Chapter Thirty-Five
Allison
Istayed at Oliver’s last night and we are now at my apartment getting ready for the bar hop. Nico was able to make me three more shirts for the boys and Ellen.
Morgan’s on her way over to pregame before we meet the rest of the group at Loco Larry’s.
Ty answers the door when Morgan knocks.
“Hey Oliver. Is Ally ready?” I hear Morgan ask.
“Hey Morgan, I’ll be right out,” I call from my bedroom as I’m knotting my t-shirt so it’s a little more fitted but still covers most of my bruises.
When I come out with Oliver in tow, Morgan’s eyes go wide with shock.
“Holy shit! You’re…” She swivels and points to Oliver and then Ty.
“Ty. Nice to meet you,” Ty supplies, shaking her hand.
“Ally, why didn’t you tell me he was coming?” she asks.
“I thought I’d surprise you.” I wink. “I did tell him he could come with us when he got here.”
“Ally, could I see you in your bedroom for a moment?” She pushes me back in my room, and I hear the boys snicker. “How could you not tell me he was coming? He’s freaking hot, and I’m in this ridiculous gray T-shirt with paint splotches on it. Where are your scissors?”
“In my middle bathroom drawer.”
Morgan runs and grabs the scissors and quickly makes the shirt a V-neck crop top. “There, much better. How does my hair look?” Her pin straight hair is shiny and perfect with not a strand out of place.
“Morgan, you look hot as always. Now, let’s go.”
“Are you guys ready to go?” I ask as we come back out to the living room.
“We sure are,” Ty cheers.
“Great. Let’s go get your mom.”
“What?!” Ty blurts out.
“Oh, oops. I may have invited your mom to come with us when I was helping clean your apartment.” I coyly shrug.
“That’s so not cool.” Ty laughs.
“It will be fine. Just stick with Morgan, and your mom can dance with the other girls.” Morgan glares at me. I give her the bestie eyeballs that say, you know you want him, so I’m just making it happen.
“I can get on board with that,” Ty says, sidling up to Morgan. “Shall we?” He holds his arm out to her, and they link elbows and make their way to the door.
I look at Oliver and laugh.
“Mom,” Ty gasps in surprise when he opens the door.
“Hi, Honey. You guys ready?” Ellen asks as she walks in.
“Are you seriously going with us tonight?” Ty asks her.
“Of course, I’m a single lady in the city. I can’t wait to go dancing. I haven’t been in so long.” Ellen wiggles her hips in skinny jeans that are accompanied by a tight corset-style red shirt. “Cute shirt,” she says to Morgan and we both laugh.
“Glad you like it because we have one for you,” I inform her.
Seriously?” Ellen asks, holding it up.
“Come on, I’ll show you how to make it work.” Morgan leads her into my bedroom, and when they come out their shirts look the same. Ellen has killer abs. I might secretly hate her at the moment. “Oh, I almost forgot!” Morgan grabs her bag and pulls out some neon body paint. She adds splashes to Ellen, Ty, and Oliver, but when she gets to me, she stops. “Where did all these bruises come from?”
“I took a spill down the stairs.”
“Oh my gosh. I’m so glad you’re okay. How did you fall? Why was I not called?” Morgan rattles off while grasping my shoulders.
I point to Ty. “It’s his fault. I overheard him answer a work call and found out he was Grant. I didn’t call because he immediately scooped me up and took care of me.”
“Wait. This is the Grant guy you told me about? The flirty client? That Grant?”
“Yes, that Grant.” I laugh at her description and quickly look at Oliver to make sure he’s okay, but he’s laughing along with us.
“Then how is he also Ty?”
“Tyler Grant Hudson. I use my middle name for business,” Ty interjects.
“Ah, wow. I did not see that coming.” She looks at all of us stunned then quickly recovers and finishes painting over my bruises. As she’s painting, she clears her throat and addresses the boys. “In the future, I would like to be notified if something happens to my girl.”
“Yes ma’am,” Ty and Oliver say in unison. We all laugh, and Morgan takes a step back to look at her artwork.
“Perfect! You look great. Let’s go get our groove on.” Morgan leads our tiny group out the door and down the street to Loco Larry’s.
Oliver and Ihave been sitting most of the night, and we are finally back at Finnegan’s and this time we’re sitting in the quiet corner booth. What a difference a month makes. I’m so happy we worked everything out and he’s here with me tonight. I’m not even ashamed to admit we’ve been having some pretty strong make-out sessions at each stop, but nothing tops the ones between Morgan and Ty. He hasn’t left her side all night, and there has definitely been some dirty dancing going on. It’s time for another round of beers, so Oliver and I move to the bar and order another round from Luke. I’m suddenly not so jealous of his boyfriend now that I have a hunky one of my own.
“Two more shots my good barkeep,” Ty says as he and Morgan lean against the bar and start kissing.
“Oooh, if all this works out, I might finally get some grandbabies,” Ellen cheers, walking up behind them and ordering a glass of white wine. I blush and Oliver groans. I don’t think Ty and Morgan heard her at all.
When Oliver and I finish our beers, we sneak out of the bar and go back to my place.
“Well, it looks like Ty and Morgan hit it off,” Oliver says as he undresses and gets into bed.
“They really have. Honestly, I think they are perfect for one another.”
“How so?” Oliver asks.
“Well, they both have had trouble with long-term relationships and have a flirtier nature. Maybe they will mellow each other out,” I add, gingerly pulling my hair up in a bun before washing my face.
“Maybe. I just hope he’s not jumping into something too soon. He’s only been here for a few days.”
“I guess we’ll see tomorrow, in the light of day,” I say while rubbing in my moisturizer as I join him in bed.
“Let’s not talk about them anymore. I’d much rather focus on us,” Oliver says and pulls the cover over our heads.
After a round of euphoric bliss, my body no longer hurts, and I drift off to sleep.
I wake tothe morning light streaming in the window after only a few hours of sleep to find Oliver watching me.
“Good morning, boyfriend,” I whisper.
“Good morning, girlfriend,” he whispers back. “Would you like some breakfast?”
“I’d love some coffee and those Danish from Joe’s you got after our first night together.”
“I’m on it.” Oliver jumps out of bed and throws on a sweatshirt with his joggers. “I’ll be right back. Don’t go anywhere.”
“I won’t. I love when you bring me breakfast in bed,” I assure him.
“I know you do.” He winks at me on his way out the door.
I sit and think about how lucky I am to have found Oliver. And Ty. I’m so glad we’re all together in one city and can’t wait to see what the future holds for us. Even though I like breakfast in bed, I pad out to the kitchen and pour myself a glass of orange juice while I wait.
Oliver returns with Ellen in tow.
“Look who I found out in the hall.” Oliver puts the coffees and Danish down on the table in front of me.
“Ellen! How are you awake right now?” I ask in surprise. She’s completely dressed, her hair is styled, and she’s in full makeup.
“I didn’t drink too much, but I had an absolute blast! I kept up better than those younger girls. You gotta learn how to pace yourself with the alcohol. Did you all not learn anything in college?” She laughs.
“Is Ty still asleep?”
“I’m not even sure if he’s in his room. I was going to run for some breakfast when I found Oliver.”
“Hm, I wonder if he’s at Morgan’s?” I say out loud.
“Maybe we shouldn’t talk about this in front of my mom,” Oliver suggests, and I quickly change the subject.
“So, tell us. Did you meet anyone?” I ask. “Inquiring minds want to know,” I add, waggling my eyebrows.
“La la la. I don’t want to hear this either,” Oliver says, covering his ears.
“Actually, I did. But nothing serious, we just danced a lot.”
“Whew. So, no stepdad material?” Oliver asks, removing his hands and plating the Danish.
“No, just some good old fun.”
“What’s he like?” I ask.
“He’s tall, dark hair, dark eyes, muscular. And he has an accent. Latin, I think.”
Oliver and I give each other a look.
“What’s his name, Mom?”
“Daveed. Why?” she asks nonchalantly, picking up a pastry.
We both drop our Danish and yell, “Nooooo,” in unison.
Stay tuned for more laughs with Ally, Oliver, Ty, Morgan, and Ellen, too, in Warm Up toLove.