Page 50 of Ruin

“Family.” Zeus gives me a pointed look, and I squirm in my seat.

“Can you give us a minute?” I say to Zeus. “I just need to talk to Rich. It’s work-related.”

Zeus makes a snorting sound but doesn’t say anything.

I scoot out of my seat and move away from our table with Rich following me.

I stop when we’re out of earshot of anyone and turn to Rich.

Before I get the chance, he says quietly, “He’s her dad,” stating it, not asking.

“How?” I ask, flabbergasted.

“Well, I am a cop. It’s my job to notice things like that. But, honestly, it’s her eyes, Cam. She looks like you. But she has his eyes. They’re a dead giveaway.”

I trust Rich. He’s not a gossip.

But I still say, “Please don’t tell anyone. Gigi doesn’t know yet.”

“You can trust me, Cam. But how the hell does Gigi not know who her father is?”

“It’s a long story.”

“I have time.”

“Not now. Another time,” I tell him.

“We still on for Wednesday?”

I hesitate. “It’s just difficult at the moment…”

“Okay,” he says, running a hand through his hair. “I’m off the weekend after next. How about I take you out on Friday night?”

“We don’t do that.”

“I think we should. I like you, Cam.”

“Are you asking because of Zeus?” I say and immediately regret it.

He frowns. “No. I’ve been asking you for a while now, Cam. Long before Zeus Kincaid showed up.”

I glance down at my shoes. “Look…I like you, Rich. I do. But Gigi…she’s going to find out soon who her father is. It’s just not the right time for me to be starting anything up with anyone.”

“We’ve been going for a while.”

“We’ve been sleeping together,” I say quietly. “A relationship is a whole other ball game.”

He holds my eyes. “Okay, I get it. We’ll put you and me on the burner until things calm down. But let me take you out next Friday, just as friends. You look like you could do with one right now.”

I blow out a breath, giving in. “Okay. I’ll check with Aunt Elle and see if she’s okay with watching Gigi. I’ll text you and let you know for sure.”

“Hastings,” a voice calls from over by the counter.

“That’s my order. So, I’ll hear from you soon.” He touches my hand with his.

“Yeah. I’ll text you.”

He walks away. I watch him for a second, and then I turn around to head back to our table. My eyes clash with Zeus’s across the room.