One Chance (25 page)

“What?” Brody screeches.

“I agreed with you that I should stay away, because I’m leaving and she’s going to be in Michigan for two more years, but I love her, I’m willing to try to make it work,” he admits to all of us.  I can’t help the way my mouth drops open.

“You love her?” Brody asks, sounding irritated.

“Shit,” Liam curses again, “Can you two leave and give Haley and me a few minutes to talk?”

“No, I want to hear what the fuck you have to say,” Brody yells.

“Stop, let them have a few minutes, then we can come back in and figure things out,” Kenzie says.

“Fine,” Brody says before he storms out of the room with Kenzie right behind him.  Once she closes the door, Liam turns to look at me.

“I’m sorry, that didn’t come out right or go as planned,” he says sweetly with sparkling blue eyes.

“Did you mean it?”

“Hails, God, yes I mean it.  When you told me you loved me when you were falling asleep, I wanted to tell you, but I freaked out.  Then I talked to Brody and he made me see the bigger picture.”

“What bigger picture?”

“I’m probably leaving after this year for football.  It’s not fair to you.  I won’t be here for you like I should be.”

“
Is that what you want?” I ask nervously.

“No, I’d like to take you with me wherever I go, but that’s not realistic.”

“Then I guess you have it all figured out,” I say, though it’s breaking my heart.

“Look at me,” he says as he comes and sits on the bed beside me, “Haley Lawrence
, I love you and I’m very much in love with you.  I’d love nothing more than to give us a shot.  If you’re willing to give me a chance, we’ll make it work.”

“What about Bree?”

“Baby, I only tried to date her to let you move on from me.  It takes all I can to stand her for a few hours.”

“Are you sure this is what you want?”

“I’m positive.  What do you want Hails?”

“You, I’ve always wanted you,” I say looking at the blanket.

“So, we can give us a shot?”

“I’d like that,” I say softly.

“Baby, look at me,” he says as he lifts my chin, so I have no choice but to look into his beautiful blue eyes.  “I love you.”

I can’t help the tears that start to roll down my cheeks, “I love you too,” I say before he leans in and kisses me.

“I’m sorry that we lost our baby,” he says softly.

“Me too.  I didn’t know, I swear I didn’t know.”

“I know baby, it’s not your fault,” he says as he pulls me in for a hug, “How are you feeling now?”

“The pain isn’t as bad right now
,” I admit.

“Okay, well let me get Brody and Kenzie before he has an aneurysm,” he says as he gets up to head to the door.  He opens the door and tells them to come back in.

“Now, what the hell’s going on?” Brody bitches.  Liam comes over and sits on the edge of the bed and takes my hand in his.

“Okay, yes
, Hails and I have been sleeping together, yes we got pregnant, and yes, she miscarried.  I tried to walk away because of our talk Brody, but it’s not what I want and it’s not what she wants.  So we are going to give us a chance.”

“I think that’s great,” Kenzie says excitedly.

“I don’t,” Brody complains.

“Why not?” Liam asks.

“Because you’re going to be leaving, how’s that fair to her?” he asks angrily.

“That’s my choice, that’s not up to you,” I say harshly.

“Are you going to be committed to her, because you are going to have women throwing themselves at you constantly?”

“
Like he doesn’t have that already,” Kenzie points out.

“I know what I want and I am committed to her,” he says angrily.

“You better be,” Brody states.

“Okay, enough you two.  Kenzie
, can you get the doctor,” I say before feeling a severe amount of pain rip through me. AHHHH.”

“Shit, what’s wrong? Are you alright?”
Liam asks worriedly.

“What can we do?”
Brody asks, worried as well.  Kenzie rushes out to grab the doctor.

The nurse comes in and a
dvised it is normal until the fetus completely miscarries.  She advises the doctor will be in shortly.  It’s only minutes later before the doctor comes in and asks for everyone to leave the room.  They all comply accept for Liam.

“I’m not leaving,” he says standing firm.  Kenzie and Brody walk out while Liam comes over and takes a hold of my hand.

The doctor informs me that it’s normal for the cramping and the bleeding to continue.  He also informs me that I’m going to be admitted so he can perform a D&C and will have to stay overnight at the hospital.

I have the procedure later that evening and Liam stays by my side the entire time.  Kenzie told our parents that I stayed at Ashley’s house last night, because I’m not ready for them to know I was pregnant. Thankfully, I’m able to go home the next day.

Kenzie wheels me out of the hospital to Liam waiting at the car. I get inside and wave goodbye to Kenzie and Brody.

“Do you mind if I come
in with you?” Liam asks sweetly as he gets closer to our street.

“Sure,” I say as we drive home.  It doesn’t take long for him to pull into his driveway.

“Do you want your bed or mine?” he asks.

“My bed sounds good.”

“Okay, hold on,” he says as he jumps out of his side of the car and rushes around to mine, he opens the door and pulls me out of the car, holding me in his arms.

I can’t help but laugh, “What are you doing?  I can walk.”

“You can, but I can also carry you,” he says as he makes his way across the street.  Kenzie and Brody pull in as he carries me to the front door. “You know your parents are probably going to ask what’s going on, since you’re with me and not Ashley.”

“Oh crap, I can’t tell them.  Liam
, we can’t tell them,” I plead.

“We won’t tell them babe, it’s alright,” he says as he stops at the door.

“Maybe we should go to your house,” I say suddenly nervous.

“It’s up to you.”

“Yeah, let’s do that,” I say, as he spins around and starts heading back across the street.

“What’s going on?” Kenzie asks as she gets out of her car.

“Please don’t tell Mom and Dad,” I plead.

“I won’t, but why aren’t you going inside?” she asks.

“I don’t know what to say,” I admit.

“We went and hung out,” she says like it’s no big deal.

“Oh, yeah that can work,” I say as I look at Liam, he turns back towards my house.  Kenzie and Brody go in first to talk to Mom and Dad while Liam carries me up the stairs.

He takes me into my room where the blanket I got blood on
yesterday is gone and a new one is in its place.  Liam pulls the covers down and sets me slowly on the bed.  “Thank you.   I’m going to try to get some sleep,” I say as I turn over to try to get comfortable.

“I think that’s a good idea,” he says as he crawls in behind me.

“You don’t have to lie here with me.”

“I want to
Hails.  I want to hold you,” he says as he pulls me towards his chest, spooning me.  “I’m sorry you’re so sore, I wish I could make it better.”

“You are, just by being here,” I say before closing my eyes.

Waking up a few hours later, I see it’s now evening and Liam is asleep beside me.  His arms are wrapped around me tightly.  I need to relieve myself, so I maneuver out of his hold and hurry to the bathroom.  Trying to deal with the soreness, along with not waking Liam up is no easy task.  I change what I need to and head back to bed.

“Are you alright babe?” he asks.

“I will be,” I say as I crawl back into bed.

“I wish I could make
you feel better,” he says as I snuggle into his side.

“Me too.”

The next couple days go by before I start to feel a little like myself again. 

Christmas is in two days and I’m
excited to be with Liam for our first Christmas as a couple.

Kenzie and I go to the outlets to finish our Christmas shopping. 
We take our bags into the house before heading across the street to hang out with the boys.  It’s cold out and it’s snowing lightly.  We head inside and are surprised to see Mom and Dad over at the Masters too.

“What’s going on?”  I ask as they laugh and joke around.

“Just hanging out.  So, we want to know when you two started dating,” Denise asks, not holding back.

“A while now,” Liam says as he enters the room and heads
straight towards me.  He gives me a kiss on the lips, not caring who watches.

“I must say t
hat I’m excited to hear that,” Mom says while Denise agrees.

“That’s good because she’s stuck with me,” Liam says as he wraps his arms around me.  Brody enters the room looking anything but happy.

“I can’t believe both of my daughters are with your sons.  We couldn’t have dreamed for anything better,” Mom squeals.

“How much have you
had to drink?” I ask, laughing out their sudden outbursts.

“Just a few,” Denise says.

“We’re going to head downstairs, if you need us, just yell,” Liam says before leading me towards the stairs.

The four of us
, along with Isaac hang out and play some games before calling it a night.  I say goodnight to my new boyfriend before Kenzie and I make our way across the snow-covered road.

Before we know it
, Christmas is here and gone and New Year’s is on its way.  “What are your plans this year for New Years?” Kenz asks.

“I don’t know.  There are some parties we could go to.”

“I was thinking we could ask Mom and Dad and see if we could have a small party here.”

“Oh yeah?  Who are you thinking of inviting?”

“Not sure yet, but do you think they would let us drink?”

“Not with friends here no.  They won’t let people drink here then drive home,” I say truthfully.

“This sucks,” she whines.

“I don’t really
care; I’m good to just hang out with Liam.”

“I bet you are,” she says
sounding irritated.

“What’s that
mean?”

“Nothing, I’m just not in a good mood.”

“I can see that.  What’s going on?”

She turns and looks straight at me, “Can you tell me why my boyfriend gets so pissed off with the mention of you and Liam?”

“No.”

“Are you sure about that?” she asks with a stern look.

“You know what I know Kenz.  Brody told Liam to stay away because of him leaving, but we decided to give us a try anyway.  I have no idea what Brody’s problem is.  I can try talking to him if you’d like.”

“No, you don’t have to.  Sorry
, I’m just being bitchy,” she says apologetically.

“It’s fine.”

“When does Liam leave?”

“A few days.”

“Are you going to go back to school with him?”

“Probably because he drove me here, so if not
, I need to fly or have Mom or Dad drive me back.”

“Why didn’t you drive yourself?”

“Honestly, I didn’t really think about it.  Plus, I was in no condition to drive.”

“That’s
right; well I won’t see you until what, March then?”

“No before that.  If they make it to the championship game, we’re all going.”

“Possibly, if Brody can get the stick out of his ass.”

“He will.  It’s his brother and it would be the chance of a lifetime to see a game like that.”

“I hope so,” she says looking bummed.

“How are you two?”

“Good at times.”

“Are you happy
Kenz?”

“Most of the time, yes.  I love him, but lately I feel like it’s not enough,” she says as she falls back onto the bed, staring up at the ceiling.

“He’s just in a mood; he’ll get over it soon.  Then hopefully things can get back to normal,” I say being optimistic.

“I hope so.”

“Hope what?” Liam asks as he comes through my bedroom door.

“Brody’s being weird,” I state nonchalantly.

“He’s being an ass,” he says as he takes a seat beside me on my bed.

“But why?”
Kenz whines.

“Because I’m with
Hails.”

“So,”
Kenz says.

“
He’s jealous.”

“What?” Kenzie roars.

“Not like that,” Liam says laughing, “Before, he has you as his girlfriend and Hails as a best friend.  It’s not really like that much anymore.  Now, he still has you as a girlfriend, but lost his best friend to his brother.”