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“Thank you, Sera,” her mother said composedly before raising her eyebrows at Dante. “We’re taking things slowly, despite any rumors your brother may be spreading.”
Dante just grinned cheekily.
Her mother then focused on Sera again, fixing her with a concerned look. “Are you okay? This must be a lot to deal with.”
“I’m a grown-up, Mom. I can manage.”
Rosana Perini suddenly smiled. “I know you are, but if you want to talk, I’m here.” She waved a hand. “I realize Marisa has been your confidante, but ever since your father died, I think I know something about being the walking wounded.”
Sera tried a smile, but to her surprise it wobbled a little. She couldn’t help being touched. First Dante, now her mother. It seemed her family was finally able to give her space as an adult—as well as owning up to their own weaknesses. Her mother showed signs of moving on from her fears after the death of a child and, more recently, of a husband. “Thanks, Mom.”
Her mother reached across to give her hand a reassuring squeeze and then stood to take some empty plates to the kitchen.
When their mother had departed, Dante threw Sera a curious look from across the table. “So, you and Jordan...”
“Yes?”
Dante leaned forward, keeping his voice low. “Let me know if I need to challenge Serenghetti to a duel. Job or no job, family comes first.”
“Thanks, but I’ve got this.”
“I thought...the bet.”
“I know. We patched things up. He seemed to have real feelings for me.” Feelings again. She was starting to sound like Bernice and Marisa.
“So things were getting real between you and Jordan, and then this happened.” Dante cursed.
She leaned forward, too. “He said he doesn’t know if he’s the father.”
Her brother sighed. “For what it’s worth, celebrity sports stars are targets for gold diggers and fame seekers all the time. Don’t believe everything you read. It might not be true.”
Jordan had said as much—or tried to—but at the time, his argument had paled in significance to the parallels to Neil. Except the similarity to Neil wasn’t exactly right. Because...because—
“So Jordan has feelings for you. How do you feel about him?”
I love him.
Sera’s heart thudded in her chest. She finally admitted to herself what had lingered on the edges of her consciousness despite her pain. Jordan made her sad, mad and bad but vibrantly alive. Sexual tension had given way under her feet like thin ice once she’d gotten to know him.
Yes, she’d been hurt and angry about hearing the bombshell news from a stranger instead of Jordan himself. But unlike her former boyfriend, Jordan hadn’t tried to cover up the fact of a secret family for months. And didn’t she want to be part of his life, child or no child?
Seeming to read the emotions flitting across her face, Dante continued, “Ser, if you do care about him, you have to figure out what to do.”
Sera stared at her brother, and then as their mother reentered the dining room, both she and Dante sat back.
She loved Jordan. The question was: What was she going to do about it?
Fourteen
“I’ve got news,” Marv announced.
“No news is good news,” Jordan joked, holding the phone to his ear, “but I’m prepared for anything you have to say. So what did you find, Marv?”
Despite his easygoing tone, Jordan tensed. He’d taken a break from his physical-therapy exercises in his home gym as soon as he’d noticed who was calling. Now the stillness in his apartment on this weekday morning enveloped him. His heart pounded hard against the walls of his chest. Marv’s answer had the potential to change his life. If he were already a father, any future—with or without Sera—would be more complicated and a big departure from his life up to now.
He’d agreed to take a paternity test but had told Marv to hire a private investigator and get back to him once they had a fuller story. He could tell a moment of reckoning was upon him.
“I can say with certainty you’re not the father. It’s not just the paternity test, but other information that’s come to light.”
