“Has hell frozen over?” Pops asks.
“I can admit when I’m wrong.”
“Doesn’t happen often.”
I laugh at the two of them. I don’t know what I would’ve done if Troy hadn’t done this. Would they have been big enough to do it themselves?
Family is the most important thing in my life, but so is Troy. And now I get both?
“Can I introduce you guys to Troy?”
Pops smiles down at me. “We’ve already met him.”
Dad whacks him on the stomach. “Let her introduce us to her boyfriend.”
“Do I have to meet him?” Nick whines from behind Pops. “I have an AP physics test Monday that I need to study for.”
“You can study when we get back to the hotel, you little genius.” Pops wraps his arm around Nick and pulls him into our little group.
The weight I’ve been carrying on my shoulders since Troy and I started this thing between us lifts. I never realized how much it was pushing me down. Like walking through quicksand. I love my family more than anything and wouldn’t have jeopardized this—what we have right here—for anything less than true love.
And that’s exactly what I found with the man walking to me now.
Chapter Thirty-One
TROY
“Am I interrupting?”
“Yes,” Angie’s younger brother, Nick, answers.
“Nick!” They all yell at him at the same time. I can’t help but laugh because it’s the exact same thing that Lydia and I would do.
“Troy, would you like to meet my dads? Officially, I mean,” Angie clarifies.
Even though I’ve met them twice before now, they’re still intimidating. An ex-NFL star who still looks like he could bench press me? Yeah, not intimidating at all.
“Yes.” I wipe my hands on my jeans. Seriously, where are these nerves coming from?
“Troy, this is my dad, Alex, and my pops, Carter.”
I shake both of their hands. “It’s nice to officially meet my girlfriend’s dads.”
“It’s nice to meet you too.”
“What are your intentions with our daughter?” Carter asks.
“Uhh…”
Is he being serious? I thought that was pretty obvious by now.
“Carter, leave him alone. Hasn’t he already been through enough?” Alex laughs.
“Don’t scare him off now.” Angie’s eyes are sparkling.
“Mr. Brooks-Young?—”
“What did I tell you? Call us Alex and Carter.”
