I tried to control my laughter. Troy elbowed me, but it burst out anyway.
“I’m sorry. It’s too funny to think of two grown men brought to their knees by this cute, cherubic blond angel.”
“Don’t jinx us, Lexi.”
Troy’s statement didn’t go unnoticed because, suddenly, six pairs of eyes were on us.
Tom squeaked, clapping his hands, which was mirrored by Miles, who was also saying my name on repeat. Wren’s mouth hung open. Troy’s parents, who’d come in at that exact time, looked equally shocked, and my parents, who’d just stepped through the door, had huge smiles.
“Um…what I mean…meant…”
I took Troy’s hand and squeezed it tight.
“What Troy means is that we’re together.”
“I called it, baby,” Tom said, raising his hands. “You owe me that blow—um…blow-up mattress I want for when we have visitors.”
Wren snorted. “Nice save, Angel.”
“Well, we need a celebratory pot of coffee and a nice homemade cake. It’s a good thing a mother is always ready,” Mrs. Mason said.
Troy’s dad came over to us and shook our hands. “Great news, boys.” He sat on the other armchair, looking smug.
“What’s with the face, Dad?” Troy asked.
“Oh, nothing. Hey, Miles, come sit with Granddad. Look what I have here.” He pulled a crocodile toy out of his pocket, and Miles practically jumped across from where we sat to Mr. Mason’s lap.
While Troy’s mom was out in the kitchen, my parents grabbed two chairs from the dining table and sat near us. Each gave me a kiss on the head in turn.
“Hey, Dad. Hey, Pop.”
“You knew about them?” Tom’s betrayed expression aimed at my dad, who’d been his best friend since forever, was almost comical.
My dad squeezed my shoulder. “Tom, one day you’re going to have to keep a secret or two to stop your husband from hiring hitmen to take out your son’s love interest.”
Troy stiffened next to me, so I put my hand on his leg. “He wouldn’t.”
“I would.”
“Pop, stop scaring my boyfriend.”
“Aww, aren’t they adorable,” Troy’s mom said, returning with more cake and coffee than eight adults could ever consume. “I knew time would sort things out for you two. You’ve been so close since the day you met.”
Troy looked at me and smiled. “We found our way to each other, and that’s what matters, but there’s something I need to tell Mom, Dad, Wren, and Tom.”
“Is everything okay, son?” his dad asked.
“Yes.”
I tried to convey all the support I could give by holding Troy’s hand. He’d decided to tell his family about Elite now that his final exams were over.
As it turned out, Marco’s dad decided Elite was too valuable to sell, so he bought a third of the company with the condition that Marco and Troy hire a CEO.
In the last few months, I’d gotten to know Marco and his fiancé, Veronika, who had been the one to set up my meetings with Troy. Marco’s dad was a wealthy businessman and investor. He’d also been somewhat of an absent father to Marco, so his way of making up for it was helping Marco gain his financial freedom by remaining as involved with Elite as he wanted to. The offer was extended in equal terms to Troy.
They’d both decided they enjoyed working for the company but were ready to take a small step back.
Everyone in the room listened attentively as Troy told them about Elite from the very start. Even Miles was completely entranced by his uncle’s words.
