Chapter 20

Chapter Twenty

Two weeks later

I find my girl sitting at the lunch table with Dante and Josie. This week, she's taken to sitting with us to eat. Pretty sure it was my constant pestering and insistence that she's one of us that made her cave.

Our latest lockdown ended after a day. Turns out, it was a false alarm. I never did find out what the supposed threat was. But I'm glad, because it meant I could come and go from Aleeka's place as much as I wanted.

It took Aleeka three days before she was fully recovered from whatever flu she had. Her dad returned and took her home. I went with them, much to his disapproval. Not that he said anything to me. I just get the feeling I'm his least favorite person, not that I can blame him. I did knock up his teenage daughter.

Aleeka told me that he tried to get her to admit who Sebastian's father was and constantly urged her to tell me. She thinks that's the whole reason they came back to the city and he insisted she re-enroll at New York Prep instead of continuing with her homeschooling.

I'm really fucking glad they did. I don't know if she would have told me about my son otherwise. I do believe she was going to tell me when she invited me over, and I understand her hesitancies as well as her fears. That doesn't mean I like it.

"Hey, babe." I wrap my arm around Aleeka's shoulder and kiss the side of her forehead.

She turns to me and shrugs out of my embrace. "Babe? We talked about this, Orlando. I'm not your babe ," she says while her eyes flick around the cafeteria.

It's pointless, though. Everyone in this school knows she's mine. Thanks to my Insta post two weeks ago, they also know we have a son together. Aleeka wasn't all too thrilled about that either. Luckily for me, she was too sick to really muster up the energy to be all that mad at the time.

I posted a picture of Sebastian sleeping on my chest with the caption: my mini me, my son. It only showed the back of his head, not his face, but that one post blew up. And now the fact I've got a kid is all over the tabloids. Safe to say, my parents weren't all that pleased with the post or the aftermath of it either.

"We sleep in the same bed every night, Aleeka. Pretty sure that makes you my babe." I smirk at her.

Aleeka's eyes widen. "We sleep in the same bed because you refuse to go home and I usually pass out before I can kick you out."

"Still sleep in the same bed, babe. So, what are we doing tonight?" I ask her. "I thought we could take Seb to the game. The Knights are in town."

"The Knights are here? Out of curiosity, if Sebastian just happened to be a huge fan of one of the players, could you get him like a meet and greet?" Aleeka questions me.

"Of course I could, but let's not pretend a six-month-old is a fan of hockey. Who exactly do you want to meet?"

"Liam King." Aleeka smiles with a dreamy look in her eyes.

"You do know the guy is married, right?" I remind her.

"I know, but he's the best player," she says.

"Don't let Travis hear you say that. We're supposed to pretend he's the best—you know, family and all. I can introduce you to King."

"Really?" Aleeka squeals in excitement, and I know right then that I'll do anything to see her face light up like this.

I reach out and cup her cheeks before leaning forward and whispering in her ear. "You know I'll do anything for you. All you have to do is ask. Anything," I tell her, letting the tips of my fingers trail up her thigh.

Aleeka clears her throat and sits straighter in her seat. "Thank you. Want us to meet you there?"

"Fuck no. I'll pick you up," I tell her. Then quickly turn to our captive audience, AKA Dante and Josie. "You guys coming to the game?"

They share a look before Dante turns back to me. "If anyone asks, we're coming with you," he says.

"What are you really doing?" I question him. But then Josie's face turns a bright shade of pink, and I shake my head. "Never mind. I don't need to know."

I have Seb in one of those baby carrier contraption things that hangs off your body and Aleeka's hand in mine as we make our way through the crowded arena. The game hasn't started yet, but I told Aleeka I'd introduce her to King. She needs to know I don't go back on my word.

I have a few of my father's soldiers here. I don't usually bring security with me, but it's not me I'm concerned about. It's Seb and Aleeka. Especially with the increased paparazzi interest over the last couple of weeks.

We get to the tunnel and my cousin's fiancé, also one of the Knights players, meets us there. "Hey, man. Thanks for doing this. This is Aleeka, and this little man is Seb." I shake Travis's hand.

"Sebastian," Aleeka corrects me.

"Anything for family, right?" Travis chuckles. "Come on." He turns and starts walking before stopping and turning back to us. "Actually, you might want to wait here. They're gonna be in all stages of undress in there," he says to Aleeka. "I'll bring him out."

"I don't mind." Aleeka smirks.

"We'll wait here," I grunt.

When Liam King saunters out like he owns the damn place, Aleeka's hand literally shakes in mine.

"Someone might forget you're dating a rock star with how excited you are to meet a hockey player. You know they don't even have their own teeth, right?" I whisper in her ear.

"Orlando, I hear congrats are in order," Liam says while his eyes drop to Seb.

"Thanks, man. This is my girlfriend, Aleeka. She's a huge fan of yours." I make a quick introduction, and it doesn't go unnoticed that Aleeka must be fucking nervous or excited because she doesn't correct me when I use the label this time. Maybe I'm finally wearing her down.