Page 11

KAI

“ M alakai James!” My mother hisses.

The smug look on my face doesn’t disappear as I look the hostess in the eye. “Can I get the others?” Motioning to the two remaining menus in her hands.

She silently hands them to me and walks away, her face red with embarrassment.

“Was that necessary?”

“Yes, Mom, it was. If I didn’t say something, she was going to hit on me in front of the woman I love. I figured it would just be easier to draw that line now.” I look at the menu and look over at my future father-in-law. “Oh, look, Gene,” pointing to the paper. “They have your favorite beer.”

“Shit.” Isla mutters under her breath, flipping the menu over in her hands.

“What’s the matter, Princess?”

“They changed the menu, and these don’t have allergen warnings. I’m just going to have to get a salad.” She lets out a frustrated sigh.

This could go bad if she eats something that’s contaminated, or if I eat something and I have it on me and touch her.

I rarely eat out randomly, and I know she doesn’t either.

It’s just easier to cook food at home. Even eating at places that are strictly vegan can be an issue, because while she can tolerate almonds and oats, peanuts, walnuts, and a variety of other nuts are issues.

Soy is a huge issue and that shit’s in everything.

“What meds did you bring with you? I think you should take the antihistamine now.” Isla digs through her bag and pulls out a pill bottle and two small cases on the table.

One is the medication that can help prevent anaphylaxis, and the other is an EpiPen.

I swear nothing gives me more anxiety than her potentially eating something that could land her in the hospital or, worse, take her from me.

“We should just go,” her dad interjects.

“No. I will not ruin this because of my allergies.” Isla struggles with the pill bottle, so I gently take it from her and open it, handing her two pills. “You shouldn’t have to change your plans for me.”

A server shows up just in time for me to ask for a glass of water for her. “Can we get two waters, please?” The server nods and turns to our parents.

“Bring the water first and then we’ll order the rest. My daughter needs to take some medication.” Gene tells them sternly. Then his eyes are back on Isla.

“Stop staring at me like I’m going to blow up, Dad. I’ll get nervous hives.” She chuckles.

Goddammit, this woman is going to make her father have a heart attack before he’s fifty.

“That’s not funny, Isla.” Gene narrows his eyes at her. The server drops off the waters and I slide one to her and she takes the pills.

“I think I’m hilarious.” Smiling at her father, then turning to the waiter. “Can I order the Southwest Chicken Salad as my entrée? And can the chicken be cooked in a pan that’s not had any of the top nine allergens in it?”

The guy stares at her like she’s got two heads. “I’ll have the same thing.”

“I’ll have to check because I think the chicken is cooked on the grill. But I think they have a separate section for allergy people.” They write the order down and turn to our parents, who order steaks, side salads, and steamed veggies with no butter.

“You could have gotten a steak, Kai.” Isla says quietly.

“I will not risk eating something that could hurt you. I very much like touching you, Princess. And if I went off-diet, that would mean I couldn’t touch you for at least twenty-four hours.” I grin and Isla blushes. “Twenty-four hours is a long time.”

“Good fucking Christ, where is that beer?” Gene mutters, turning around and looking for our server.

I’m not gonna lie. It’s kind of fun messing with him.

Is it immature?

Yes.

Will I keep doing it?

Absolutely. The transition from stepson to son-in-law is going to be a wild one.

Once Gene has his beer and food comes out, the tension dissipates a little. Isla takes a bite of her food and I wait, staring at her. Our parents start eating within a few seconds of her taking her bite, but I don’t.

I wait.

Because if it goes bad, I can react.

I’m pretty sure I still have PTSD from the incident in high school. I have never been more terrified in my entire life than in that moment when her airway closed.

“I’m fine, Kai.” She pats my hand. “I feel fine, no tingling, not itchy.” And for good measure, just to appease me. She picks up her glass of water, takes a sip, and swallows.

“Okay.” I smile, pick up my fork and begin eating and quickly regret it. My face scrunches up and I have to force myself to swallow the bite.

“I never said it was good.” She laughs.

“I’ll make you food when we get home, baby.” This is disgusting and I can make her a better chicken salad at home. Bland, overcooked chicken and a strange-tasting dressing. “So, now that we’re eating, can we talk about this like adults?”

“What is it you want us to say, honey? Gene and I had our suspicions. We made our peace with it years ago if you two were to happen.” My mom reaches across to pat my hand. “I knew you loved her a long time ago. Maybe even before you realized it.”

“I knew from that first day, Mom. When Gene opened the door and she stood there smiling,” I looked over at Isla, who was trying not to cry. “I knew.”

“Dad,” Isla looks at her father, and he sets his glass down. “Are you going to be okay with this?”

“I’ll be honest. It’s going to take some getting used to. The day you called me to tell me that Steve proposed and you said you told him no, I thought you were going to tell me it was because of Malakai.” He grabs her hand. “That you were going to tell me you had feelings for him.”

“You’re not wrong.” Isla’s gaze shifts to mine and she says, “He is the reason I told Steve no.”

I didn’t know he actually asked her to marry him.

Or that I was the reason she said no.

“I knew that if I had said yes, I would have been miserable for however long that marriage lasted.” Her eyes burn into mine, and it’s getting to where I’m ready to say, Fuck the dinner, and tell our parents we need to leave .

I need us in bed, giving her all of me, thanking her for not marrying him and choosing to be with me.

“I would have still been waiting for you.”

“So, are we doing this the old-fashioned way, with a big wedding that’s gonna cost a fortune? Or shotgun style?” Gene chuckles, motioning to the server that he needs a refill.

“If Isla is okay with it, I’d like to get married now and then after the season’s over, we can have a big wedding.”

“What do you think about that, sweetheart?” Gene asks her, and she keeps her eyes on me.

Tell me what you want, Princess.

I’ll give you the world. All you need to do is tell me.

“I just want to be his wife. I don’t even need the big wedding.” Fuck, I love her.

We can just go on a really nice honeymoon, not that I wouldn’t mind spending the money to give her the wedding of her dreams. I’d spend every penny I had to make her happy. Isla deserves the world and I intend to give it to her.

She’s my world.

All I need is her, a kid, and baseball.

I’ll be a happy man.

“Will you be our witnesses?” I ask my mother and Gene. “We can do it tomorrow morning before I go to training.”

“Do you have rings already?” Gene asks.

Shit.

“He does.” My mother cuts in. “I have your father’s and my rings at home if you’d like them. Even if they’re temporary ones.”

Emotions choke me and I hold back the tears as I nod my head. “I’d like that. Is that okay with you for now, princess?”

“I would be honored to wear the ring your dad gave your mom.” She reaches for me and wipes the tear that runs down my cheek. “Let’s do this, baby. ”

She called me baby in front of our parents.

Can we fast-forward to tomorrow morning so she can be my wife already?

We finish dinner and after a fight with Gene over the bill, to which I had to concede and let him pay, we head to the parking lot.

I get my helmet out of the trunk and I help Isla into the car as Gene helps my mom.

“See you at home, baby.” I kiss her on the mouth and I hear my mother whisper to Isla’s father.

“Awww, isn’t it sweet, honey? When do you think we’ll have a grand baby?” My mother asks, and I can feel the smiling pulling at my cheeks.

“For the love of God, Nadia, don’t give them any ideas.”

Too late.

If I get my way, they’ll be grandparents by Christmas.