Page 56 of Obsessive Love (The King #1)

Epilogue

Kaleb

Two Months Later

"Do you think we have enough food?" Myra asks, taking another batch of banana muffins out of the oven and setting them down on the small counter space we have left.

"I think we have plenty," I tell her, chuckling as my eyes scan the amount of food surrounding me.

"There's definitely enough, Myra," Sophia says as she walks into the room dressed in a flowy purple dress. "Go and get ready. I'm sure my mother and Jess can help me take some of this stuff outside and set it up for you."

"Oh, don't be silly dear, I can do it and then I'll be sure to make myself scarce."

"Myra, you're joining us for the party. We all know he'd love to see you. You were one of his favourite people whilst he was living here, and he'd definitely want to thank you for making all of this food for him."

"Well, okay then. I'm not sure how I'd feel though about being part of the event and not helping to run it," Myra tells us, glancing around at all of the food she's prepared this morning,

"Well, if you feel like you must do something, you can prepare the drinks for everyone outside. That'd also be really helpful, considering you're the only other person who knows our little secret," I tell her, smiling softly.

She nods, smiling brightly and her eyes drift over to Sophia who's taking one of the chocolate chip cookies from a plate and shoving it into her mouth.

"Yes, of course. I'll be right back."

As Myra hurries out of the kitchen, I walk over to Sophia, gently wrapping my arms around her waist and resting my chin on her shoulder as I breathe her in.

"Are you feeling better after this morning, dolcezza ?"

She nods, licking some melted chocolate from her finger, and then swivels around to face me.

"Much better. Those tablets you got for me seem to be helping quite well so far." She steps out of my embrace, smoothing her hands down the sides of her dress. "Do I look okay?"

"You look absolutely stunning. You always do."

She blushes and steps forward, pressing a kiss to my jaw.

"I best go get my mother and Jess to come and help me with some of this. You need to go get ready. Dominic texted and said they're on their way already, so it won't be long."

"Just be careful, okay? Let your mother and Jess do most of the work," I tell her, frowning as I scan the trays of food, assessing how heavy they probably are.

"Kaleb, I'll be fine," she says, chuckling.

"Okay, well, I'll be right back!"

I rush out of the room and take the stairs two at a time, quickly walking down the hallway and into Sophia's room where she's laid out a short-sleeved polo shirt for me and a pair of jeans.

Chucking the clothes I'm wearing across the room, I shove my legs into the jeans, pulling them up, and then hurriedly slide the top over my head.

As I'm doing up the two buttons on the top, there's a knock at the door and I frown as I walk towards it.

When I open the door, I see Jess standing there, hands on her hips and glaring up at me.

"What did I do?" I ask, wondering whether I've accidentally done something to piss off Sophia and now she's sent Jess up her to chew me a new one.

"I have been here, at this house, at least once a week," she states, narrowing her eyes at me. "I've been having movie nights with you both for the past two months whilst my brother has been in the hospital, have I not?"

"Yes, you have."

"I am also one of Sophia's best friends, right?"

"Yes, you are."

"So please enlighten me as to why she hasn't told me yet."

"Told you what?" I ask.

"Don't play dumb with me, Kaleb. Why hasn't she told me that she's pregnant?"

I raise my brows, impressed that she's managed to figure it out, but I shrug and shake my head.

"I don't know what you're on about," I say, walking around her out of the room and down the hallway.

"You've been smothering her for weeks, not letting her out of your sight, asking if she's okay and if she's comfortable about twenty times in an hour. For God's sake, you even went and knocked on the bathroom door last week because she was gone from the room for longer than a minute."

"What can I say, I'm just very protective," I tell her nonchalantly as I reach the top of the stairs.

"Well, then why is Myra downstairs making mimosas for everyone but personally handing Sophia one without champagne?"

I sigh and turn around, rolling my eyes at her incessant nagging.

"Fine, yes, she's pregnant," I hiss. "We're planning on telling everyone today, towards the end of the party. She hasn't told anyone because it's still so early and she wanted to keep it a secret, but it's been killing her not telling anyone, so we're throwing this party for Jaylen. It was the only reason we could think of to get everyone together without making anyone suspicious as to the reason why."

Her eyes widen and she squeals as she throws her arms around me.

"Oh my God! This is amazing!"

I peel her arms away from me and nod my head.

"Yeah, it's great, but keep it a secret until we make the announcement, please."

I turn away from her, walking down the stairs and as I reach the bottom, the front door bursts open and Jaylen swings himself inside with his crutches, a wide smile spread across his face and his eyes alight with joy.

"Honey, I'm home!" he yells.

"Great," I grumble, pressing my thumb and forefinger against the bridge of my nose as I begin to contemplate if I'll manage to be a part of this crazy family.

"Jaylen!"

Sophia comes rushing through the foyer, her eyes shimmering with tears as she sees her cousin standing by the door and she screams in excitement as she flings herself into him.

"Woah, you only saw me yesterday, woman. There's no need to make a fuss," he says, hugging her tightly to his chest, causing worry to stir inside me.

I allow the hug to continue for a few more moments before I grab her arm and tug her backwards to check that she's okay and can still breathe.

"I'm fine," she whispers, patting her hand against my cheek before turning back to Jaylen. "I know it was only yesterday, but it was still in the hospital. Now, you're out and you're walking around! I'm so glad you're out of there."

His smile dims slightly at her words and he nods his head.

"Yeah, me too."

Jess rushes down the stairs next, embracing her brother, and Dominic rolls his eyes at them all as he walks into the foyer and through to the kitchen.

"Jay, come on, Myra has done an amazing spread of food for you!" Jess says, walking ahead of him and dragging Sophia with her.

I wait as he rights his crutches and then I follow behind him as he swings himself towards the hallway.

He stops by the locked steel door on the left and he turns to me with a curious look in his eye.

"You still keep that side locked up?"

I nod in response.

"Your Uncle still down there?"

I shake my head.

"Are you going to use words or just leave me in suspense?"

"Jericho got rid of him whilst we were in the hospital. There's no one there now. The whole right side of the house is empty."

"Maybe you should do something with the right side upstairs though. You know, maybe make one of the rooms a nursery or something for the baby."

"What baby?"

"You really think Sophia wouldn't have told me?" he asks, shaking his head as he continues down the hallway.

Is there anybody here that doesn't fucking know that my girl is pregnant?