Page 206 of The Bluffing Game

“I’m ready.” I nod.

As we walk to my car, I look over at Sage and debate whether or not to ask my next question.

“What was Rosie going on about? Was she saying that I’m Batman or Superman? I didn’t realize she thought I was a superhero.”

“She was just joking. Didn’t you know she wants a career in comedy one of these days?”

“No, I didn’t know. I thought she wanted a career in trying to date Brett.”

“Ha-ha, very funny. She’s no longer interested in him anyway. She’s barely seen him. Speaking of Brett, have you heard anything from him about my dad?” She pauses and looks down.

She looks somber, and it’s always a surprise when I see her serious like this. Like she’s vulnerable and she can be easily broken. She’s so strong that I know she hates coming across like this.

“Actually, when we get in the car, I can call Brett if you want. Last thing I heard was that he was following up with some leads. I gave him your mom’s phone number, and I know he was going to ask her some questions.”

“Cool,” she says with a warm smile. “I mean, he might not be able to find my birth dad, and that’s okay.”

“You want to know who your real dad is, and I hope he can find him. Brett is the best, so if anyone can find him, it’s him.”

“Yeah, it’s weird, you know? A part of me feels like I shouldn’t even want to know. He obviously didn’t care about me, and I did have a dad growing up. It wasn’t like I had no one, but there’s a part of me that wonders if I met him, if we connected, if we could have that sort of father-daughter relationship that I see other people have, like Rosie and our dad have.” She sighs and lowers her voice. “I always wondered why he seemed to prefer her, and I never understood. I just thought maybe I was too loud, too annoying, or maybe as the oldest one, I wasn’t deserving of the most love, but it’s because she’s his birth daughter. She’s his flesh and blood, and no matter how much he cared for me, it just wasn’t the same.”

“I can tell you without a shadow of a doubt”—I stop and stare at her—“that a real man loves a child no matter what the DNA report says. A child doesn’t have to be your blood for you to love them,” I say.

She smiles at me. “Thanks for that. I don’t mean to disparage my dad, but you know …” She shrugs.

“I get it.” I reach out and squeeze her hand. “The strongest bond is love, and DNA has nothing to do with your heart.”

Her lips tremble, and I give her a quick, warm hug. She hugs me back, and I can feel her take a couple of deep breaths.

“It’ll all work out as it should,” I whisper before we pull apart and get into the car.

“You can come in if you want. I’m not going to be super long. I’m just going to take a quick shower and change.”

“Okay, thank you.”

I think about teasing her and asking if she wants me to join her in the shower, but then I think about the evening we had earlier, and I don’t want to ruin that memory. I don’t want to cheapen that moment of her opening up to me with a sexual innuendo. There is a time and place for everything, and this isn’t the time.

We head up to the condo, and Sage immediately walks over to the kitchen and opens the fridge.

“You want something to drink?”

“No, I’m okay. I can help myself. I know the place well.”

“True that, I suppose, as this is Lucia’s place. You know it even better than me.”

“I’m glad you’re enjoying living here.”

“I really am. It was so generous of you, Lucia, and Izzy to let Rosie and me stay, and I really do hope that in the next couple of months, you will let me start contributing and paying rent.”

“We’ll talk about it later,” I say, not wanting her to feel like she’s indebted to Lucia or me.

As much as I like teasing her about her wanting to date a rich man, I don’t want her to be uncomfortable. I don’t want her to stretch her finances too thin. The tips that she makes at the restaurant are good, but they’re not amazing. She’s not making six figures. She’s not making enough to pay rent and bills and save up for her own place, which is what I know she wants.

She heads into the bathroom and gives me a wide smile. “I’ll just be a couple of minutes or ten,” she says, waving her hands toward the living room. “Make yourself at home.”

I nod and take a seat on the couch. I wonder what it would be like if she were getting ready for me and if we were going on a date. I really wish that I were the one taking her to dinner, flirting with her, spoiling her, but I’m not good enough. I haven’t been able to get her out of my mind since that kiss, even though I know I have to. One of these days, I’m going to have to let go of any wish or hope that we can explore the growing attraction between us.

“We’re nearly there,” I say to Sage as I pull up outside the restaurant.