Chapter 25

" I appreciate you agreeing to meet with me, darling," King's mom, Eleanor, said from across the table. After a particularly emotional email from her, King had agreed to meet up, in spite of his misgivings. He'd chosen The Pub, mainly because it was familiar and because they'd seat him in Lila's section if he asked. Today, he needed all of the moral support he could get.

"Yeah, well, it's been a while since we've seen each other without Solomon present." He couldn't help the bitterness that tinged his words.

"True. I didn't get the chance to congratulate you for your national championship…"

King held his breath, waiting for her to finish the sentence. He hoped that perhaps it would be an apology, but he was almost positive she was going to take him to task for something.

"Because you stormed off like a spoiled child."

And there it is.

He rubbed at Lila's crown necklace hidden beneath his shirt to calm himself.

"I'm not going to apologize for feeling blindsided by Solomon and some random MLS scout. But I am sorry I didn't come over and say hello. That was rude of me."

At that moment, Lila approached with a smile. "Hey King." She turned her head to take in King's mom, most likely noting the family resemblance in their hair and eyes, and her smile grew. "I didn't realize you had an older sister." It was cheesy as hell but just the kind of compliment his mom reveled in.

"Oh, my precious girl, you are too much. I'm actually his mother. "

Lila's expression was appropriately awed and stunned, and King couldn't help but appreciate her efforts to charm his mother. "My goodness, Mrs. Spencer, you must let me know what's in the water you're drinking, because you look incredible. I could have sworn you were in your early 30s."

King's mom was 56. Needless to say, Lila had just become her new favorite person.

Eleanor trilled with laughter. "Now how do you know my Solomon?" King noted how Lila stiffened when she heard Eleanor refer to him by his first name and tried not to find her protectiveness completely sexy.

"I met King last year through a mutual friend." Her subtle emphasis on his preferred name only increased his admiration. "Here at the restaurant, actually. Our friend Jason used to work here with me, and he sent me over with refills when their glasses were already full."

"Such a trickster, that Jason," King added with a smile.

"Agreed." Lila's smile lit up her face in such a way that made King want to kiss the shit out of her, and it was a much better feeling than the one he was experiencing when he was left alone with his mother.

"Anyway, sorry to chat your ear off. I'm sure you two are ready for some drinks? Maybe an appetizer or two?"

Eleanor closed her menu. "Actually, I think we're ready to order. I'll have a lemon water and a garden salad with no dressing, please."

"I'm good with my usual, La. With a raspberry lemonade because I'm feeling dangerous today."

"Coming right up."

Once Lila had left them, Eleanor looked at King knowingly. "I like her."

"I'll make sure to let her know," King replied, and they both shared a smile. It was a pleasant moment, one that was short lived because of what his mother said next.

Her face fell. "Solomon, I wish you had more respect for your father," she remarked sadly.

"Mom, first off, please stop calling me Solomon. I go by King now, and if you can't respect that boundary, then we're not going to be able to see each other. Okay?"

Eleanor gave him a look that resembled her We'll talk about this later expression, but she nodded nonetheless.

Their conversation paused when Lila put down their drinks, along with a small bowl of freshly sliced lemons for King's mom. "In case you want more than one," she said with a wink as she whisked away to another table.

Eleanor's expression was one of pure elation. "She's getting a great tip." Then she focused back on King. "As I was saying…King…I do wish you'd respect your father. He's a great man who has provided a charmed life for the both of us."

King suppressed a frustrated groan. "Look, I don't want this to come out the wrong way, because I think you did the best you knew how, but I wish you would have protected me from him. I wish that instead of laying your hands on me, you would have left that lying, toxic bastard behind and started over." He cleared the emotion out of his throat. "I would have been happier sleeping on a dirt floor with a hungry stomach than feeling like a prisoner in that man's mansion."

Eleanor rocked back like she'd been struck, and her eyes filled with tears. "How dare you." She shot forward, apparently forgetting that A: They were in public, and B: There was a table in the way.

"Are you going to slap me, Mom? Gaslight me when I come to you crying that I'd seen my father having sex with my nanny?" King sighed and ran a hand over his face. "This was a terrible idea. I honestly thought we could attempt to have a civilized, adult conversation about all of this, but we're not there yet."

"I'll never be ready to hear you disparage your father in such a manner," Eleanor snarled as she shot out of her seat. "As far as I'm concerned, you're cut off."

King shook his head sadly. "I've been cut off for a long time, Mom. Going on two years now. You just never noticed."

Eleanor paled, just a little bit, and then stalked out of the restaurant.

King sat there in silence, trying to modulate his irregular breaths.

"Scoot over."

Lila's voice penetrated his daze, and he automatically shifted down the bench. She sat down, putting her head on his shoulder, and he could feel her soft braid grazing his arm.

"That looked intense, King."

"Yeah" was all he could muster.

"I don't know the circumstances, but I'm sorry regardless," she sighed. "I'm sorry she doesn't appreciate how wonderful her son is. Because you're pretty damn great."

King slid his arm around her waist and squeezed her in a side hug. "Thanks, La."

She lingered a minute more, which helped King calm down. Gave him a quick kiss on the check. Just a brush, but he felt it down in his core. Too soon, she was back up on her feet. "Be right back."

A few minutes later, she brought his meal out in a to-go box. "Lunch is on me today." She held up a finger to silence King's protest. "Nonnegotiable." Lila gestured her head toward the box. "It's boxed up so you can take off, or you're welcome to stay as long as you want. Let me know if I can get you anything else, okay?"

King couldn't look at her because his eyes were blurry, so he just murmured his thanks in the direction of the table. She put a hand on his shoulder and squeezed it gently, and then she was off to work again.