Always(Trilogy)

Chapter 29

~Allison's POV~

The doorbell rings and I loudly groan, heaving myself off the floor of my bedroom and downstairs to the front door. When I open it, Liam smiles back at me.

"How're you doing, Alli?" He asks, enveloping me in a hug. I hold him tighter, closer. It's seems like it's been forever since I truly saw and talked with Liam one-on-one.

"I'm doing pretty well. Come on in." I close the door as Liam shimmies out of his coat, hanging it on the rack before turning it to me.

He is just the same as always: kind, brown eyes, welcoming smile, and friendly but authoritative demeanor.

"So what have you been up to?" He follows me up the stairs back to my room.

"I've just been trying to pack everything up for me and the kids for the trip." I sit back down on the floor and he takes a seat on my bed. "What about you?" He shrugs noncommittally as his eyes search around my room.

"Nothing, really."

"So why do I have the pleasure of your company today, Mr. Payne?" I set three pairs of socks in Brooklyn's suitcase. Liam glances over at me, a small smile adorning his lips.

"Why does there always have to be a reason? Can't I come and visit you just because?"

"Yes, you can. But you never do. Perfect. Finally finished." I set all of the suitcases, packed to the brim, in front of my closet before taking a seat beside Liam. "I reckoned this time was no different."

"I just wanted to check up on you. Ya know, see how you were doing and everything."

"I'm fine, Liam. Just tell me what's going on." He avoids eye contact with me, which just fuels my anxiety. "Liam?"

"It's nothing, Alli. It's nothing. The guys and I were just a bit worried about some news we heard but it seems you haven't learned it yet."

"News? What kind of news?" I press on, but Liam pushes back. And he's not budging.

"We're taking care of it, Alli. Forget I said anything." He presses a soft kiss to my forehead. But no matter how consoling his words might sound, I'm getting more and more nervous about this Hawaii trip.

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*Harry's POV*

"Dude, I can't believe you're leaving me for some lame ass wedding." I ignore Tyler, who's standing in the doorway of my bedroom, and continue to pack my things into suitcases as best I can. Damn I miss when Allison used to help me. Her quick and nimble fingers would have had everything packed for herself, myself, and our kids hours ago.

"Like I told you before, this may be my only chance to set things right. I know Allison will be at Carol and Christian's wedding. Christian promised he'd help me make things right."

"Still not seeing what's the point of you going to Hawaii like a whole month before the wedding, though."

"Let's just say I'll be helping him and he'll be helping me," I say. I throw some socks into one of the suitcases. "Besides, he said Carol's bringing one of her girl friends. He'll need me to keep the testosterone to estrogen ratio balanced."

"Okay, but I feel like you're being a bit naive, man."

"What do you mean?" He walks over to my bed, carelessly pushing over some of my neatly folded clothes and taking a seat. "You dick, I just folded those!" Tyler just rolls his eyes.

"I mean, you don't honestly expect to just plan a nice dinner paired with an apology and she'll forgive you, right? Because that's not gonna happen. No offense man, but you've got a record of being a complete and total screw up." I stop what I'm doing and glare at him.