Chapter 35

" A re you sure you're ready for this?" Lila asked as soon as King put the car in park. "My family is kind of extra."

"Please. If I can handle you, I can definitely handle your family," King said with a teasing twist to his smile. It had been almost a month since they'd figured their shit out, and King couldn't remember a time when he'd felt this happy. There was something supremely satisfying about being with Lila officially and publicly. Every time he spotted her front row center at his games, wearing a Bradley U jersey with his name and number on the back, his chest swelled with pride and love for the woman who had come into his life and torn down his walls like a wrecking ball.

She swatted at his chest and went to open the door, but he gently grasped her wrist to stop her. "Wait one sec. I have something I want to give you first."

Her expression turned downright sinful. "We can't do anything worth doing in my parents' driveway. At least during the day." Her brows danced mischievously.

"Mind out of the gutter, Alexander. I'd be lying if I said that I didn't love it, though." He opened the center console between their seats, pulled out a small box, and set it in her hands. "Since you gave me yours, I wanted you to have one of your own," he murmured as she lifted the lid.

"King…" Her voice wobbled as she pulled out the necklace. It was an exact replica of the one he was currently wearing, except the crown was studded with tiny pavé diamonds. "It's beautiful. I love it. I love you. "

"Not as much as I love you." He leaned in to kiss her chastely.

"Doubtful." She kissed him back, not so chastely. Then her eyes darted to the front of her parents' house. "We have an audience," she laughed as King turned to see four pairs of eyes peeking at them from behind the curtains. "Help me put this on before we go inside?"

King fastened the necklace and kissed her once more before they both exited the car and headed up the short walkway to the front door, their fingers intertwined. It swung open as soon as their feet hit the front porch.

"Lila!" a chorus of voices shouted out, and she was mauled by her younger siblings, so much so that they knocked her back a step.

"Whoa there, peeps. You about took me out right there," Lila laughed as she tried to wrap her arms around all four of them. Then she took a step back and put an arm around King's waist. "Boys, this is my boyfriend, King. King, this is Leo, Lance, and Landon. And you remember Layla."

Their laser-like attention shifted from Lila to King. "Hi everybody. I'm the boyfriend."

"And we're so happy to finally meet you, King." Lila's mom poked her head out of the door and greeted him with a motherly grin. "Come on, kiddos. Let's let Lila and King get inside, shall we? It's starting to get chilly out."

Once they'd all funneled back into the foyer of the house, King took brief notice of an office to the right and a formal living room to the left. Then the space opened up to a family room/kitchen area, and everybody made a beeline for the large sectional that was set opposite a big flatscreen TV.

"Erik's just finishing up making some lunch, so I hope you two are hungry?" Lila's mom asked.

"I can't speak for Lila, but I'm always hungry, Mrs. Alexander. Especially for something made by someone who knows what they're doing," King joked.

"Please call me Diana. And please don't hold it against Lila. She could burn a pot of water if left unattended for too long," Diana laughed.

"Mooooom," Lila groaned. "I'd actually managed to keep my kitchen deficiencies under wraps until now; you've ruined everything!" she deadpanned.

Diana just laughed and headed toward her husband in the kitchen.

Lila looped an arm through King's, and they followed her. "Dad, this is my boyfriend, King."

"Nice to meet you, King." Erik Alexander extended a hand for King to shake. "And please, call me Erik."

"Nice to meet you as well, Erik. Thank you both for inviting me to your home."

"You're welcome here anytime. We're glad you both could make the drive up. It was a bye-week for soccer, right?" Diana remarked.

King nodded. "Yeah, we have a couple more games until we break for winter, and then we start back up again in February."

"Diana and I have been talking about bringing down the kids and seeing you play. We'll make it happen before the end of the season," Erik said as he put the finishing touches on a pasta salad. "Landon plays soccer, and Lance is thinking of making the switch from baseball to soccer, so I think they'd love seeing a more competitive game than what they see in their youth leagues. We've heard you're quite the athlete, King."

"I can hold my own," King answered with a small shrug. But inside, he was warmed with pride as he took in the genuine compliment that seemed refreshingly devoid of any ulterior motives.

Lila snorted. "Please. He's got scouts checking him out at every game. He's the star of the team. Multiple Major League Soccer teams have him on their radar."

"No doubt a product of exceptional talent coupled with an impressive work ethic," Diana commented. "That's something to be very proud of, King."

"Thanks." He ducked his head, suddenly overwhelmed by all of the positive energy being thrown his way. It felt nice, but it would definitely take some getting used to. Luckily, lunch was ready, and they all helped themselves buffet style to sandwiches and salads and the best damn chocolate chip cookies he'd ever eaten. That was one recipe Lila assured him she could duplicate.

"They're the ones I made for your roommates that one time," she whispered.

"The ‘sorry not sorry we're having loud sex' cookies?"

"Is there any other kind?" she laughed as she went to grab another.

The Alexanders were loud, expressive, and obviously loved the shit out of each other; it was no wonder that Lila had such a capacity for patience and compassion. Her siblings all seemed to adore her, and she interacted with each brother individually and shared a giggled whispered conversation with Layla as the latter's eyes drifted over to King.

They all treated him like he was one of the family. Joking with him, asking him questions, but seeming to know which topics to steer clear of. He had no doubt that Lila had prepped them ahead of time in that subtle way of hers, not revealing any of his personal business but also setting boundaries. Like when they invited him to Thanksgiving dinner, somehow knowing he didn't have anywhere to go, but not making a big deal about it.

Watching the wonderful way that Lila's parents engaged with each other, their devotion and love apparent, gave King a startling sense of déjà vu. Like he was seeing himself with Lila years into the future. It reaffirmed his belief that she was going to be his forever someday.

And the way her eyes shifted to him, wholly open and filled with more love than had ever been thrown his direction before, he knew deep down that she felt the same way.