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“Well, I worded it quite differently to Christopher. I told him that his father loved him, but wasn’t in a place in his life where he could be a father, so it was just the two of us.”
“And that worked?”
“For a while … I introduced you to him at an early age, and he’s always known who you are, as a football player. We watched all of your games, and he’s followed your career.”
“It’s not the same, Chloe.”
“I know that,” she insisted, her tone pleading. “If I could go back and change things, I would … I planned to bring him to camp as soon as he was old enough, knowing that you’d be here, and I could talk to you about it in person. He’s almost a teenager, and he’s becoming a man, I knew that having you in his life would help him in that transition.”
“What about me? What about all of the things I missed out on?” I stood, both Chloe and Reardon standing with me.
“Okay,” Reardon said, stepping in between Chloe and my desk. “I think we’ve done all we can here today. I’ll be in contact about the tests, and once we get the results, Gabe and I will be in touch to talk about what happens next.”
“Okay,” Chloe said, her voice small.
“Chloe,” I said, walking around my desk to stand next to Reardon. “I have obligations to be at this camp for the next seven weeks, there’s nothing I can do about that, but once the campers leave, I’ll be coming to North Carolina. Whether the results are positive or negative, I’ll be going to see Zoey, I just wanted to make sure you understood that. Your sister and I began a relationship here, and I plan to fight to keep it.”
“I understand.”
“Can you please wait to say anything to Christopher about this, until we know for sure, and I can be there for him.”
Chloe gave me a small smile then and answered, “Yes, I can do that.”
“Thanks,” I said as kindly as I could manage, needing to get out of there. “I have to get to work, but Reardon will get your information, and we’ll be in touch soon.”
That said, I walked out without a backwards glance. I headed straight for my cabin, threw on my running shorts, a T-shirt, and some Nikes, and took off to clear my head.
Seven Weeks Later…
Chapter Thirty-Two ~ Zoey
“I’m thinking a pen name would be best. This book is so different from your others, that I don’t think the readers will cross with you, and it’s probably best not to try and market it to your young fans. Don’t you agree? … Zoey?”
I looked up from the doodle I’d been drawing on my napkin and flushed, embarrassed to be caught not paying attention by my agent.
“Sorry, Jen,” I replied, sitting up taller in my seat and moving my napkin under the table to hide it. I was sure she’d already seen it, but I still felt the need to act like a child caught in the act. “Um, yeah, a pen name would probably be best.”
Jen sighed and took a sip of
her dry martini. She was used to my quirks and the way I succumbed easily to distractions, but the look on her face told me that she knew this wasn’t just me being me.
“Are you going to tell me what’s been bothering you?” she asked, her voice holding compassion she usually kept hidden.
“What? Nothing, I’m good,” I lied through my teeth.
“Maybe something to do with the Adonis in your new books?” she asked carefully. “You’ve certainly never written a man like that before, and even I have to admit, as jaded as I am, that those sex scenes are off-the-charts hot.”
I blushed at her words, worrying, not for the first time, that I’d put too much of Gabe, of our relationship, in my latest book.
“Let’s just say, things are complicated right now.”
“I can accept that.” When her phone buzzed, Jen looked down and said, “I need to take this, just give me a moment,” then stood and walked to the far side of the patio dining area where we had just finished our working lunch.
I was in New York.
When Jen had called and said she wanted to discuss my latest manuscript, I’d jumped on the chance to go to her, rather than have a meeting over the phone, or via videoconference. I’d needed to get out of town for a while. Away from my sister’s attempts at reconciliations, and my nephew’s concern over the breech in his mother’s and my relationship.
Plus, I needed something to take my mind off Gabe … as if that were even possible.
