Page 58 of The Night We Met

The drive home goes by faster when you’re with someone that makes everyday things enjoyable. We stop once at the North Carolina border and then again at the Maryland border. After nine hours in the car, Liam is pulling into my parents driveway. I could have easily walked with my stuff from his house, but his generosity is one of the things I love about him.

I walk around the back of his car but he shoves me out of the way.

“Jerk,” I tease him.

“A jerk you love,” he tacks on.

I lean up on my toes to kiss his cheek. “Yeah, I do love you.”

A look is shared between us. A look that says more than words can say. Liam breaks our stare and pulls my suitcase out of his car. I go back around to the front to grab my purse and phone. We walk up the walkway to the opened garage. Not bothering to knock, I open the door.

Animated conversation and laughter greets us when I open the door. “Mom? Dad? Jax?” I call out.

Liam sets my suitcase by the mudroom before taking my hand and leading us to laughter that greeted us when we walked in. When we enter the living room and see both of our parents laughing at something the other apparently said. My bet is on Liam’s dad.

My mom must see me out of the corner of her eye andscreams. Scaring all of us, especially me, as I’ve never heard my mom make that loud of a sound.

“You’re together?!” She screeches from her spot on the couch.

“Surprise!” I sarcastically cheer.

The delay is comical and then all-hell breaks loose. Both of our moms rush off the couch and crush us in hugs that only moms can.

In the span of time it took for Liam and I to get to this stage in our relationship, we both completely spaced in telling our parents. We didn’t think it was necessary to tell our parents then as we were still getting used to being together. But in the short time between then and now, it’s like our relationship grew exponentially.

Questions are thrown at us right and left. While we answer them, this is also a reminder as to why we waited for as long as we did. I hear the word ‘wedding’ tossed around before the next question is asked.

Liam and I manage to escape our parents to head outside to the patio. He stokes the fire in the fire pit and motions me to join him on the lounge chair.

It’s not long before Liam breaks the silence and hums the wedding march. I do my best to suppress the laughter that’s bubbling but fail miserably.

“Did I tell you my mom was planning our wedding when we were in high school?” Liam asks.

I let out a sigh. “I’m convinced our mom’s had a thread going back and forth as to when to announce that. My mom declared every chance she could to say how she was planning our wedding. Although she started leaving breadcrumbs earlier than high school.”

“They can’t rush us yet,” Liam claims. He attacks me with kisses making me giggle.

“I agree. Although being married to you really wouldn’t be a bad thing.”

“Oh, really?”

“Yeah. I’d be the hot wife at your games. Oh my gosh! I’d be a WAG!” I exclaim and half-turn on the lounge. Liam looks at me strangely.

“What the hell is a WAG?” He asks me.

Now it’s my turn to look at him strangely. “Are you serious? It’s a ‘wife and girlfriend’ and every professional sports team has them. The wives usually alienate the girlfriends, so you better put a ring on it as fast as you can.” I say with a teasing lilt to my voice.

“I love you,” Liam claims right before he tickles me and I’m gasping for breath.

My thoughts run wild. And before I know it, the holiday break flies by and we're back at school gearing up for our final semester.

Kamryn

April 2014

“Let’s go boys!” Sarah shouts from our spot on the lawn.

Liam and the guys have a baseball game against one of their division rivals. This game determines where they sit and if they’re on the right track to the College World Series. I look around the packed stadium full of garnet, white, and black; with few clusters of blue and gold throughout the crowd. The smell of popcorn and boiled peanuts fill my senses and the heat from the rare sign of sun in late April warms my skin.

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