Total pages in book: 89
Estimated words: 90009 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 450(@200wpm)___ 360(@250wpm)___ 300(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 90009 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 450(@200wpm)___ 360(@250wpm)___ 300(@300wpm)
“I’m sorry, have you actually met these guys before?” I ask without hesitation. “The only one who has a polite bone in his body is Laiken. The rest of them? Total cavemen.”
That earns me a reluctant laugh. Barely a huff, but I’ll take it.
“You’ve worked your ass off on this,” I continue, brushing my thumb along her side. “You’re talented as hell, Lilah. This is going to go way better than you think. Trust me.”
The elevator dings again, and more footsteps echo through the penthouse. There’s another chorus of greetings that fills the air as the guys descend like hungry bears waking from hibernation.
Oliver beelines straight to the display, swiping one of the protein balls before Lilah can say a word.
“Holy hell, what is this?” he asks with his mouth full.
Rina, who arrived a few minutes earlier and is standing beside the fridge with a wine glass, sighs like her soul just left her body. “You eat like a feral animal.”
He gives her a wink. “I do other things like an animal as well. Any interest in finding out firsthand?”
Her face scrunches. “You’re the last person I would ever sleep with.”
“So, what you’re telling me is that I’m on the list? Good to know.”
“There isn’t a list, but if there were, you would definitely not be on it.”
“Keep telling yourself that, sweetheart. Methinks the lady doth protest too much.”
Rina lifts her hand to massage her temple before glancing at us. “Do you see what I have to deal with on a daily basis? Is it any wonder I drink too much?”
I decide now is probably a good time to cut in before Rina chooses violence. “Lilah made all of it. Everything is clean, high-protein, and low sugar.”
“You mean all this is actually healthy?” Knox picks up one of the oat and almond cookies and inspects it.
“It is,” Lilah says, stepping forward. “There’s no refined sugar. Just honey, chia, flax, and oats.”
One by one, the guys sample the spread. There’s a quiet beat before the reactions roll in.
“This is good,” Laiken mutters. Which, coming from him, is high praise.
“Are these egg muffins?” River grabs one. “Wow, delicious. What’s in them?”
“Spinach, turkey sausage, and sweet potato,” Lilah answers, more confidently now as she steps away from me and toward the counter.
Jax lifts a jar of overnight oats closer to his face for scrutiny. “And this?”
“Almond butter, oats, vanilla protein, chia, and blueberries,” she rattles off.
Jax takes a bite and groans. “This is really good.”
The tension in Lilah’s shoulders loosens. A smile blooms across her face like sunlight after a storm, and it crashes into me like a wave I didn’t see coming.
It’s one thing to believe in someone and another to watch the world finally catch up.
My teammates go back for seconds and then thirds. There’s talk about game-day fuel, meal prep help, and requests for recipes. The whole vibe shifts to one that’s filled with genuine interest and enthusiasm.
Once the tasting is over, the guys file out one by one. Laiken nods his approval, Jax offers to pay her in cold brew if she makes him a batch every week, Oliver tries to get her number again and gets smacked by Rina in the process. With everyone gone, the penthouse finally settles into a comfortable hush.
I walk over and wrap an arm around Lilah’s waist, pulling her against me. Her cheeks are still flushed and her eyes are bright from the high of the night.
“You did it,” I murmur against her temple.
“I did,” she says, still a little dazed. “So… yeah. We’ll consider that a win.”
I tuck a strand of hair behind her ear. “You did more than win. You crushed it. I’m so fucking proud of you, lucky charm.”
She swallows, the movement small but telling. I can feel the emotion vibrating within her. All the joy, disbelief, and pride.
She turns more fully to face me before sliding her arms around me. “Thank you,” she says quietly. “For everything. For believing in me even when I didn’t believe in myself. And for always being there.”
I brush my knuckles along her cheek. “I will always be there for you, no matter what,” I murmur. “It’s not even a question.”
She leans into the touch. “You’ve been my constant through everything. The one thing I could always count on. And I don’t say it enough, but I’m grateful for that. I’m grateful for you.”
I rest my forehead against hers. “You never have to thank me for loving you, Lilah.”
Her breath catches, and I feel her smile.
“Still,” she says, voice barely above a whisper, “thank you.”
That’s all it takes for something inside me to settle.
She’s mine.
And she knows it now.
Whatever comes next, whatever dreams she chases, I’ll be standing right beside her.
Just like I always have.
48
LILAH
Perched on one of the stools near the front counter of Lakeshore Sweets, the scents of cinnamon, espresso, and vanilla fill the air as I cradle my mug between both hands.