Chapter 42 "Your parents are so cool, Ally," Penn says as he flops down on the couch and Harry climbs into his lap. "Although I'm a little disappointed that Carter wouldn't sign my butt." I smile as I set my bag down on the kitchen counter. It's the day after the guys' game against the Fire Cats, and we just got back from lunch with my family-twenty-four hours later than we'd originally planned, but it went great. As I predicted, my parents love my roommates...and they are utterly obsessed with Noah. They've already invited him to spend Christmas with our family in Hawaii, and I'm thrilled they changed their flights to stick around in San Francisco for the rest of the week. The Lions' next game is in a couple of days, and I'm hoping Noah will be cleared by the team doctor to play, because I'd love for my parents to see the man I love in action. "I don't blame him for not wanting to get near that thing," Fisher fires back at Penn as he sits down next to him. He's holding a container of leftovers, and as he sinks down onto the couch, it pops open, spilling noodles all over himself. Fisher leaps to his feet, but it's too late. Sticky sauce is running down the front of his pants, and when he sees it, he swears. "Sticker chart," Penn, Noah and I say in unison. "I meant to say puck," Fisher says, but Penn shakes his head. "Too late." "But I have nine stickers right now," Fisher whines. Noah raises a brow. "Guess that means you're taking the trash out." "Thought you already took care of that yesterday." Fisher holds up his hand for a high five. Noah just stares at it with a blank expression. Fisher puts his hand down with a sigh. "Too soon?" "Yes," Noah growls as he wraps his arm around me, pulling me tight to his chest. I smile up at him, still on a high from last night when he told me he loved me for the first time. Penn and Fisher went out after the game to celebrate their win, but Noah and I were so exhausted from the emotional toll of the day that we came straight home and curled up around each other in my bed, me still wearing his lucky jersey and him whispering that he loved me again as I drifted off into a peaceful, dreamless sleep. I don't think I'll ever tire of hearing those three little words come out of my boyfriend's beautiful mouth. "Maybe a little soon," Penn adds with a shrug. "I thought it was kinda funny," I admit. "Of course you did." Noah rolls his eyes, then looks over at Fisher, who's now in the kitchen with us, standing at the sink as he scrubs at the stain on his pants. "And it wasn't just me who took the trash out-I hear you finished the job after I got hauled off to Coach's office?" "Nah, I just made sure he wasn't coming back again." "You never did tell us what you said to him." I turn to look at Fisher, too. After Fisher informed me yesterday that Tyler was likely on a plane back to Georgia as we spoke, I asked him why he thought that, but he wouldn't say a word. "Yeah, I'm actually interested," Noah says, hand still on my shoulder, fingertips drawing circles on my skin. "I was a little shocked when no charges were pressed." "A gentleman never tells," Fisher says, still wiping his crotch. Penn snorts and gives him a pointed look. "Quite the gentleman." "Please tell us," I wheedle. "Don't think I will." "What if we give you a one-time exemption from a swear sticker?" Noah dangles the bait. Fisher casts an eye at the fridge, then takes it. "Okay, fine," he says with a shake of his head. He leans back against the kitchen counter and throws the cloth in the sink as he says, "I told him that he was going to go straight to the airport and get on the first plane to Atlanta without speaking to any media, and that he wouldn't be pressing charges against Noah." Fisher's green eyes harden. "And then I said if he ever came here again, or tried to contact Ally again, that what Downsby did to him was only the beginning...because if any of us ever saw him near Ally again, we would break every bone in his body." "That was it?" Penn asks, cracking his knuckles approvingly. "Would your dad actually help you pull that off?" "We'll likely never find out, because Tyler looked about ready to piss his pants by the end of my speech." "You evil genius," Penn says. "Sly motherpucker," Noah adds. "All in a day's work, my friends." Fisher laughs before striding back towards the living room. "Now hurry up and sit your asses down; we have some Matchmaker Mansion we need to catch up on." I smile as I thread my hand through Noah's, and we walk over to the couch together and sit in our usual spots, my head resting against his chest as he curls his arms protectively around me. Harry climbs off Penn's lap and moves to snuggle up beside me and Noah, and Fisher presses play on the TV. Everything about this moment makes me feel like the luckiest person in the world. I have the best roommates any girl could ever ask for. An amazing family who has my back. And the best boyfriend I could have ever dreamed up-who I love beyond words. And I might not know what the future holds, or if I'll get a part in Expressions or not, or if I'll keep on teaching, but what I do know is that I'm content in my own skin again. That I can love myself and let myself be loved. And that's all I need. Discover our latest featured short drama reel. Watch now and enjoy the story!