Page 35 of Feral
“My bad, son,” Jacob simply says. “Gemma, this is Bastien, my son. Bastien, this is Gemma. She’ll be staying here for a while,” and then turning to look at me adds, “Maybe more.”
“How about that, huh?” Bastien croons, sticking out his hand. “I finally got to know your name.”
A smile forms across his face and I reach out and shake his hand.
“Nice to meet you, too, Bastien,” I blurt out, equally dumbstruck.
“You two know each other?”
He turns to look at me, his gaze revealing things I’d wish it hadn’t.
“I’m afraid we do, dad.”
“May I ask how?” The question seems inevitable and Bastien and I exchange a quick knowing look.
The cat’s out of the bag now.
“He and I met at a bar recently,” I offer, pursing my lips and trying to look indifferent.
Jacob’s penetrating gaze is downright upsetting. “You fucked each other?”
Bastien stares at me for a long moment, as if urging me to say as little as possible. “It was a meaningless one-night stand, dad. She never even told me her name.”
“I see. So, how’s Lisa?”
Bastien chuckles and looks out the window momentarily. “Lisa’s history, dad. Remember how I told you we were having some problems? Well, turns out I can’t give her any children and she’s adamant about not wanting to try IVF.”
“You can always adopt, son. These days—”
“Save it, dad. She’s already filed for divorce. Do you know what she called me the last time we met? Half-a-man, that’s what she said.” His voice has turned cold and I can feel the pain behind his words. He turns to me and looks into my eyes. “Sorry for the sob story, Gemma. I’m just so fed up with her shit. She was never happy no matter how hard I tried.”
“It’s her loss, son,” Jacob snarls. “Men like you are pretty hard to find these days. Barren or not.”
I take the opportunity to turn and look at the man I had a one-night stand with more closely. His eyes look dull under the dim light and his mouth is curved in an ungodly thin line, resembling nothing of the man I met at the bar a few nights ago. An even closer look and I notice that his brow is twitching.
“And how did you two meet, dad? I thought you never went anywhere anymore?”
Jacob sighs and I feel my face flush, my heartbeat rising by the second.
“Gemma came here looking to interview me for the newspaper she works at. She thought she’d get all the juicy details of my incarceration and early release.”
“Did she?”
“She's right here, son. Why don’t you ask her?”
And just like that, I’m the center of attention for both men.
Father and son.
Both of which I’ve slept with.
“Well, did you?” Bastien drawls again and suddenly I’m feeling all kinds of uncomfortable.
“Yes, I did, actually,” I murmur, not wanting to divulge any more details.
“Gemma in light of recent events has turned out to be quite the little vixen.” That’s Jacob.
My nerves suddenly get the best of me.
