Page 85 of The Bluffing Game

“I don’t get a good feeling about him.”

“Well, I get a great feeling about him,” I lie.

I don’t know why I don’t want to be honest about the fact that there is something about Parker that’s not quite right. Maybe I’m just being stubborn.

“So, can we talk?”

“Sure,” I say. “The girls are out at the mall right now, so it’s just you and me.”

“Good,” he says. “I’m going to grab a glass of water, if you don’t mind.”

“Go right ahead. Be my guest.” I laugh. “Or rather, I’m still your guest.”

“You’re not. This is your home, Sage.”

I nod and follow him into the kitchen. I watch him open the fridge, grab a glass, and fill it with water before taking a seat at the countertop.

“I just wanted to tell you that Brett has some leads on your father.”

“Oh, okay, cool. Like real leads or …”

“We are going to find out this afternoon. He’s going to make a house call to someone who might or might not have met your mother all those years ago.” He glances at me. “I just want to find out from you if you want us to still proceed with this.”

“Of course. Why wouldn’t I want that?”

“Because we don’t know what we’re going to find. We don’t know if your father is a good man, if he’s a bad man, if he wants a relationship with you, or if he doesn’t. It’s a lot of pressure, and it could bring up a lot of emotions. I just want to ensure you are going to be okay, no matter what.”

“I’ll be fine,” I say, swallowing past the lump that has formed in my throat.

His words really hit me because I haven’t really thought about the possibility that my dad would want absolutely nothing to do with me. The fantasy of him being happy and surprised that I existed has always been first and foremost in my mind, but the reality is that might not be the case.

“I just want to ensure you have support,” he continues.

“I do. I mean”—I lick my lips nervously—“I guess I should tell Rosie.”

I let out a long sigh. I want to tell my sister; she’s my best friend, and yet a part of me is nervous that she’ll look at me differently, that I won’t be her sister, even though we’ll still be sisters one hundred percent. Blood or not doesn’t change that, but a part of me is just scared.

“Hey, you okay?” Dalton’s voice lowers, and he heads over and sits next to me. He grabs my hand and squeezes it gently. “Whatever happens, it’s going to be okay, and I’ll be here for you.”

“Thanks, that’s really nice of you. You don’t have to be so nice.”

“We both know I’m not that nice.” He grins.

“Yeah, you’re not that nice, but the moments when you are nice, when I see the you that you don’t want everyone else to see, it’s just really special. It warms me to you.” I take a deep breath. “I’m going to tell Rosie; I don’t want to have these secrets from her.”

“Secrets are bad,” he says, nodding. “You know, secrets can just creep up on you and take over everything. It’s always better when they don’t exist.”

“You sound like you’re speaking from experience,” I pry.

He waits a beat before answering. “Maybe, maybe not. So, you really are determined to go on another date with Parker then, huh?”

“Well, he is really into me, and he’s handsome, and he’s rich, and he really sees a future with us. He’s already asked me what sort of diamond I would want. He’s got a really good job, and he has a huge house and a nice car and …”

“Is that all that it takes?” Dalton asks sadly.

“What do you mean?”

“I mean, is that what you really want—a nice car, a huge house, a big diamond, and a man who doesn’t make you laugh or smile or do this to you?” He reaches over and grabs my hand, holding it gently while his thumb caresses my palm.