Total pages in book: 133
Estimated words: 132332 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 662(@200wpm)___ 529(@250wpm)___ 441(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 132332 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 662(@200wpm)___ 529(@250wpm)___ 441(@300wpm)
Rock blinks at the mention of his ex-wife. “I think she was just jealous of anyone else who had my attention.”
“Hope’s not like that,” I say. “Shit, this is the worst timing. You’re finally about to have your first kid and now this. Christ, this is so fucked up. Do you want me to leave? Take off for a while so I’m not in your face?”
“What the fuck for?”
“I don’t want to be in the way or fuck stuff up for you guys when this is supposed to be—”
“Stop right there. You’re not in the way. You’re my son.”
It still sounds so unnatural, no matter how hard Rock’s trying to normalize this situation.
“The question you should be asking is are you ready to be a big brother again when you’re about to settle down and have your own family?” Rock seems to be reaching for a light, kidding tone but I’m not feeling it.
The reminder that Charlotte and I have our own secret we’ve been waiting to share punches me in the stomach. Then there’s the reminder of all the shady things I had to do as a kid to keep Heidi safe. That won’t be an issue with Rock’s kid…my little sister. “Yeah, at least I won’t have to break into garages and steal shit to feed the baby waitin’ at home for me. You sure you’re having a girl? I don’t know if I can handle another little hellraiser like Heidi.” Aw, fuck. How am I going to explain this to Heidi?
“I don’t want to explain this to Heidi right now,” I say. She’s matured a lot in the last few years, but the damage done by our family always lingers, waiting to rise from the ashes and cause chaos. “I can’t tell you how many times she said she wished you were her dad when she was growing up. Things are going good for her. I don’t want to—”
“I get it,” Rock says.
“And I don’t want to say anything to Murphy either. There’s no point making his life awkward by keepin’ stuff from Heidi.” That’s only one of many reasons I want to keep this from my best friend.
“You gonna talk to Charlotte?” he asks with a bit of presidential authority creeping into his tone.
Hell, Charlotte’s the only person I want to talk this over with. “She won’t say anything.”
“Good.” His gaze turns distant. While wallowing in my own confusion and worrying about everyone else, I haven’t given a lot of attention to how Rock is handling this. “Are you okay, Rock? This must be really fucking weird for you.”
He lets out a sad laugh. “It’s such a long time ago.”
“But you remember what happened?” I ask. Not that I want details.
“Some of it,” he answers carefully, as if he’s concerned it’s the nitty-gritty story I’m after.
I’m done. I slap the table. “I’m sure I’ll have more questions for you. Right now, I want… I don’t know.”
“Whatever you need. I’m always here for you.”
And that right there is one of the only truths that matters. “You’re one of the few people who’ve always been there for me, Rock. I don’t think I’ve ever really thanked you for that.”
“You don’t have to thank me for anything. I’m proud to have you as my son. You need to know that. So whenever, if ever, you want to tell anyone and go public—I’m leaving it up to you.”
That’s an awfully big decision with many possible consequences that he’s thrown in my lap.
Go public.
An uncomfortable sensation crawls over my skin. No one can know about this. For now, the truth about my paternity needs to remain a secret.
But in the back of my mind a red warning light blinks.
Secrets always have an expiration date.
CHAPTER TWO
Charlotte
The rumble of Marcel’s bike echoing down our driveway draws me out of the house and onto the front porch. As soon as he parks, I rush down the stairs to meet him.
“Happy not-the-father day—” The silly greeting dies in my throat. A heavy cloud of despair seems to surround Marcel. Fear thrums through my veins. “What’s wrong?”
He drops his head for a second, then turns and faces me. “Let’s go inside.”
My stomach cramps with apprehension. He said the test cleared him. None of the Lost Kings fathered that woman’s kid. “What—”
He curls his cold fingers around mine. “Please. I need to talk to you.”
“Okay.” I rub my palms over his hands in an effort to warm his skin. His lips pull into a half smile.
“I’m fine, Sunshine.”
Dreading whatever he has to tell me, I follow him into the house. He stops in the kitchen and flips the faucet on, pouring a glass of water and drinking it in a few quick swallows.
A thousand questions scream through my brain but somehow, I remain calm on the outside, waiting patiently.