SIX

LIAM

The next morning I wake up before Lilah, so I decide to let her rest while I check the usual gossip articles for any new developments. I never really bothered to keep up with news about myself before, but I never really had a reason to care either.

I want to keep on top of things for her though, to make sure that we don't get blindsided by something that I didn't see coming.  There were a couple of posts about our practice with the Panthers yesterday and everyone seems to think it's great how her dad supports us being together.

I'm caressing her smooth skin on her back while she lays with her head on my chest when I hear footsteps and a knock at her door. Oh shit. The reporters may think that her dad supports us, but I'm sure he'll still be pissed to find me in his daughter's bed. "Babe." I whisper as I try to nudge her awake.

"Ten more minutes," she murmurs as she swats my hand away.

"Babe, wake up. Your dad is knocking on your door."

"What?" She whispers wide eyed.  I motion towards the door and move to hide beneath the bed.

She quickly hops up, throws on a tee and shorts, and opens up the door yawning. "What is it dad? School doesn't start for two more days. I wanted to sleep in."

Her dad comes into the room, glancing around casually. I'm trying my hardest not to make a sound.  "I had Lucy make your favorite French toast this morning with extra crispy bacon."

That seems to catch Lilah's attention.  "Yum! Thanks dad. I'll be right down." She says giving him a kiss on the cheek.

"Mmmhmm," he nods, turning to exit the room. "You can come too, Anderson.  I know you're hiding under the bed. You tripped the silent alarm last night while sneaking in the balcony. I was young once too, remember." He chuckles as I climb out from under the bed.

Silent alarm? Shit. "Morning, sir. I'll be right there." I say awkwardly.

Lilah hands me one of my old tee shirts to put on. I can't deny the fuzzy feeling in my stomach that I get knowing that she kept these around. I figured when I didn't say goodbye last year that she would have tossed my stuff in the trash or maybe even burned it. I should have known that she'd be sentimental. I kept some of her things too.

Lilah grabs my hand leading me down the stairs to their gourmet kitchen. I can't help but wonder if we'll have a house like this together one day. Would it be here in South Carolina? Would we move to LA? Would she want to come with me while I'm on tour? I can't believe I'm thinking about moving in with her already when I just convinced her to be my girlfriend last night. I don't even know if I'll be any good at this relationship thing. I have decided that I'm going to try my best.  She deserves it.

We enter the kitchen and her dad is already seated at the table waiting for us. We quickly take our seats and Lucy brings out two more plates stacked with french toast and bacon and sets them in front of us. "Morning Sir." I decide to break the ice.

"Good morning, Anderson. It seems you managed to find your way here again last night. I have to admire your determination. Getting up to her balcony is not an easy climb." He chuckles light heartedly.

I clear my throat, "again, sir?" I ask because I haven't snuck into Lilah's room since before I left on tour. She hasn't been seeing anyone else has she? I immediately brace myself for the bad news and think of what I need to do to get rid of my competition. The thought of another guy in Dels room is gut wrenching.

"I had the alarms installed about 18 months ago. There's video footage. I had a feeling it was you, but last night confirmed it." He answers before taking a bite of bacon.

I can feel the heat rise to my cheeks. I turn away and hope they don't notice me grinning. I've had a thing for Delilah for a while now. I was just too stupid to realize what I had until she was gone. I tried to fill the void with random starlets and groupies. It never worked.  They weren't her.

"I'm sorry sir." I apologize in case he's upset with me. I want him to like me. "I just couldn't wait until the morning to talk to her."

Andrew laughs, "Is that what the kids are calling it these days? No need to apologize. Delilah turns 18 next week. You're both adults. You had better be careful though. I don't need any grandkids yet. I'm too young. And you had better be clean. I know how crazy a life on the road can be." His eyes cut through me and I try to hide the regret from my face. I glance at Delilah to see her blushing.

"Dad. Stop. This is so embarrassing."  She mumbles while looking out the window, refusing to look our way.

I cough awkwardly, "Um, I'm clean and of course we would use protection but we didn't..." Andrew raises a brow questioningly, "I mean, we haven't had sex since I've been home."  I say.  Please let this end soon. "We really were just talking." I nod and look up at Andrew who looks at me suspiciously, like he knows something that I don't know.

"You know," he begins and I have a feeling a story is coming, "I waited when I found your mom too." He looks at me and then back to Delilah, "I knew she was different from all of the other girls. Special. I felt drawn to her." Funny, I feel the same way about Dels. Like she's the sun and I'm stuck in her orbit. Pulled to her.

"Okay, Dad. As much as I'd love to hear about you and mom doing the horizontal tango, maybe breakfast isn't the best time for this chat? I'd like to be able to keep it down." She laughs and I notice myself studying her features closely. Her long dark curls framing her big honey brown eyes. She is gorgeous on the outside and in, and I would gladly follow her anywhere.

"So what are you kids going to do today?" Her dad asks as we help to clear the table and put the dishes in the sink.  "Well, Ty actually just asked if we wanted to meet everyone at the beach by the pier.  Tessa was going to come also."

Lilah grins nodding at me, "That sounds like fun. Do you need to get your swim trunks?"

"Yea, I'll run home now and get what I need and pick you up in an hour?" I ask.

Lilah smiles and nods, "Sounds good. See you in a bit." I don't move yet, debating if I should kiss her or not with her dad standing nearby. She smiles knowingly, "I'll walk you out."

She opens the front door and gently shuts it behind us. I only live 4 houses away, but even that seems too far right now. What the hell is wrong with me? I try to snap out of it and focus my attention on her. She looks at me curiously, "Penny for your thoughts?" 

"I just, I was thinking about how I really want to kiss you right now and I don't know why I am so nervous." I sigh and pull her closer to me.

"You've kissed me at least a hundred times before Liam."

"I know. This time just seems more important somehow." I put my right hand on her hip and tilt her face up with my left cupping her cheek. She smiles as I close the distance between us and I swear fireworks explode behind my eyes. I don't know what kind of spell she's put me under, but I am here for it. She makes me want to write a love song and that is another first.