Page 71 of Turning Back

“Nope.”

“Or your lips.”

“Nope.” Rochelle sighs.

“But she does look like you.”

“I think so too. Everyone thinks so.”

“Have your parents met her?”

Rochelle shakes her head. “Nope.”

“Is that all you have to say?”

“I’m estranged from my family.”

“Why?” I ask.

“Because…” She pauses to inhale. And probably think through her answer. “They hurt me.”

I just stare at her for a moment. “Like… physically beat you?”

“No, not like that.”

“Like the way you hurt me?”

She huffs loudly, like my question pisses her off. “No, not like that either.”

“Are you going to tell me about it?”

“Maybe one day.”

“But not today?”

“Not today.”

“OK,” I say, grabbing a hand towel and wiping my face. “Another time.”

I place my hands on her shoulders as I scoot her out of my way so I can get dressed. She lets me, moving aside amicably, and then watches me as I strip and start getting ready for work.

“It’s just a long story,” she adds, like we’re still having this conversation.

“I said fine, Rochelle.”

“You never asked before.”

“I figured it was something you wanted to put behind you.”

“It is. So why are you asking now?”

“Because we have a kid together now. And like it or not, we’re in this forever.” I nod my head towards Adley as I sit on the bed and start putting my shoes on.

“You don’t know that she’s yours,” Rochelle says.

“She’s mine,” I say, standing up and grabbing my suit coat. Rochelle rolls her eyes. But when I walk over to kiss her, she kisses me back. “She’s mine,” I repeat, whispering the words into her mouth. I place a hand on Adley’s blonde head of fluff. “Be good, Adley.”

She’s mine. There is no doubt in my mind that kid is mine. I’d like a DNA test, but it can wait until the whole threesome thing wears off with Bric. He won’t want a real relationship. Hell, his mind is already on the weekend at the Club.