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“I heard you’re a famous inventor now. You can afford it. Just feed him, clothe him, and keep an eye on him. There’s nothing to be afraid of, Adam.”
My heart is pounding. “Alexa.”
“I’ll be a little hard to reach for a while, but don’t worry. Rowan’s a smart kid. He can teach you the ropes.”
“The ropes?”
“Of being a father.”
I let out a frantic laugh. I’m supposed to learn how to be a father from an eleven-year-old?
“Take care of our boy, Adam. I’ll talk to you later.”
“Wait! Alexa—”
The line goes dead.
I stare at the phone desperately, as if glaring at the screen can bring her back on the line. The cell goes dark and my powers of intensely wishing for things to be different fail me once again.
“Are you going to let him in?” Dejonae asks from the doorway.
I glance over my shoulder and find everyone staring at me.I guess I don’t have a choice.
“Come in,” I croak.
The kid bounds into my living room like he owns it and throws his backpack on the ground.
“Chips. Cool.” He dunks a germ-filled hand into the bowl, scoops up a bunch of chips and shoves them into his mouth. Crumbs go flying everywhere.
My chest rises and falls on a short breath.
Thatis mine?
My kid?
Hell no.
No way.
Footsteps patter toward me. It’s Sazuki. His eyes are narrowed to concerned slits. He places a hand on my shoulder. “Adam, would you like us to take him?”
It’s a big offer, especially coming from someone like Sazuki.
I must really look like I’m about to keel over.
“Dejonae suggested,” Sazuki adds.
Which makes a hell of a lot more sense.
I shake my head. “No, he’s… the kid… um, I’m going to sort this out.”
“Okay.” Sazuki steps back.
Dejonae approaches me next. Her expression is hesitant. She’s wringing her dark hands in front of her as if she’s afraid I’m going to explode and leave splatters of guts and blood on her face.
“Adam,” she croaks, “I have no idea what you must be feeling right now…”
Tryhorrified.
