Page 130 of Broken Prince
Mom’s eyes widen. “Oh.” She blinks. “Ohhh.” She looks between the two of us. “I’m going to assume that you didn’t stop seeing him like you said you were going to.”
“No,” I sigh. “I tried. Trust me, I did,” I mutter, shooting a look at Kai, who is grinning at me like he has no shame. “He wouldn’t let me.”
“Oh really?” Mom looks amused. “And why not?”
“Because a man cannot simply walk away from someone like your daughter,” Kai explains. “I’d be crazy not to fight for just a chance to make her mine. She’s perfect for me, and I’d like to be the man for her.”
“But your job.” Mom frowns. “How would that work?”
“We would be keeping it between the two of us,” Kai says. “And when the semester is over, I’d let the dean know that we’ve started dating. There are no rules against professors and students having a relationship. Only if the student is in their class.”
“She is in your class.” Mom looks to me. “Are you dropping out?”
“No,” Kai answers with a slight growl, and Mom raises an amused brow at him.
“Another thing he won't let me do,” I sigh.
“And before you get the idea, no, I do not plan on being controlling towards Delaney,” he states. “If there ever was something she truly didn’t want, I’d never force her.”
“Good.” Mom nods, and I smile up at Kai. This is going a lot better than I thought. Maybe this could work. “But again, what about your job?”
“This is just a job to me. If I lose it, it won’t be the end for me. My true passion is photography. I’ll always have that to fall back on.”
“You really do care about my daughter, don’t you?” Mom smiles, and God, I love this woman.
“Very much so. She’s quickly become my everything.”
“Kai.” My eyes widen, tearing up. I’ve cried so damn much already. His words heal little rips in my heart that I didn’t even know were there.
“Well, if this is what you want, Delaney, then I’ll support you,” Mom tells me, then glares at Kai. “And don’t think just because you’re family, I won’t kick your ass if you hurt my baby girl.”
“I wouldn’t expect anything else.” Kai chuckles.
“The step thing doesn’t bother you?” I ask Mom, knowing the risks of bringing that up.
Mom shakes her head. “You’re both adults, and there’s no blood relationship. It’s not like he’s your stepbrother.” Mom laughs. And there goes my heart, sinking into the deep depths of the ocean. One thing at a time, Delaney.
Kai gives me a smile, knowing just how much her words hit me.
“Do you think James will be mad?” The idea of making James upset with me hurts almost as much as my mom. He’s the closest thing I’ve had to a dad, and I don’t want to lose him.
“No. Not mad,” James interjects, stepping into his office. “But I agree with my wife. Hurt my daughter, and I’ll kick your ass.”
That’s the first time he called me his daughter, and I lose it, throwing myself at him. James hugs me tightly. “Thank you.” I cry into his chest.
It might seem like I’m overreacting, but I hope they all understand just how big this is for me. How much it means to me.
I can tell my mom does when I pull back to see happy tears in her eyes. “Come here.” James pulls Mom into our hug. “My girls.”
When we’re done, we join the others in the dining room. I immediately smother Benny’s face in kisses as he giggles.
Kai takes his seat next to his mom and smiles. Poor Teresa looks so confused. “By the way, have you met my girlfriend?”
Teresa’s brows jump as she looks at me and then back to him. “You're going to tell me everything after this supper,” she scolds.
“I will.” Kai chuckles. He doesn’t seem worried, and she doesn’t seem upset.
Sitting down, we finally start to eat, and as things drift off into friendly conversation, I feel like a big weight has been lifted off my shoulders.