Page 149 of The Fallacy of True Love
“Tito Ally—eww!”
Maya froze, and I had to laugh at the untimely interruption. Since I’d first met her, we’d had one interruption after the other, but wasn’t that how life was? It didn’t always go according to plan, but sometimes you got lucky and found that you ended up with something so much better than what you’d hoped for.
Just like I did.
“So.” I smiled at the girl I loved. “Nikki mentioned you had tatts on your feet?”
Epilogue
Cam
Was there anything more intimidating than meeting your significant other’s family?
None that I could think of. And yet, here I was with Alonzo in a private elevator leading up to his eldest sister’s penthouse apartment.
“We should have started with your friends,” I whispered to him. “That would have been a lot less pressure than this. A warm-up.”
He dropped a kiss on my head. “It’ll be okay, babe. I promise."
The elevator doors opened, and there Tala stood in a white halter top and what looked like yoga pants. Though I’d seen enough photos to know she was beautiful, I hadn’t anticipated her understated magnetism.
“Cam, I’m so happy to finally meet you.” She smiled at me with a genuine warmth that loosened my shoulders.
“Hi, Tala.” I held my hand out to her, and she shook it firmly. “Thank you for inviting us for lunch.”
“Are you kidding? I told Lonzo you could stay with us. There’s plenty of space.”
“Thanks, but that might be weird,” I said, trying to be diplomatic yet still honest.
“Super awkward,” Alonzo added as he kissed his sister’s cheek.
I almost flushed, remembering what he’d been doing in my rental just two hours ago.
“Consider it a standing invite,” Tala said. “Come on in. Lunch is almost ready.”
A shiver passed through me as Alonzo moved his hand to rest just below my waist at the top of my ass. That always made me weak in the knees—how it was both protective but sexy at the same time. It distracted me enough that I didn’t get overwhelmed by the utter luxury of Tala’s home.
“Where’s Jason?” Alonzo asked.
“Grilling outside. Can you check on him?”
“Sure.” Turning to me, he studied my face, as if trying to read if I was okay.
“Go,” I told him.
He chuckled and gave my hand a quick squeeze before heading to what I assumed was the balcony.
When I faced Tala, she was smiling at me. Being alone with her had me even more nervous. I should have offered to be the one to go to the balcony instead. Surely, introducing myself to a former NBA star was less nerve-wracking than chatting up Alonzo’s eldest sister.
“Here, let me take your bag,” Tala offered, reminding me of what I’d brought.
Taking the food containers out of my canvas bag, I held them out to her. “I almost forgot—these are for you guys. It’s kakanin from my friend’s café. Everything’s plant-based, even the cheese.” Nikki, Eric, and I had spent an entire weekend trying to nail down the flavors.
“Oh, thank you,” Tala said as she took the boxes. “Jason will be happy to hear that. Come sit. Do you want a drink?”
“No, thanks.” I sat on the plush sofa that was wider and comfier than my bed. I was overly aware that she was watching me, almost like she was waiting for me to be the first to talk. So I went ahead and spoke my mind. “I don’t know what Alonzo told you, but I’m not very good at…this.” I waved my hand between us and hoped she got my drift.
Her eyes seemed to soften. “You don’t have to worry. I’m the most introverted among my siblings, so I understand.”
