16. Bennett

SIXTEEN

BENNETT

I walk around the dining table nervously, making sure everything is ready.

I'm hosting a dinner in my pool house for the first time ever, so that's nerve-racking enough. But to add the fact that I'm introducing the person I'm dating to my parents for the first time since high school only adds another layer of unnecessary pressure.

Also, for the first time in my life, the hope I have of things working out for the long run with the person I'm dating are founded in reality. I truly think if Luke can calm me down and keep being patient with me, that we can pull this off.

And there's nothing I want more than for things between us to work out.

The man is good . And funny in a teasing kind of way. He's seemed up until now as someone who can take things seriously when it's needed, but he's also lighthearted and has a sense of humor. And his face…I could spend the rest of my life seeing his face without ever getting bored. It's that pretty and interesting .

I love the way Luke so readily agreed to meet my parents. It makes me feel more confident in what I already know—he's a good man who's not playing games with me.

He's been so patient with me since my blunder and freak out a week and a half ago. Always asking if I'm okay, if there's something I want to talk about.

Vague as I was, telling him about Jeremy was a huge step for me, and what's held me back from doing that with my friends is that I don't want them to look at me differently.

Luke doesn't.

He still looks at me like he did that day when he saw me for the first time at Gab's place. Like I'm beautiful.

It's been so long since anyone made me feel beautiful, I can't even remember. Luke's also funny, easygoing, clearly great at his job, he's just...

Well, at the risk of sounding like a lovesick fool, Luke is pretty spectacular for a human being.

I also know it's soon. Like, we've only been dating for two whole weeks now? That is soon, but it's also not your typical dating situation.

We're both parents—even though Luke doesn't see himself as Robbie's parent—we both have limited free time, and we've been sharing all that time together in whatever way we can. It's mostly been through texts and voice notes, except for Monday afternoon.

But I can tell he's as interested in spending time with me as I am with him.

And it feels good. Right .

Like it's just the natural way of things.

Dr. Wendy did tell me this morning to think about why I haven't told my friends I'm seeing Luke. They clearly approve, at least Hawk does, since he told Derek to invite Luke to their housewarming weekend without any prompting from me.

I guess I just want them to see us and then decide what to think, because I clearly can't put into words how he already makes me feel.

So I want everything to go perfectly today. I don't think it's too much to ask that I don't make a fool of myself in front of Gordon the first time I meet him.

I hear the front door open and Mom and Dad come in as well as the little thumps of Lizzie running inside.

"Shoes off," she shouts in her adorable voice.

"Yes, princess, we take our shoes off right here." I hear my dad tell her.

They enter the dining room a moment later—all barefoot—and I get hugs and exclamations of wonder from my parents.

"It looks like a magazine, son." Dad claps my shoulder.

"Too much?" I ask with a wince.

"Not at all." Mom dismisses with a wave of her hand. "Just perfect. Now what can we help with?"

"Nothing really. Everything's ready and Luke, Robbie, and Gordon should be here any minute now."

"Then we'll just put out a pitcher of lemonade." Dad nods decisively and takes Lizzie from my arms and whisks her away in a silly waltz-like dance to the kitchen. "I need my helper to squeeze the lemons."

I breathe easier when I hear her peals of laughter a second after they disappear behind the door.

"It's going to be fine, Bennett," Mom tells me kindly but also firmly.

She's my inspiration for the way I talk to Lizzie because I want my daughter to feel exactly like I am right now when I talk to her—like everything is going to be okay no matter what.

The intercom buzzes, and I hurry to open the front gate for our guests.

I can see through the little screen when they pass through and close it.

Not five minutes later, the lemonade is done and served in five glasses and two sippy cups when there's a knock on the paneled door.

It's only the third time Luke has knocked on my door, but I can already tell it's him and not Gordon or Robbie.

I want more of that.

I want to get to know Luke so well that I can always tell without looking that it's him walking toward me or him wrapping his arms around me.

"Nice to meet you, Mr. Taylor," I say in a voice that barely wobbles, but my smile is big and genuine.

"Oh, please call me Gordon, and it's nice to meet you too, Bennett."

In his late forties with a strong, solid build, almost as tall as Luke, dark brown hair with only a few strands of gray, and clean shaven, Gordon looks sharp and not like someone who needs a kidney transplant soon.

He's tanned, but there's a clear line at the top of his forehead where I suppose his hat always sits.

"Please, come in."

They all take their shoes off, and it's adorable how big, strong Gordon kneels in front of a calm Robbie to take off his sneakers. His big hands look ridiculous next to his grandson's tiny feet, and I melt a little at how gentle he is with him.

"These are my parents, Sylvia and Rory Killian." I introduce them as soon as we enter the dining room to see them all standing near the door.

The nervous energy of everyone but the kids is palpable, but no one says anything offensive or awkward. Mom even pinches Luke's cheek, which makes him blush and me swoon just a little.

Dad and Gordon sit at opposite ends of the table where the highchairs for the kids have been placed, each next to their grandchild and—not that I'm offended in the least—proceed to ignore the rest of us.

I smile at Luke, who's telling my mom about his job. Not that she knows anything about football, but I can see she's actually interested in hearing about him . I let go of all my nerves and go to the kitchen to bring all the food out.

"That was delicious, son." Dad leans back on his chair after cleaning up Lizzie's face that naturally was smeared with tomato sauce from the pasta I made.

"It really was, Bennett." Gordon smiles over at me before taking the last sip of his lemonade. "And so was this lemonade, lil' miss."

My heart warms at him calling Lizzie the same as Luke does from time to time.

"What time are you leaving tomorrow again?" Mom asks me.

"I think we need to get to the airstrip at ten?" I ask and turn to Luke just to confirm.

He nods as he wipes his mouth. "That's what Gab told me this morning. It's sure nice of your friends to invite me," Luke says, and takes my hand in his then rests them on the table. There haven't been too many chances to show any kind of PDA over the course of the meal, and the way he so casually does it has my belly going insane with butterflies. The man makes me feel like I'm constantly getting to talk to my first crush. I swear it's his superpower.

"How did you meet all these players, Luke told me you're friends with a bunch of 'em?" Gordon looks at me curiously.

"In college." I smile at the memory of the first night I met most of them. "I was in a bunch of classes with Adam." Gordon looks at me, confused, so I clarify. "Darnell."

"Ah." He nods in understanding and gestures for me to go on with his hand and a small smile.

"So, I'd met him freshman year, and one of his best friends Carter as well, but it wasn't until the summer of our senior year that I became friends with him and all his ‘football friends'." I make quotes with my fingers. "I worked as a bartender at a bar near campus, and two of my friends were the only ones there." I snort at the memory of Sebas and Glenn trashed as fuck and wailing.

"They were... Well, let's say they didn't have all their faculties, and I was watching over them. That's when Adam came in with Mike, Derek, and George. That was the first time Adam and Sebas met and let me tell you, it was love at first sight for both of them."

Luke squeezes my hand, and the way he looks at me leaves me speechless.

Is that? No, it can't be. Right?

"That's a hell of a story." Gordon's voice snaps me out of... whatever that was.

"And that's only the beginning," I can't help but say. "We've all been very close since those two weirdos got together. They're like family to me even though most of them live in different cities."

"I think it's wonderful," Mom says with a happy sigh. "You make sure to give Derek some love from me, and tell Hawk he has to come meet us soon, okay?"

I nod. "Of course I will."

"And when you come back." Gordon starts. "I think it'd be in order for us three to take care of the little ones, so the not-so-little ones can have a full twenty-four uninterrupted hours together, huh? What do you think, Sylvia? Rory?"

"I agree," Dad says as he stands and starts picking up plates.

"Leave it, Dad," I say, trying to ignore my flaming-red cheeks and avoiding Luke's gaze. "I'll clean up later."

"Nonsense," Gordon exclaims as he stands as well. "You cooked and got everything ready, so we'll clean up and you can enjoy changing diapers."

We all laugh at that, and I thank all the deities in the sky when no one says anything else about me and Luke having uninterrupted time .

"Now, what is this about not wanting a transplant?" I hear my mother ask Gordon as they make their way to the kitchen.

I feel Luke tense next to me and see his face scrunched up in a frown.

"There's no way he wants to be on the list still?"

"No." Luke sighs out the word and looks more worried than I've ever seen him. "And I have no idea how to convince him. He's determined and stubborn."

"I'm sorry," I murmur, as I slide an arm around his back and lay my head on his shoulder. I don't know what else to do or say. I don't think there's anything to say to make this better.

"Me too," Luke whispers back .

We stay like that for a moment until Robbie starts whining in his seat. He's ready to be free again.

Without a word, we get the kids and I lead Luke to Lizzie's room so we can change both of them.

The easy familiarity fills me with warmth.

Is this real?

Can I actually have something this great?

Yeah, if you don't screw it up.

Josie's voice brings me comfort and discomfort at the same time.

She's a good one to talk to about this. I'll see her tomorrow, so I bet it won't be an issue.

Gab kidnaps our kids during the flight, not that we mind, but it's seriously cool watching the way she can handle both of them at the same time like a pro during take-off and landing.

She has a kid in each arm and holds a bottle to each of their mouths while cooing and smiling at them.

"She raised twins." I muse. "So I guess it's to be expected."

Luke hums in agreement as he sips the coke the flight attendant brought us. We hold hands silently and watch the kids fall deeper in love with Gab the whole flight.

Peace surrounds us, and I send a wish out to the universe that I can have this.

Please let me keep this .

The flight is less than an hour long, so soon enough we're landing and climbing out to find Clive, Gab's father, leaning against a white Suburban with his famous smile on his face.

"You made it." He cheers when he sees us, and then his eyes land on the kids and we basically disappear as far as he's concerned. "Oh, will you look at that strapping young man and that smart lady?" He rushes forward and takes the kids in both arms—just like his daughter did.

Robbie tenses a little at first, and I see Luke about to intervene, but the second he sees Clive's happy smile, he relaxes and smiles a little as well.

"Lizzie, you're growing up too fast young lady, we need to have a talk about that," Clive says as he turns around and walks back to the car that's already being filled with our small suitcases. "And you, what's your name lil' fella?"

"He's Robbie, my brother," Luke calls out as we walk behind Clive.

I hear Gab grumble something I can't make out behind me and snort when I see her pout.

"Robbie, that's a great name. Do you mind if I call you Bob?" Clive cackles at the way Robbie scrunches his face in a grimace.

It's more than likely due to some gas or the heat, but the timing is impeccable, I have to say.

"Robbie it is!" Clive places Robbie in the chair closest to the door then looks back at us. "Strap him in, will you? We have a yummy lunch to get to."

"Lunch?" I mumble, as I follow him around the car where he sits Lizzie down and again tells me to buckle her up. "It's a bit early, isn't it?" I ask him.

"Yeah, but most guests flew from the east coast so they're hungry as hell. Oh shit, damn. I forgot about the no-cursing thing. Sorry." He shakes his head and climbs behind the wheel.

I can't help but laugh at him while I too step into the car and have to maneuver around Lizzie's chair to walk to the third row where Luke is already waiting for me .

"Ready?" he asks with a tender smile as I sit next to him.

"Uh-huh," I mumble. Even I know I sound unsure.

Luke looks suddenly worried, and to offset that worry, I lean in and give him a quick kiss.

There's no need for him to know how damn nervous I am about my friends seeing us together.

Dammit, they're gonna give me so much shit for not telling them anything that's happened in the last month.