded and then leaned back against the leather of the truck seat, trying to ease my headache as we drove to the police station.
The officers were friendly, even joking about how I laid the drunken fool out on his back. I was glad they got it out of their system before Alyssa walked into the station with Holly by her side.
“So what exactly happened?” one officer asked as he readied his pen on the pad of paper in front of him.
It was nice to have the ability to account for my actions with Alyssa by my side, hearing everything. I knew I wasn’t in the wrong, but it was important to me that she and Holly knew it as well.
“Bruce is still in holding, and we plan to keep him there until court Monday, no bail,” the officer grinned.
“Have you had any issues with him in the past?” the other officer asked.
I nodded, telling them about the time in the parking lot of Alyssa’s work.
“So, he’s been stalking you, ma’am?” the officer asked Alyssa.
She was silent for a moment as if she were contemplating her actions. Finally, she took a deep breath and told the officers how he’d called continuously, showed up at her work after she blocked him, and even outside of her house on several occasions. I hadn’t been aware of how determined this man was to win Alyssa back, but I could see why. She was perfect.
The police department filed a formal complaint on behalf myself and Alyssa. Bruce would face the judge Monday morning and would be ordered to stay away from our family. It was the first time anyone referred to us as a family. It felt amazing, even under the circumstances.
Holly wrapped her arms around me and kissed my cheek as I leaned down to her.
“You still gonna do it?” she whispered.
I nodded, creating a large smile on her pretty face.
We walked out of the police station hand in hand. I rode back to my house with Aiden, letting Alyssa take Holly home.
As Aiden pulled into my drive, he pulled out the small velvet box from his jacket, pushing it towards me.
“Keep it,” I told him with a smile and slid from the truck.
“See ya tonight,” he beamed, waving as he left me in the driveway.
Bill walked out of his house, and I waved to him as he made his over to me.
“Things got pretty wild last night,” he commented.
I rolled my eyes and sighed. That was an understatement.
“I talked to the cops this morning,” he informed me.
I looked confused.
“This wasn’t the first time Bruce had been over here,” he admitted.
“Really?” I questioned, wondering why he wouldn’t have told me.
“I didn’t say anything before because, honestly, I thought he’d just give up. I wanted you to go through with your plans first, get that yes. I didn’t want him messing anything up, and I didn’t want you going after him,” he explained.
“After seeing how Alyssa reacted to me defending myself, I have to thank you. If I had known he was hanging around here, I would’ve gone after him,” I confessed.
“Oh, I know you would’ve. Any many would’ve,” he grinned.
I patted him on the back and walked into my house. I cleaned up the mess in the kitchen from where I’d drank and apparently had fallen to the floor with Alyssa in my arms.
After a quick shower, I drove to Alyssa’s, picking the girls up for a late breakfast.
Holly gushed about the carnival, ready to wear her costume, one that I hadn’t got to see yet—a secret.
“We’ll have a blast tonight: I promise,” I smiled across the diner’s booth.
People were staring, some gawking, and I knew it was because they heard about the fight with Bruce.
I watched Alyssa, worried that it was making her uncomfortable, that somehow it would change how she felt about me, about us.
The waitress brought our food, and Holly immediately started to dig into her pancakes. Alyssa seemed nervous, anxious, and maybe even a little bit angry. Her fists clenched together, and her eyes scanned the room. Tables were filled with busybodies, nosy townspeople who were whispering under their breath, and it was obvious she knew it was about us.
She stood from her seat, sending a warning glare to everyone in the diner.
“I’m tired of you people staring, whispering, acting like you know something when you don’t know shit,” she yelled.
I reached for her hand, trying to pull her back to her seat, but was unsuccessful. She was on a roll, and there was no stopping her.
“Our lives are none of your business. You have enough to keep you busy with your own lives, don’t ya?” she glared directly at a redheaded woman in the booth behind us.
“I love this man, and he loves me. He’s Holly’s father, although I’m sure most of you know that. He didn’t leave us; he went into the military. I didn’t tell him I was pregnant because I didn’t feel it was fair to him, and as soon as he found out, he’s been nothing but amazing to our daughter. There’s no gossip here, and even with the Bruce issue, that was nothing, a simple incident where a foolish man tried to come between a good man and his family. Go back to your own lives, and leave ours alone,” she demanded and then sat back down.
The diner was silent, and everyone stared in our direction, their mouths hanging open and their eyes wide. I started laughing uncontrollably, and then Holly joined in. Before long, Alyssa was laughing too, and the people in the diner all continued their meals, no longer staring at us or whispering.
I loved it. I loved her.
“You’re amazing, you know that?” I laughed.
Her cheeks blushed as she rolled her eyes in embarrassment.
I wasn’t embarrassed. I was proud, proud to be a part of her life, and ready to expand my role.