72. Lorelei

72

LORELEI

I t's been two weeks of pure heaven.

The kind of heaven that I never thought I'd have.

Sure, there have been times with my previous boyfriends that I thought were good. But I'm quickly discovering that those times weren't all that, because this right now? Bliss.

Is it just the honeymoon period? Maybe. But I'm not worrying about what is going to come next or how our relationship might change. I am fully embracing what we have right now. And it is incredible.

By day, we work seamlessly side by side. Of course, Kian is as demanding and as overbearing as ever, and he still drives me insane most days, but now, he always soothes the annoyance with a little kiss or cuddle where he can.

And then, as soon as we walk out of Callahan Enterprises, we forget about being colleagues and focus on being a couple.

More often than not, we head back to his place and he either cooks or we get takeout.

We have been to my apartment, but it's only been to collect things that I need.

Every time I've gone back there, I've expected to feel like I'd gone home. That I'd want to stay. But I don't. It's tainted now. Tainted by him.

I've tried my best not to think about him and what he did. I have questions. So many freaking questions. But I also have very little confidence that I'd ever get the answers. I'm not even sure he has them.

Aubrey did as I asked, and she assured me that I'll never hear from him again. While I don't feel like I've had any real closure on the situation, I can live with it.

He's nothing but a liar and a cheat who craves love and attention. He's clearly unfussy about how he achieves them, based on his recent actions.

If I felt anything for him other than disdain and regret, then it would be pity. But I don't care that much.

"Wait, aren't you going the wrong way?" I ask, suddenly realizing that Kian has missed the turn that will lead us to the Chiefs stadium for this afternoon's game.

Last weekend, we traveled to Detroit for an away game. It was my first experience of a Chiefs game away from their own turf, and it was incredible.

I may not be a true football fan, but I love watching Kieran almost as much as I love watching Wilder.

We've got plans to attend one of Wilder's games in a few weeks. Not that we've told him yet. We're going to surprise him, and I can't wait. Watching him on TV is one thing, but seeing him live in action is another entirely.

"I know," Kian says smugly. "We've got to make a pitstop first."

"I thought you dragged me out a bit early. Where are we going?"

"Surprise," he teases.

"Ugh. Really?"

He glances over with a wide smile playing on his lips. "Really."

My head spins with ideas, but I soon get a good clue and my stomach flutters wildly with excitement.

By the time Kian pulls into the parking lot that's out front of O'Hare Airport, I'm practically bouncing in my seat.

There are only two people he could surprise me with who might be arriving. Everyone else I love is here in this city with me.

"Kian?" I whisper.

"Come on. We don't want to be late," he says, killing the engine and jumping from the car.

I follow not a second later and meet him at the front.

"Did you really do this?"

"Just for you, Temptress," he says, stealing a quick kiss before I turn and run into arrivals.

There are people pouring through the doors, and my eyes dart between them all, searching for ones that look so much like my own. We might have different dads, but the similarities between us are striking.

"They'll be here in a minute," Kian says with a laugh as I bounce on the balls of my feet.

It's only been a couple of weeks since we saw them. We usually go a lot longer, but it still feels like a lifetime.

There is a break in the stream of people, and there right at the back, I spot Hendrix.

"There," I point before taking off.

I'm pretty sure it's against the rules, but whatever. I charge through the people and fall into their arms.

"You're here," I cry, fighting and failing to contain my tears.

"Had an invite we couldn't refuse," Hendrix says as Kian joins us.

Wilder steps up to Kian and holds his hand out. "Thank you," he says. I think he's trying to be all grown-up and manly. It's as cute as hell, and I love him even more for it. But it gets even better when Kian tugs on his arm and pulls him in for a hug.

I swear, my heart explodes right there on the spot.

The twins still have some contact with their father, but their relationship is nowhere near what they'd like it to be. So to see them bonding with Kian…it means everything to me. Not just because they're getting along and both sides are making an effort, but because the boys are going to have a positive male role model in their lives. I don't think Kian understands just how important he's going to be to them in the coming years.

"Good to see you, man," Kian says as he slaps Wilder on the back. "Did you have a good flight?" he asks before turning his attention to Hendrix.

"Dude, you flew us first class. It was fucking epic," Wilder announces happily.

I look at Kian. "You…of course you did," I mutter, shaking my head.

"What? Everyone deserves a little luxury every now and then."

"Like our coffee machine. That thing is fucking ace. Thanks, man."

"You're spoiling them," I say once my brother releases my boyfriend back to me.

"They deserve it," he says again. "Come on then. We don't want to be late."

"I am so fucking pumped for this," Wilder says, sounding like a little kid again.

"Oh, really? You should have mentioned it another couple hundred times. I swear to God, there isn't a single person at school who doesn't know. Even the principal wished me a good weekend when I left on Friday," Hendrix says, sounding exasperated.

"What? I'm excited. And he was probably just being polite."

"He followed it up with a ‘go Chiefs.' He was not just being polite."

"Coach must have told him."

Kian and Wilder spent the entire ride to the stadium talking stats and plays and all kinds of things that go over my head. But even still, I sit there with a wide smile on my face.

I might have fought against this. But giving in to my feelings for Kian and letting go of all my fears was definitely the right thing to do. Not only is he good for me—no, incredible for me—he's also good for them. And to think, if he hadn't chased me to California, I might still be holding back from introducing them.

Wilder is like an excitable toddler as we step into the box—the only box I've watched home games from.

"Oh my sweet fucking god. This is insane."

He pulls his cell out and starts recording. I stand back and watch him with a sappy smile on my face. It reminds me of Christmas morning back when he and Hendrix believed. The magic. The excitement. Okay, so Hendrix isn't nearly as excitable, but he still looks around with nothing but awe in his eyes.

"I think they're happy," Kian whispers, his hands clamping down on my hips and pressing the length of his body against my back.

A shiver rips down my spine as his breath tickles down my neck.

"They're definitely happy. And so am I." Spinning in his hold, I stare up at him. I'm sure there's as much awe in my eyes as I look at my man as I just saw in Wilder's. "Thank you for doing this for them."

"Anytime." He leans forward and whispers in my ear, "Do you want me to let you into a secret?"

"Go on then."

"I didn't do it for them. I did it for you."

A smile spreads across my lips.

"Is that right?"

He pulls back and looks me dead in the eyes again.

"Yeah, Temptress. I did. I'd do anything for you."

"Aw, such a big softie," I tease, reaching out to cup his jaw.

Silence stretches out between us as the connection I always feel when we're close crackles away.

"I—I love you, Lorelei."

My breath catches as his confession echoes around me.

Time continues ticking, but I swear right there, my entire world grinds to a halt just for a second.

I've known for a while just how strongly I feel for him. I've wanted to tell him. Hell, there have been times in the past couple of weeks that I could have blurted it out. But I held it back. I've no idea why; maybe I was waiting for this moment. Who knows.

"I love you, too," I reply brokenly. "I love you so much."

Wrapping his hand around the back of my neck, he pulls me in for a sweet kiss. One that steals my breath and the last remaining piece of my heart.

"Ew, guys. Seriously?" Wilder complains when he notices us. "You're going to miss the start."

We part with a laugh and one more heated look before we turn toward the windows to watch Kieran obliterate the opposition.

He scores more touchdowns than I've seen him achieve before. He's on fire. And every time he scores, he looks up to one spot in the crowd.

"Has he got some kind of lucky charm up there or something?" Wilder comments, having noticed the same thing.

"Something like that," Kian says cryptically.

"Who is it? Has he got a girlfriend?" Now I'm intrigued.

I don't know all that much about Kieran, but I do know that him having a girl would be huge fucking news, and I've heard nothing.

"Nah. How's Noelle, Rix?" Kian asks, changing the subject. "Shame she couldn't come too."

"Yeah, Rix. How's Noelle?" Wilder sings, earning himself a slug in the shoulder.

" I s this for fucking real?" Wilder asks in amazement, trailing behind Kian and me as we slide past security, heading toward the family area of the arena. "I'm really going to get to meet some of the team?"

"Yep," Kian agrees. "I've got someone else for you to meet before the players emerge, though."

"Really? Who?" Wilder asks, intrigued, as I glance at Kian.

"Yeah, who?"

"Just wait," Kian laughs.

"Not my forte," I mutter.

"Don't I fucking know it."

Only seconds later, he's holding the door for us and then guiding us through the room toward a man I've never seen before.

"Ah, Kian," he says the second he spots my boyfriend.

"Richie, good to see you. This is Wilder. Wilder, this is Richie Carson. He's a scout for Trinity Royal College. He's heading out your way in a couple of weeks."

I swear to God, I've never seen Wilder's chin drop so low before. I've also never, ever seen him lost for words. But in the seconds that follow his introduction, it's like they suddenly cease to exist.

"Wild," Hendrix hisses, shoving his brother in the back and forcing him to step up to Richie.

"H-Hi," Wilder stutters, nervously holding his hand out to the older man. "It's good to meet you."

"You too. I've heard a lot about you, Son."

The warmth of Kian's hand wraps around mine before he pulls me away.

I watch Wilder interact with the scout for a few more seconds before turning to my boyfriend.

"You did this?" I whisper. I've no idea why; no one else can hear me.

Kian shrugs one shoulder. "I might have spoken to Kieran, who in turn put the feelers out."

"You…" I cut myself off from chastising him for using his connections to boost Wilder's chances of college football. Wilder deserves this, and hell knows I couldn't do it myself. "You are going to make his entire world, you know that right?"

"No, he's going to do that himself. He's a fantastic football player, Lorelei. He'd get a killer scholarship with or without our backing."

"If you say so."

I turn to look at Wilder again, and my eyes fill with tears.

"I love you, Kian Callahan. You are everything we were missing in our lives."

"You are everything in my life." Pulling me closer, he kisses me right there in the middle of the Chiefs' family room. It's only the ruckus of the players finally joining us that tears us apart.

We stand back and watch as Wilder takes it all in. My face hurts, my smile is so wide, and it only grows when Kieran appears and makes a beeline straight for him.

So maybe I was wrong…maybe taking the job at Callahan Enterprises wasn't the biggest mistake of my life…