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I didn’t expect her to profess her undying love. But at least she’s not telling me to fuck off. I’m nervous that once I spring Evan on her she’ll forget that she shouldn’t shoot the messenger. But I can’t control that. I have to do what’s best for her.
I get dizzy and start to sweat. I recognize the symptoms.Oh, shit. Oh, shit. I can’t freeze up now.
I rush to get the words out. “I met a guy in the airport says he’s your father’s son by one of his secretaries. The name Evan ring a bell?”
Harlow steps back and blinks in shock. Yeah, that did not come out smoothly. So much for breaking it to her gently.Damn it.
“What?”
Words start racing through my brain again, but it’s as if someone stuck a cog in the spokes of the wheel that churn my thoughts from my brain to my mouth. I press my lips together mutely. Goddamn it. Of all the times to lose my ability to speak…
Harlow seems to understand and takes my hands. “It’s all right. Breathe in and out. I’m not mad. I’m not even all that surprised. One of the reasons my parents are divorcing has to do with my dad’s wandering penis. Obviously, my mom has no trouble with him sleeping around, since she told me to get over myself when I split with Simon. But during one of their fights a couple of months ago, all the ugly crap about my dad knocking up his current secretary came out. Mom is pissed about that. My dad seems proud and thrilled. My mother called it repugnant and unseemly. She asked what their country club friends would think if they knew. He said that if Amanda, his twenty-five-year-old assistant, had his son, everyone would think he’s still the man.”
He sounds like an absolutely assholic son of a bitch. My dad would never have dishonored my mother that way, especially with someone young enough to be his daughter. And if he had fathered children on other women, Trace and I would have been shocked and angered. Harlow merely shrugs cynically. My heart breaks for her.
“So…what does Evan want?” she asks. “Money?”
I shake my head and try to make my jaw work. I feel my thoughts steady. The dizzy, hot-clammy feeling recedes. When I squeeze her hand, it’s better. “To meet you.”
“Seriously?” She frowns skeptically. “To quoteWayne’s World—a really underrated movie, in my opinion—‘Yeah, and monkeys will fly out of my butt.’”
There’s no way not to laugh at that.
“Hey, that’s enough of that.” Harlow wags her finger at me. “No making fun of my cinematic choices.”
“I don’t thinkWayne’s Worldis underrated,” I manage to say and the words sound almost right. “I prefer a more highbrow comedy, likeDodgeball.”
Harlow laughs at me. “Oh, that’s a socially important film, for sure.”
“Um, hello. ESPN Eight, ‘the Ocho.’” I wink her way, then turn serious. “The truth is, I think Evan really wants to meet you. He says he has no other family. I wonder if he wants you to be part of his.” I hand the man’s card to her. “He’ll be in Maui in a couple of hours. This is up to you, of course. But he said he’d love it if you’d call.”
She glances at the card before setting it on the coffee table. “I guess I shouldn’t be surprised that my dad has another illegitimate child besides the one on its way. If you have a lot of sex with women who aren’t your wife, it’s bound to happen. I wonder if my mother knows. Or cares.” She sighs. “I wonder how Maxon and Griff will take the news.”
“Evan didn’t know anything about them, only you. So if you decide to meet with him, your brothers will be a surprise to him as well.”
She nods and pulls her phone from her pocket. “I need to call them. Will you give me a minute?”
I’d rather hold her hand and give her the support she needs, but Harlow isn’t ready. As bitter as that is, I can’t barge my way into her family business. “Sure. I’ll head upstairs to change and be back in a bit. Let me know if you need anything.”
I take a long minute picking out a comfortable pair of shorts and a loose tank. I rinse off with a quick shower, trying not to focus on the last time I wasn’t in here alone. It’s been three days since I made love to her—and I made her acknowledge me. She said she’s still processing, and I don’t know what that means. But letting frustration get the best of me isn’t going to help.
I glance at the clock. About fifteen minutes have passed since I headed upstairs, so I risk creeping down. Harlow sits on the sofa, still staring at her paused game, unmoving.
She’s in shock.
“Baby?” I rush to her side.
“Apparently Evan is for real, and I also have a sister I’ve never met. Her name is Bethany, and she’s close to Griff’s age. Maxon knew everything. He’s known for months.”
And his secrecy hurt. She doesn’t say it, but I know. The grit in her voice tells me she chewed him a new asshole, too.
“Did he say why he didn’t tell you?”
She lets out a heavy breath. “He didn’t want to disillusion me. He knew I’d wanted to be a daddy’s girl as a kid. He was trying not to color my opinion with the sordid details. Griff knows, too, of course.”
Harlow doesn’t have to tell me how alone she feels. I see it all over her face. She adores her brothers, and she feels betrayed that they’ve kept secrets from her, even if they meant to protect her.
“I’m sorry, baby.” I take her hand in mine and kiss it, wishing I could take away her pain.
