The tension that had filled the room moments ago dissolved as Lukas rose from his chair and approached Rachel and Kevin with a polite, almost shy smile.
"It's… really nice to finally meet you," he said.
Rachel's expression softened instantly. "Nice to meet me? Oh, don't turn this around, young man. I'm the one who should be saying that! I've been bragging about you at work for months!"
Kevin chuckled beside her, reaching out to shake both Lukas's and Javi's hands. "You should've seen her during the game," he said. "Every time you touched the ball, she was gripping my arm like it was a Champions League final. She kept saying, 'That's the kid I told them about! That's him!' I didn't know she was talking about her future grandson."
Lukas blushed a little, rubbing the back of his neck. "Well… I hope I didn't disappoint."
"Disappoint?" Rachel said with a laugh. "You exceeded every expectation, Lukas."
