Learning to Swim

Chapter 11

Chapter 11

Addie and I simultaneously burst into laughter as Liam gives us his impersonation of an elephant. It probably one of the greatest things I have ever seen. Liam has been making the both of us laugh the entire night and I think it is safe to say Addie has warmed up to him. Especially after he bought her a stuffed giraffe, which she is now clutching tightly in her little arms.

“Ice Cweam!” Addie shouts suddenly, pointing to a little stand next to the zoo’s exit.

“No, Addie,” I start, but am cut off by Liam.

“Ice cream does sound kind of good,” he says, smiling at Addie.

“I don’t have enough money,” I tell him blushing.

“Don’t worry, I was going to pay anyway,” he replies with an easy grin. I don’t return his smile, though, and instead frown at the ground.

“You already paid the admittance fee and for her giraffe. I can’t let you pay for this too,” I say quietly but unwaveringly.

Every time he paid for something tonight it made me feel terrible. I don’t want him to know just how bad the money situation really is, especially since he seems to have an endless supply. I hate that he has to pay for things for me, even if it doesn’t bother him in the least. I would rather go without something then have someone else pay for it.

“It’s not a big deal, Dakota,” Liam responds and I bite my lip in uncertainty.

“Pwease!” Addie pleads, looking up at me with pouty lips and her gray eyes wide. I never have been able to say no to her.

“Fine.”

“Yay!” Addie chirps and then starts pulling Liam off to the stand.

“What flavor do you want?” Liam calls over his shoulder.

“No thanks. I don’t want anything,” I tell him stubbornly and he frowns. I really want an ice cream, but I just can’t let him buy it for me.

They come back over to where I stand a few minutes later and Addie already has chocolate smeared all over her face. Liam has two cones in his hands and he gives one of them to me.

“I know you wanted one. I got a vanilla and chocolate twist because I wasn’t sure which you liked better,” he says with a grin.

“I told you..,” I get cut off again by Liam, but this time he does it by kissing me. I stand there surprised for a moment because it was the last thing I expected him to do, but I can’t seem to stop myself from melting into the kiss.

“Eww!” Addie screeches and I pull away from Liam with a sheepish smile.

“Sorry, Addie, I couldn’t help myself,” Liam says to her, but his eyes never leave mine.

We all start walking towards his car, knowing that it is time to go home. I still feel uncomfortable about the ice cream thing and can’t seem to make myself eat it. Liam must notice because he comes over to me and leans down so that he can whisper in my ear.

“It’s just ice cream, you know. Not a big deal,” he tells me and I nod since I don‘t have a clue how to explain how I feel about it to him.

Then because he is still watching me I lick the ice cream that is beginning to drip down the sides of the cone. This seems to satisfy him because he then goes around to get into the car. Addie and I follow suit and we are shortly on our way back home.

* * *

It is amazing how fast I let Liam completely into my life during the weeks after this. It was like once I started to let him in that was it, there was no going back. I completely trust him with everything and he does the same with me. For someone who was so against dating, I have found it surprisingly easy to let him become apart of my life. It is crazy at times, of course, but we find ways to make it work. Liam started to pick me up from work everyday and then we go to get Addie. I love every single second with him. Liam is probably the best thing that ever happened to me. Things have never felt so perfect before and I am completely happy for once.